Zawaya

Mouhamed Lemine Kettab

Dr. Mouhamed Lemine Kettab was born in 1950 in Ouadane, Northern Mauritania. He holds a master’s degree in English language and literature from the University of Mohammed V in Rabat. He participated in seminars and academic conferences in several American universities.

Dr. Kettab taught at the Faculties of Arts in both the University of Mohamed V and the University of Nouakchott, and at the College of Education, before he was appointed as the Director of Higher Education, then President of the University of Nouakchott. He later served as an ambassador for Mauritania for a period of ten years.

Dr. Kettab has written a number of books in English, French and Arabic, in children’s literature and other areas. He has published several studies and articles in the Mauritanian and Arab press. He is currently active within civil society organizations as Chairman of the Mauritanian branch of the Arab Organization for Human Rights, and Chairman of the Club of Mauritanian Intellectuals for Democracy and Development.

Opinions by this panelist

Social media: The New Face of Alter-Globalization

Monopolizing information, possessing knowledge, and mastering expertise have always been sources of power and thus possibilities of domination and even socio-political and psychological enslavement. Therefore, to ensure their sustainability and strengthen their dominance, all established authorities and powers have struggled… more

Istehlal, a foreign concept to Islam

The concept of istehlal, and the ideological reference it's based upon, bear no relevance to the true Islam and have nothing to do with it. The principle of istehlal, which means to violate people's lives and shed their blood based… more

Mauritanians first need to build a democratic culture

The Mauritanian society, like most other Arab societies, is a patriarchal and male dominated society in which the culture of despotism and totalitarianism prevails since ancient times; but it's different in comparison to those societies by its women's strong influence… more

Maghreb expatriates participate in the evolution of their home societies

The geographical adjacency of Europe and the countries of the Maghreb, the mutual colonisation by the peoples of both sides of the Mediterranean over the course of history and the more or less peaceful cohabitation of these peoples, the urgent… more

We should end the justice of double standards

After a long and tortuous trial of the Libyan citizen Abdel Baset al-Megrahi, who was accused of being the perpetrator of the terrible attack of December 1988 against a Pan Am aircraft, resulting in 270 victims, Al-Megrahi was convicted in… more

The Tripoli Declaration is a mere forward escape from current problems

The weightiness of any political statement or declaration depends on the credibility of its source. Credibility, on the other hand, depends on the degree of commitment of that source to a set of principles, values and behaviors, and on its… more

Maghreb countries have other concerns that are more devastating

Since its recent high-profile appearance, swine influenza has raised a great outcry around the world, and caused tantalizing terror that some are willing to attract and deal with, for reasons that are not apparent to the naked eye. But when… more

Human Development Indexes are subtle and not precise enough

The international globalized context is subject to the logic of an unbridled political and economic liberalism, that generates profound inequalities between different countries on one hand, and between different categories within those countries on the other hand. This context has… more

The lack of prediction and forecast management

The meetings held by Maghreb and Middle Eastern heads of State from time to time are superficial meetings aiming primarily at giving stirring speeches, appearing on satellite TV channels, and taking souvenir photos for pure consumption purposes. The goal behind… more

The main causes of extremism

Many young people from the Maghreb, Gulf countries, and other Muslim countries in the Near East, go through a period of confusion and erring after which they join Salafi jihadist groups that have declared a holy war against all those… more

Implications of Morocco's membership in the GCC

To ensure the efficiency and effectiveness of a regional entity, its country members should satisfy the following conditions: geographic proximity, social and cultural consistence, economic integration and social harmony in terms of lifestyles, customs and traditions. If a country fails… more

The utmost importance of the separation of powers

Morocco has cleverly learned its lesson from the continued turmoil in the Arab world, including Morocco itself. The country has recently drafted a new Constitution in line with the demands of the vast majority of Moroccan youth, and complying with… more

Expected changes after the Arab Spring

Overthrowing tyrant regimes does not mean an immediate improvement in human rights nor an instant change in the difficult living conditions of the disadvantaged. However, that will change the political balance of power, and provide suitable objective and subjective conditions… more

The post-9/11 world: Has it changed?

Before answering these questions, accuracy and objectivity call for making a few observations that shouldn't be overlooked when discussing terrorism, and its results and repercussions. The first observation is that terrorism as a political expression started to emerge before the… more

The need for civilized dialogue between Maghreb political parties

Despite their ethnic diversity and sectarian pluralism, and the openness and tolerance promoted by their religion, Arab peoples - including Maghreb ones - are still unable to get rid of the mentality of restriction and the culture of totalitarianism, which… more

The aspirations of the February 20 movement should be in line with the requirements of gradual democratization

In light of the disastrous results of the idiotic intransigence and reckless behavior of the regimes of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, Mohammed Hosni Mubarak, and Moamer Kadhafi; and given the inevitable consequences of the brutal repression and barbaric violence… more

Impact of the Arab spring on the Maghreb Union's future

Prior to the Arab spring, the Maghreb Union – like any other Arab regional entity - consisted of a clique of leaders working in a systematic and institutionalized way to stay in power for as long as possible, and aimed… more

Substance matters more than the name

The five North African countries – Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Mauritania and Libya – created a common geopolitical space on February 17, 1989, and called it "the Arab Maghreb Union", on the grounds that all member countries were Arab. However, this… more

Border security is responsibility of state

Global unrest, civil wars and foreign aggressions against the territorial integrity and national sovereignty of several countries worldwide is frustrating and worrisome. In light of current world circumstances, can nations achieve secure borders without regional help? This issue is complex… more

The Maghreb can only thrive if united

The people of the Maghreb have always had firm social networks and engaged in lasting economic, cultural and spiritual exchanges that created a sense of belonging to a single entity. Following European colonialism, the region was divided into five distinct… more