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AFPCopyright: AFP

One of Egypt's most celebrated comedians and actors, Samir Ghanem, has died aged 84 from Covid-19 complications.

Since the 1960s, he has been famous across the Arab world for his many performances in theatre productions, television series and films.

Ghanem was admitted to hospital in late April in the capital, Cairo, and died on Thursday.

His wife Dalal Abdel Aziz, an actress, is still in hospital being treated for Covid-19, according to local media reports.

The comedian has left two daughters, Donia Samir Ghanem and Amy Samir Ghanem, who are also popular actresses.

Egypt's Culture Minister Ines Abdel Dayem is quoted as saying that the whole Arab world had lost a comic icon who had won over "the hearts of the public over the decades" with his many works filled with "comedy and joy".

ReutersCopyright: Reuters

Spain says most of the thousands of migrants who entered its North African enclave of Ceuta this week have returned to Morocco.

Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said the situation there was now much calmer, and that the authorities were working to help minors and other vulnerable people still in the territory.

During the week, about 8,000 people entered Ceuta from Morocco. The minister said 6,500 had now been sent back.

The influx began after Morocco appeared to loosen border controls, in what Spain saw as a retaliation for its hosting the independence leader from Western Sahara, a disputed territory claimed by Morocco and the Saharawi people seeking self-determination.

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

Her critics describe her as populist and a demagogue. But Abir Moussi’s sudden popularity has taken many in Tunisia by surprise.

The leader of the Free Destourian Party is known for attention-grabbing stunts (like using a megaphone in parliament), but also for peddling conspiracy theories.

And yet some believe she’s the answer to the country’s many problems, from corruption to rising unemployment.

These are challenges that, in the eyes of many people, the ruling Ennahda party has failed to address since it came to power after the Arab Spring - and they are Ms Moussi’s nemeses.

One poll goes as far as suggesting that, if an election were to happen today, Ms Moussi’s party would get the most votes.

“People are not necessarily voting for her because they like her, not necessarily because they believe in her, but because they see her as the alternative to Ennahda,” says Youssef Cherif, the director of Columbia Global Center in Tunis.

So, what does the rise of Abir Moussi tell us about Tunisia today?

Find out in Friday’s edition of Africa Daily.

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