Shield & Alert

Inside the US Decision to Target Specific Muslim Brotherhood Branches✓

Jan 15, 2026

The United States’ decision to designate Muslim Brotherhood chapters in Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon as terrorist organizations marks a significant shift in policy, but not the sweeping ban many had anticipated. Rather than targeting the movement as a whole, Washington adopted a selective approach grounded in specific allegations of operational ties to violence, particularly involving Hamas and cross-border militant activity

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Flashpoints: How Emirati and Qatari Competition Is Redrawing the Red Sea Map$

Jan 8, 2026

A low-profile but consequential rivalry between the United Arab Emirates and Qatar is reshaping access to the Red Sea. Through competing alliances, port investments, and security partnerships, both Gulf states are extending their influence across the Horn of Africa. At the center of this struggle lies Somaliland, whose strategic coastline, port infrastructure, and political status have become critical factors in a broader contest involving regional and extra-regional powers.

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Business News & Analyses

Algeria Expands Core Infrastructure Investment Across Core Sectors✓

Algeria is scaling up investment in core infrastructure as part of a long-term strategy spanning transport, water security, energy, and mining. Backed by multi-billion-dollar allocations in the 2026 state budget, the program targets roads, railways, ports, airports, and large-scale hydraulic projects, alongside major mining developments linked to new logistics corridors.
Authorities frame the effort as both an economic and social priority, aimed at improving service reliability, supporting industrial growth, and reducing regional disparities, particularly in remote southern areas. Several projects rank among the largest of their kind in Africa and reflect a continued reliance on state-led development to address structural challenges

Morocco’s Lawyers Push Back Against Proposed Changes to Bar Governance$

A proposed law governing Morocco’s legal profession has triggered protests and a nationwide strike, as lawyers accuse the Justice Ministry of sidelining consultations and expanding executive oversight. The dispute suggests broader tensions over professional independence, regulatory authority, and the future of Morocco’s legal market.

Burkina Faso: Deep Supply Weaknesses in Ouagadougou Amid Seasonal Butane Shortages$

Each year between December and January, Ouagadougou faces a renewed shortage of butane gas just as household demand peaks. The recurring tension on supply, linked to limited stocks, uneven distribution and a shortage of empty cylinders for refilling, is forcing many families to fall back on charcoal and firewood, with financial, health and environmental consequences.

Air Algérie Expands Long-Haul Capacity With Second A330-900neo$

Air Algérie has added a second Airbus A330-900neo to its fleet as part of a gradual long-haul renewal program. The aircraft has been assigned to routes linking Algiers with Dubai, Beijing, and Guangzhou, reflecting a focus on maintaining capacity on established intercontinental markets rather than rapid network expansion.

Tourists and Egyptians Abroad Support the Egyptian Economy$

Tourism and remittances from Egyptians working abroad remain two of Egypt’s most important sources of foreign currency. As the economy continues to face external financing pressure, these inflows support the balance of payments, domestic consumption, and service-sector employment. Recent growth in tourist arrivals and a rebound in remittance flows highlight how closely Egypt’s economic management depends on international travel demand and overseas labor income.

ANALYSES & MAJOR EVENTS

MAGHREB

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SAHEL

More on the Sahel

EGYPT

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Morocco’s Lawyers Push Back Against Proposed Changes to Bar Governance$

A proposed law governing Morocco’s legal profession has triggered protests and a nationwide strike, as lawyers accuse the Justice Ministry of sidelining consultations and expanding executive oversight. The dispute suggests broader tensions over professional independence, regulatory authority, and the future of Morocco’s legal market.

Mali: Gold Mining Site in Sikasso Region Hit by Armed Group$

An armed attack on the Morila gold mine in southern Mali caused material damage and forced a temporary suspension of operations. Security forces were deployed to regain control of the site, and employees held during the incident were released unharmed. The attack highlights ongoing security risks facing economic infrastructure across the Sahel.

Burkina Faso: Deep Supply Weaknesses in Ouagadougou Amid Seasonal Butane Shortages$

Each year between December and January, Ouagadougou faces a renewed shortage of butane gas just as household demand peaks. The recurring tension on supply, linked to limited stocks, uneven distribution and a shortage of empty cylinders for refilling, is forcing many families to fall back on charcoal and firewood, with financial, health and environmental consequences.

Sahel: Jihadist Attack Kills Local Prefect in Southwestern Niger$

A jihadist attack in southwestern Niger has killed the prefect of Torodi along with several members of his family, marking the first time a sitting prefect has been killed in an assault in his own district. The attack underscores growing insecurity near the border with Burkina Faso, where violence has led to school closures, population displacement, and a prolonged state of emergency.

Flashpoints: How Emirati and Qatari Competition Is Redrawing the Red Sea Map$

A low-profile but consequential rivalry between the United Arab Emirates and Qatar is reshaping access to the Red Sea. Through competing alliances, port investments, and security partnerships, both Gulf states are extending their influence across the Horn of Africa. At the center of this struggle lies Somaliland, whose strategic coastline, port infrastructure, and political status have become critical factors in a broader contest involving regional and extra-regional powers.

Flashpoints: Benin-Niger Tensions Deepen as Diplomatic Relations Deteriorate$

Relations between Benin and Niger have entered a more confrontational phase following reciprocal diplomatic expulsions, reflecting deeper political and security disagreements. Since Niger’s military takeover, diverging regional alignments and growing mutual suspicion have complicated dialogue, with consequences extending beyond diplomacy to trade flows, border communities, and regional stability in West Africa.

MORE ANALYSES & MAJOR EVENTS

Libya: Turkey is Here to Stay, Abandons Exit Strategy$

Jan 5, 2026

Turkey’s parliament has approved a 24-month extension of its military deployment in Libya through early 2028, marking a shift from emergency intervention to formalized long-term strategic positioning. The extension reflects calculated power projection rather than crisis response, with Turkey consolidating assets at Al-Watiya airbase to secure leverage across Eastern Mediterranean maritime disputes, energy corridors, and regional competition dynamics. The mandate complicates the stalled 5+5 withdrawal process by providing diplomatic cover for other foreign actors to maintain their presence, creating a reinforcing cycle where each deployment justifies the others and transforms temporary stabilization into indefinite strategic competition by proxy.

Tunisia: Leading Labor Union in Turmoil$

Jan 4, 2026

Tunisia’s historic labor union, the UGTT, is facing one of the most serious internal crises in its modern history. Deep divisions within the leadership, questions over legitimacy, and mounting pressure from President Kaïs Saïed have pushed the organization into open turmoil. The possible resignation of Secretary General Noureddine Tabboubi comes as the state moves to strip the union of its traditional role in wage negotiations and social dialogue, signaling a broader effort to marginalize independent labor power. As internal factions clash over leadership, strategy, and the timing of a general strike, the future role of the UGTT as a counterweight in Tunisian political life is increasingly uncertain.

This Week’s Premium Podcast

POLITICS 

Inside the US Decision to Target Specific Muslim Brotherhood Branches✓

Jan 15, 2026

The United States’ decision to designate Muslim Brotherhood chapters in Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon as terrorist organizations marks a significant shift in policy, but not the sweeping ban many had anticipated. Rather than targeting the movement as a whole, Washington adopted a selective approach grounded in specific allegations of operational ties to violence, particularly involving Hamas and cross-border militant activity

MORE ON POLITICS

Tunisia: Leading Labor Union in Turmoil$

Jan 4, 2026

The possible resignation of Noureddine Tabboubi, the general secretary of the UGTT (Tunisian General Labor Union), is the culmination of a deep...

MORE

SECURITY, DEFENSE & TERRORISM

Egypt’s Red Lines in the Horn of Africa Are Becoming Explicit✓

Jan 15, 2026

Egypt’s expanding posture in Somalia and its firm stance on Sudan reveal a coherent security doctrine taking shape along its southern and southeastern perimeter. Cairo is drawing explicit red lines against state collapse, territorial fragmentation, and the emergence of parallel authorities in strategically sensitive areas of the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea basin.

MORE

SOCIAL, LABOR & THE ENVIRONMENT

Tunisia: Leading Labor Union in Turmoil$

Jan 4, 2026

The possible resignation of Noureddine Tabboubi, the general secretary of the UGTT (Tunisian General Labor Union), is the culmination of a deep...

MORE

BUSINESS & THE ECONOMY

Algeria Expands Core Infrastructure Investment Across Core Sectors✓

Jan 15, 2026

Algeria is scaling up investment in core infrastructure as part of a long-term strategy spanning transport, water security, energy, and mining. Backed by multi-billion-dollar allocations in the 2026 state budget, the program targets roads, railways, ports, airports, and large-scale hydraulic projects, alongside major mining developments linked to new logistics corridors.
Authorities frame the effort as both an economic and social priority, aimed at improving service reliability, supporting industrial growth, and reducing regional disparities, particularly in remote southern areas. Several projects rank among the largest of their kind in Africa and reflect a continued reliance on state-led development to address structural challenges

MORE
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