Africa Briefs
Morocco tops 11-million mark in tourism
Morocco recorded a bumper year for tourist arrivals in 2017, breaking through the 11-million barrier for the first time, the tourism ministry announced Monday.
Visitor arrivals numbered some 11.4 million, a 10% increase over 2016, with tourists from "emerging markets" such as China and Brazil joining those from France, Spain and Germany.
Revenues from the sector jumped to 69.7 billion dirhams (US$7.55 billion) in 2017, up from 64.2 billion dirhams the previous year.
After several years of stagnation, the tourism industry has turned around, partly thanks to new budget air links with Europe and increased flights by national carrier Royal Air Maroc.
Tourism is Morocco's second largest employer after agriculture, and it ranks alongside exports and remittances from Moroccans working abroad as one of its top foreign currency earners. – Nampa/Reuters
US warns DRC against electronic voting
The United States warned the Democratic Republic of Congo on Monday against using an electronic voting system for a long-delayed presidential election in December this year because it has the potential to undermine the credibility of the poll.
US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley told an informal UN Security Council meeting on the Congolese electoral process that deploying "an unfamiliar technology for the first time during a crucial election is an enormous risk".
Several other countries on the 15-member council also raised concerns about the possible use of electronic voting.
An election to replace President Joseph Kabila, who has been in power since his father was shot dead in office in 2001, is scheduled for the end of December. Congo's electoral commission finished registering 46 million voters last month.
Repeated stalling of the election has raised tensions across the country, triggering street protests and encouraging armed rebellions, especially since Kabila refused to step down when his mandate expired at the end of 2016. – Nampa/Reuters
Morocco recorded a bumper year for tourist arrivals in 2017, breaking through the 11-million barrier for the first time, the tourism ministry announced Monday.
Visitor arrivals numbered some 11.4 million, a 10% increase over 2016, with tourists from "emerging markets" such as China and Brazil joining those from France, Spain and Germany.
Revenues from the sector jumped to 69.7 billion dirhams (US$7.55 billion) in 2017, up from 64.2 billion dirhams the previous year.
After several years of stagnation, the tourism industry has turned around, partly thanks to new budget air links with Europe and increased flights by national carrier Royal Air Maroc.
Tourism is Morocco's second largest employer after agriculture, and it ranks alongside exports and remittances from Moroccans working abroad as one of its top foreign currency earners. – Nampa/Reuters
US warns DRC against electronic voting
The United States warned the Democratic Republic of Congo on Monday against using an electronic voting system for a long-delayed presidential election in December this year because it has the potential to undermine the credibility of the poll.
US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley told an informal UN Security Council meeting on the Congolese electoral process that deploying "an unfamiliar technology for the first time during a crucial election is an enormous risk".
Several other countries on the 15-member council also raised concerns about the possible use of electronic voting.
An election to replace President Joseph Kabila, who has been in power since his father was shot dead in office in 2001, is scheduled for the end of December. Congo's electoral commission finished registering 46 million voters last month.
Repeated stalling of the election has raised tensions across the country, triggering street protests and encouraging armed rebellions, especially since Kabila refused to step down when his mandate expired at the end of 2016. – Nampa/Reuters
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