Shield & Alert
- Sahel: Inside Chad’s Risky Alliance in Sudan’s Conflict
- Book: Lafarge Group and the Islamic State
- Sahel: Foreign Mining Firms Face Growing Risks as Juntas Assert Control Over Resources
- Is Morocco Quietly Preparing for Royal Succession?
- Algeria boosts defense budget to tackle cross-border threats
- Libya’s fragmented military and competition for its control
- Algeria: Diphtheria and Malaria outbreak in southern border regions claims at least 40 lives
- Algeria: Former head of police in custody for allegedly conspiring with foreign officials
- Mali: Wagner and Junta leaders in tough spot with series of embarrassing defeats and decisions to make
- Morocco: First Mpox case reported in Marrakech, health authorities activate emergency protocols
Sahel: Foreign Mining Firms Face Growing Risks as Juntas Assert Control Over Resources
Foreign mining companies in the Sahel are encountering unprecedented challenges as the military juntas in Mali and Niger tighten their grip on natural resources.
Sahel: Foreign Mining Firms Face Growing Risks as Juntas Assert Control Over Resources
Mining companies that have been operating in the Sahel for a long time are now experiencing a tectonic shift in their industry’s landscape in the region. The Sahel has always attracted entrepreneurial companies from far away Canada, Australia, Russia, South Africa and...
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ANALYSES & MAJOR EVENTS
MAGHREB
Book: Lafarge Group and the Islamic State
Lafarge’s indictment for financing terrorism reveals corporate entanglements with ISIS to maintain operations in Syria. In Personne morale, Justine...
Is Morocco Quietly Preparing for Royal Succession?
The issue of succession in government is extremely important in that clear rules of engagement are required for stability. Whether it is the...
Algeria boosts defense budget to tackle cross-border threats
Algeria’s draft Finance Law for the year 2025 earmarks record spending for its military and defense. The Ministry of Defense, which oversees the...
Libya’s fragmented military and competition for its control
While the world is focused on the crises in the Middle East and Ukraine, a power struggle continues to destabilize Libya, with protagonists...
Algeria: Diphtheria and Malaria outbreak in southern border regions claims at least 40 lives
Algeria's southern provinces are experiencing an outbreak of malaria and diphtheria, with the authorities working to reassure that public that “the...
Algeria: Former head of police in custody for allegedly conspiring with foreign officials
An Algerian military court ordered the provisional detention of a former national police chief, Farid Bencheikh, who carried the title of Director...
More on the Maghreb
SAHEL
Sahel: Inside Chad’s Risky Alliance in Sudan’s Conflict
Chadian President Mahamat Déby’s support for Sudan’s Hemedti amid the Sudanese conflict has sparked tension at home, risking political instability...
Sahel: Foreign Mining Firms Face Growing Risks as Juntas Assert Control Over Resources
Mining companies that have been operating in the Sahel for a long time are now experiencing a tectonic shift in their industry’s landscape in the...
The US Africa Policy: Don’t Expect Anything New
Africa has been a low priority for virtually all US administrations, be they republicans or democrats. It is true that Donald Trump has been more...
Sahel: A Primer on the Northern Mali Crisis
Northern Mali has always been a region of turmoil, and the responsibility for the misery there starts with the central government in Bamako....
Mali: Wagner and Junta leaders in tough spot with series of embarrassing defeats and decisions to make
(Photo from unconfirmed video showing an insurgent burning the presidential plane in Bamako. The person filming the attack speaks in Peul or Fulani...
Mali: JNIM raids Bamako in direct threat to military junta
On Tuesday, 17 September 2024, Bamako, the capital of Mali, was the target of coordinated attacks claimed by the JNIM. At least two military sites,...
More on the Sahel
EGYPT
Egypt: Efforts at a National Dialogue Undermined by an Unhinged Political Police
Egypt is sending mix signals on its human rights records. Some in Cairo’s political system are trying hard to project the image of an Egypt...
Egypt Gets Massive Injections of Cash, but Outlook is Still Shaky
By Arezki Daoud | LinkedIn | Egypt has many powerful allies, including those in the global financial sector. No one wants to see it collapse, so...
Egypt’s Demographic Time Bomb
This month of June 2024, the Egyptian population reached the record number 106.4 million people. Egyptians added 126,000 babies in just one month....
War in Gaza forces former Middle East foes to seek reconciliation
By Mondafrique: The war in Gaza is forcing feuding States in the Middle East and in the Gulf to seek the path of reconciliations. Faced with...
Egypt: One killed, six arrested in gun battle on Egypt-Israel border
A gunfire broke out near Nitzana, Israel, along the border crossing separating Egypt and Israel. The incident, which involved more than a dozen...
Podcast: Egypt 2024 Outlook
More on Egypt
Burkina Faso Junta Faces Governance Challenges Amid Controversies and Rumors
The military junta in Burkina Faso is not governing at ease. The country is struggling with repressive actions from the junta, with opposition figures, lawyers and activities feeling the brunt of the regime.
Sahel: French company Orano loses operating license of key uranium site in Niger
The Nigerien government revoked the operating permit for the Imouraren uranium mine from the French company Orano to assert sovereignty over its resources.
North Africa Confronted with New Security Concerns
There is news coverage in Spain about Morocco stepping up its military presence near the Spanish-controlled enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, and a lot of chatter about a Russian military presence in Tunisia.
MORE ANALYSES & MAJOR EVENTS
Egypt’s Demographic Time Bomb
This month of June 2024, the Egyptian population reached the record number 106.4 million people. Egyptians added 126,000 babies in just one month. Dividing this by 30 days, fetches 4,200 babies per day.
Algeria: Beware of forgery. New law seeks to reduce fraud and white collar crime
(Photo: Magistrates at the Court of Auditors) - Algeria must have some serious problems with official document forgery. Analysts say the practice is widespread given the heavy bureaucratic nature of the outdated administration and the equally outdated regulatory framework. On 26 February 2024, Algeria sought to play catch up, promulgating a new law that goes the other way, that is now it has...
This Week’s Premium Podcast
Mali: The Failing Campaign of Wagner in Mali Presages Trouble for the Junta in Bamako
There have been more chatter and speculations about the activities of Russia’s mercenaries, formerly known as the Wagner Group, now reportedly called the Afrika Corps in the Sahel. It is unclear if the name "Afrika Corps" is official, but if so, it certainly confirms...
FOCAL POINTS
Sahel: The demise of the ancient city of Timbuktu
When jihadists in Mali announced they would blockade the ancient city of Timbuktu, residents thought it was just another intimidation tactic. But a month and a half later, the tens of thousands of inhabitants remain almost completely cut off from the world with the...
Libya: Ancient Greco-Roman city of Cyrene faces risk of collapse
Floods that killed thousands in the Libyan city of Derna also inundated one of the country's premier ancient sites, threatening its UNESCO-listed monuments with collapse, a recent visitor and a leading archaeologist said. The immediate damage to the monuments of...
Tunisian island of Djerba gets added to UNESCO World Heritage list
UNESCO announced Monday it was adding the Tunisian resort island of Djerba to its list of World Heritage Sites because of its ancient ruins, whitewashed villages, mosques, churches and synagogues. The United Nations cultural organisation took the decision in Saudi...
Libya: What is the storm that destroyed NE Libya? Meet Daniel
The flash flood that has killed thousands of people in Libya this week followed a "medicane", a rare but destructive weather phenomenon that scientists believe will intensify in a warming world. The term is an amalgamation of the words Mediterranean and hurricane....
LATEST ISSUE
POLITICAL AFFAIRS
Algeria: Former head of police in custody for allegedly conspiring with foreign officials
An Algerian military court ordered the provisional detention of a former national police chief, Farid Bencheikh, who carried the title of Director General of National Security. The arrest was commented by many observers of the Algerian political scene, because Bencheikh is known for being close to the presidential inner circle, adding a dramatic political dimension to the arrest. The court is...
MORE ON POLITICS
Sahel: Inside Chad’s Risky Alliance in Sudan’s Conflict
Chadian President Mahamat Déby’s support for Sudan’s Hemedti amid the Sudanese conflict has sparked tension at home, risking political instability...
Sahel: Foreign Mining Firms Face Growing Risks as Juntas Assert Control Over Resources
Mining companies that have been operating in the Sahel for a long time are now experiencing a tectonic shift in their industry’s landscape in the...
Sahel: A Primer on the Northern Mali Crisis
Northern Mali has always been a region of turmoil, and the responsibility for the misery there starts with the central government in Bamako....
Libya’s fragmented military and competition for its control
While the world is focused on the crises in the Middle East and Ukraine, a power struggle continues to destabilize Libya, with protagonists...
Algeria: Former head of police in custody for allegedly conspiring with foreign officials
An Algerian military court ordered the provisional detention of a former national police chief, Farid Bencheikh, who carried the title of Director...
Algeria: Despite “winning” reelection, President Tebboune denounces “irregularities”
By MondAfrique: The three candidates in the Algerian presidential election, including President Tebboune, who was re-elected last Saturday with...
Mali: The Failing Campaign of Wagner in Mali Presages Trouble for the Junta in Bamako
There have been more chatter and speculations about the activities of Russia’s mercenaries, formerly known as the Wagner Group, now reportedly...
Libya: As Crises Pile, Libya has no Clear Path to Stability
Libya is back in the news again, and it is not good news. At the center of it all, once again, are the two types of power struggles we are...
Libya: The Haftar family seeks to impose dynastic rule on Libya
By Arezki Daoud: If you were born in 1990, you are now 34 years old. This means in 2011 you just turned 21 and unless you were born interested in...
Sahel: Wagner Lost Men in Tinzouatin, but Russia Sees Real ROI in the Sahel. It May Now Make a Move on Nigeria
Russia is seeing a good "return on its investment" in the Sahel. Both Mali and Niger have cut their ties with Ukraine after Kiev’s intelligence...
France-Algeria: Emmanuel Macron stuns President Tebboune
Algeria and France are now going through another diplomatic crisis, culminating with the recall of Algeria's ambassador from his post in Paris,...
Morocco: King Mohammed VI gets France’s support on Western Sahara, pardons some jailed journalists and activists
King Mohammed VI is celebrating 25 years on the throne. The event was celebrated nationwide in Morocco, and in a give-and-take moment, the King...
Elections in North Africa: No Excitement Ahead, No Change in Course
It’s a big political year worldwide. Many countries have already experienced or will have elections this year, and North Africa is no exception....
How to MEGA or ‘Make Europe Great Again’
By Arezki Daoud | LinkedIn | “Make France Great Again” -MFGA- that does not sound as an effective slogan as MAGA. How about “MEGA”, or “Make Europe...
PODCASTS
Mali: The Failing Campaign of Wagner in Mali Presages Trouble for the Junta in Bamako
There have been more chatter and speculations about the activities of Russia’s mercenaries, formerly known as the Wagner Group, now reportedly called the Afrika Corps in the Sahel. It is unclear if the name "Afrika Corps" is official, but if so, it certainly confirms...
COVID-19: The Latest
Podcast: Sahel and North Africa week in review 7 Jan 2023
Greetings to our second episode of Week in Review and a quick summary of what we are tracking in the Sahel and in North Africa. Today is Saturday, the 7th of January 2023. This past week was somewhat subdued in the region largely due to the year-end holiday season and...
Covid-19: Ban on entry into Morocco for travelers from China takes effect on 3 January
Morocco said Saturday it will ban entry to all travellers from China, where cases of Covid-19 have exploded. Other nations, including France, Britain and Morocco's cross-strait neighbour Spain, have said they will require negative Covid tests for all travellers from...
Covid-19: First case of Omicron in Tunisia comes from Turkey
Tunisia recorded its first confirmed case of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus in a Congolese man who arrived from Istanbul, the health minister said Friday. Ali Mrabet said the 23-year-old man tested positive and all fellow travellers on his flight from Turkey...
SECURITY, DEFENSE & TERRORISM
The US Africa Policy: Don’t Expect Anything New
U.S. administrations, whether Republican or Democrat, have historically shown limited focus on Africa, prioritizing counterterrorism over development. With recent geopolitical shifts, some are calling for a more balanced approach, emphasizing stability and economic growth over military presence.
Sahel: Inside Chad’s Risky Alliance in Sudan’s Conflict
Chadian President Mahamat Déby’s support for Sudan’s Hemedti amid the Sudanese conflict has sparked tension at home, risking political instability...
The US Africa Policy: Don’t Expect Anything New
Africa has been a low priority for virtually all US administrations, be they republicans or democrats. It is true that Donald Trump has been more...
Algeria boosts defense budget to tackle cross-border threats
Algeria’s draft Finance Law for the year 2025 earmarks record spending for its military and defense. The Ministry of Defense, which oversees the...
Libya’s fragmented military and competition for its control
While the world is focused on the crises in the Middle East and Ukraine, a power struggle continues to destabilize Libya, with protagonists...
Mali: Wagner and Junta leaders in tough spot with series of embarrassing defeats and decisions to make
(Photo from unconfirmed video showing an insurgent burning the presidential plane in Bamako. The person filming the attack speaks in Peul or Fulani...
Mali: The Failing Campaign of Wagner in Mali Presages Trouble for the Junta in Bamako
There have been more chatter and speculations about the activities of Russia’s mercenaries, formerly known as the Wagner Group, now reportedly...
Sahel: Wagner Lost Men in Tinzouatin, but Russia Sees Real ROI in the Sahel. It May Now Make a Move on Nigeria
Russia is seeing a good "return on its investment" in the Sahel. Both Mali and Niger have cut their ties with Ukraine after Kiev’s intelligence...
Sahel: Ukraine invites itself in the Sahel crisis
Ukraine has a good reason to sabotage Russia’s operations around the world. They are at war. And so it is no surprise that they both undermine each...
Update: Dozens of Russian Militiamen Killed by Tuareg Rebels in Mali
Our colleagues of Mondafrique have released the following update. With its unmatched connections in the Sahel and West Africa, Mondafrique is one of...
Africa’s Defense Shifting from Western to Russian Influence
By Arezki Daooud: A lot of military-related events are taking place in the Sahel and other parts of Africa. First, a quick update on US troop...
Niger: Rebel group attacks pipeline, warns Chinese contractor to stay clear
By MondAfrique: The Patriotic Front of Liberation (FPL), a rebel group based between northern Niger and southern Libya, claims to have destroyed a...
Burkina Faso Junta Faces Governance Challenges Amid Controversies and Rumors
Recently, there were shooting incidents in Ouagadougou and the absence of junta chief Captain Traore was interpreted as the end of his reign, only...
North Africa Confronted with New Security Concerns
Security issues in North Africa have been in the news recently. There is news coverage in Spain about Morocco stepping up its military presence near...
Libya’s Abnormal New Normal
By Arezki Daoud: Since 2011, Libya has been engulfed in a bloody civil war after the death of Muammar Gaddafi. Over the years, it was easy to...
SOCIAL, LABOR & THE ENVIRONMENT
Egypt’s Demographic Time Bomb
This month of June 2024, the Egyptian population reached the record number 106.4 million people. Egyptians added 126,000 babies in just one month. Dividing this by 30 days, fetches 4,200 babies per day.
Algeria: Diphtheria and Malaria outbreak in southern border regions claims at least 40 lives
Algeria's southern provinces are experiencing an outbreak of malaria and diphtheria, with the authorities working to reassure that public that “the...
Morocco: First Mpox case reported in Marrakech, health authorities activate emergency protocols
With dense ties to West Africa, Morocco now has its first Mpox case, identified in the tourism city of Marrakech. This marks the first case in North...
Sahel/Sahara: Unprecedented Summer Flooding Devastates Numerous Regions
Every summer, the Sahara and Sahel regions experience floodings that cause deaths and damage. This year, however, the magnitude of the destruction...
Africa CDC Declares Mpox a Public Health Emergency
By MondAfrique: The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has declared monkeypox, also known as Mpox, a "public health...
Migrations: The heartbreaking death of African migrants in the Atlantic, nearly 4,000 miles away
I like the Dominican Republic. It is a joyful country with wonderful people, and well... it is the Caribbeans, after all. I make frequent visits...
Tunisia: Harsh Conditions for Migrants in North Africa as they Seek Path to Italy
Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, has been active seeking the participation of North African nations to stop the flow of undocumented migrants...
How to MEGA or ‘Make Europe Great Again’
By Arezki Daoud | LinkedIn | “Make France Great Again” -MFGA- that does not sound as an effective slogan as MAGA. How about “MEGA”, or “Make Europe...
Egypt’s Demographic Time Bomb
This month of June 2024, the Egyptian population reached the record number 106.4 million people. Egyptians added 126,000 babies in just one month....
Libya’s Abnormal New Normal
By Arezki Daoud: Since 2011, Libya has been engulfed in a bloody civil war after the death of Muammar Gaddafi. Over the years, it was easy to...
Niger and Algeria recall their ambassadors over undocumented migrants
The authorities in Niger summoned the Algerian ambassador Bekhadda Mehdi on 2 April, over Algeria’s treatment of undocumented migrants originating...
Niger and Algeria recall their ambassadors over undocumented migrants
The authorities in Niger summoned the Algerian ambassador Bekhadda Mehdi on 2 April, over Algeria’s treatment of undocumented migrants originating...
Morocco: Health workers go on strike, demand implementation of reforms
While the healthcare sector is undergoing strikes and tensions between health workers and the government rise, Morocco is experiencing an upsurge in...
Morocco: Price of butane gas to increase by 25% in April
(Photo: Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch) Morocco will stop subsidizing butane gas in 2026, but prices will begin to increase next month, April 2024....
Sahel: Wagner Group and Mali army engaging in mass murder and forced displacement of northern populations
The Wagner Group is wracking havoc in northern Mali, with actions that hint on ongoing efforts to depopulate the region. Human rights abuses against...
BUSINESS & THE ECONOMY
Book: Lafarge Group and the Islamic State
Lafarge’s indictment for financing terrorism reveals corporate entanglements with ISIS to maintain operations in Syria. In Personne morale, Justine Augier exposes how multinationals like Lafarge navigate ethics and profit in conflict zones, raising questions on global accountability.
Book: Lafarge Group and the Islamic State
Lafarge’s indictment for financing terrorism reveals corporate entanglements with ISIS to maintain operations in Syria. In Personne morale, Justine...
Sahel: Foreign Mining Firms Face Growing Risks as Juntas Assert Control Over Resources
Mining companies that have been operating in the Sahel for a long time are now experiencing a tectonic shift in their industry’s landscape in the...
Morocco’s Agriculture Facing Headwinds
Morocco's agricultural sector is a major engine of economic activity. It is also the biggest source of employment, with substantial impact on the...
Business: Morocco’s attraction to Chinese tea makes it its biggest customer
Moroccans love a good cup of tea. Mint tea is their favorite, and it is often prepared by first brewing green tea and then soaking mint leaves in it...
Energy: Algeria’s Oil and Gas Ambitions in Niger Makes Trans-Sahara Pipeline More Likely
Algeria is making progress in convincing Niger and Nigeria to go ahead with the construction of the trans-Saharan gas pipeline. Two events emerged...
Flurry of Major Infrastructure and Energy Projects in West Maghreb
North Africa is experiencing record temperatures, and yet, despite the debilitating climate, infrastructure projects continue to roll out...
Egypt Gets Massive Injections of Cash, but Outlook is Still Shaky
By Arezki Daoud | LinkedIn | Egypt has many powerful allies, including those in the global financial sector. No one wants to see it collapse, so...
Drought Disrupts Wheat Sector in Morocco, Uncertainty with French and Russian Supplies
By Arezki Daoud | LinkedIn | An analysis from Bloomberg suggests that Morocco’s wheat harvest this year is likely to fall below 2.5 million tons due...
Algeria’s strengthening EU gas market pushes Morocco to look for its own gas
By Olivier Vallée | MondAfrique: Algeria was in the spotlight at the G7 summit in Bari in Italy in mid-June. New agreements have been signed with...
Niger: Rebel group attacks pipeline, warns Chinese contractor to stay clear
By MondAfrique: The Patriotic Front of Liberation (FPL), a rebel group based between northern Niger and southern Libya, claims to have destroyed a...
Niger: Rebel group attacks pipeline, warns Chinese contractor to stay clear
By MondAfrique: The Patriotic Front of Liberation (FPL), a rebel group based between northern Niger and southern Libya, claims to have destroyed a...
Sahel: French company Orano loses operating license of key uranium site in Niger
This followed months of demands for the project’s resumption, which had been stalled. Orano plans to contest this decision legally. Despite Orano's...
Tunisia’s weak economic performance compounded by late data releases
Tunisia’s political system is still compromised, but the economy is showing some signs of minimal recovery. However, one area that is contributing...
Senegal at the Center of Another Geopolitical Fight
By Arezki Daoud: France is experiencing an unprecedented backlash in the Sahel and in West Africa. Disastrous post-colonial policies forced the...
INTERNATIONAL
Nigerian army drone hits village in Kaduna State, kills civilians
By Aminu Abubakar with Laurie Churchman in Abuja: An army drone strike accidentally hit a village in northwestern Nigeria killing dozens of civilians celebrating a Muslim festival, local authorities, the military and residents said on Monday. Nigeria's armed forces often rely on air strikes in their battle against so-called bandit militias in the northwest and northeast of the country where...
NIGERIA
Nigerian army drone hits village in Kaduna State, kills civilians
By Aminu Abubakar with Laurie Churchman in Abuja: An army drone strike accidentally hit a village in northwestern Nigeria killing dozens of...
Nigeria: Two dead after fire sweeps though displaced camp of Muna Alamdari in Borno
At least two children died when fire swept through an informal camp for displaced people in northeast Nigeria, destroying more than a thousand...
Nigeria’s election runner-up, Atiku Abubakar, files appeal over election challenge
The runner-up in Nigeria's presidential election in February on Tuesday filed an appeal to the Supreme Court to overturn a ruling rejecting a...
Sahel: Boko Haram strikes in Konduga, Nigeria, killing 13
Suspected Boko Haram jihadists have killed 13 people including three soldiers in two separate attacks in northeast Nigeria, local militias told AFP...
Nigeria: Adamawa state imposes curfew to curtail looting
Authorities in Nigeria's northeastern Adamawa state on Sunday imposed a statewide round-the-clock curfew to stop widespread looting of food stores...
TURKEY
Turkey’s inflation ticks up to 62%
Turkey's annual inflation rate ticked up slightly in November, the state statistics agency said on Monday, showing further signs of levelling off...
Turkey’s opposition fractures ahead of March polls
By Dmitry Zaks: Turkey's main opposition party lost a crucial ally Monday in its bid to form a united front against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's...
Turkish leader issues strong rebuke of Israel as death toll in Gaza rises
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday called Israel a "terror state", stepping up his condemnation of the spiralling civilian toll of...
Turkey welcomes Palestinian cancer patients after they entered Egypt
More than two dozen Palestinian cancer patients, who had crossed from Gaza into Egypt, arrived in Turkey for treatment in the early hours of...
Ukraine circumvents Russia’s blockade, ships grains via NATO countries
The first grain ship to sail from Ukraine since Russia reimposed its Black Sea blockade in July reached Istanbul on Thursday, marine traffic...
MOZAMBIQUE
Russia-Africa: From weapon sales to economic ties
By Arezki Daoud: Has the war in Ukraine deter Russia from engagement in Africa? Certainly not! We know on the security front, a growing number of...
Africa: Mozambique, Tanzania pen deals to fight terrorism
Leaders of Mozambique and Tanzania said on Wednesday they had signed defence and security deals aimed at fighting terrorism and crime along their...
Mozambique calls on energy giants to resume gas works
Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi on Wednesday called on energy giants to resume work on gas projects in the country's restive north, which has been...
Mozambique: IMF team approves additional funds for Mozambique
The IMF on Monday said it was satisfied with fiscal progress Mozambique, ranked among the world's poorest countries, has made and paved the way for...
Mozambique: Finance minister blames predecessor in debt scandal
Mozambican Finance Minister Adriano Maleiane told a court Friday that his predecessor had covered up $2 billion in debts that plunged the nation...
DISCOVERY NORTH AFRICA: VIDEOS
Video: Morocco quake, aftermath
Morocco earthquake: How residents are coping with the earthquake (video)
Morocco earthquake: How residents are coping with the earthquake
Podcast: South Africa today: achievements and challenges
In this podcast, Arezki Daoud of MEA Risk and of The North Africa Journal, reports on his thoughts on South Africa, after a 10-day visit in April 2023. Audio only podcast: Youtube video presentation:
Moroccan nomads’ way of life threatened by climate change
By France 24: In the blistering desert of Morocco, the country's last Berber nomads, the Amazigh, say their ancient lifestyle is under threat as climate change brings ever more intense droughts.