Shield & Alert
- Sahel: Russia Replaces Wagner in Mali Under Pressure from Algeria, Touaregs Brace
- Egypt: Inflation Creeps Back Up While Foreign Reserves Shrink
- Algeria Cuts French Imports in Bid for Self-Sufficiency and Diversification
- Algeria Confirms Gold and Marble Reserves, Signals Opening of Mining Sector to Foreign Investment
- Morocco Wields Antidumping Measures to Shield Key Industries from Foreign Price Pressures
- Guinea’s Mining Purge Echoes Mali’s Playbook, With Different Goals
- Sahel: Russia Reorganizes in Mali: Wagner Withdraws, Africa Corps Moves In
- The EU’s Silent Partner: Mauritania’s Migration Deal Under Scrutiny
- Libya in Perpetual Crisis: How Khalifa Haftar Is Gaining Ground Amid Institutional Collapse
- Egypt: Challenged Energy Sector Faces Another Brutal Summer
Sahel: Russia Replaces Wagner in Mali Under Pressure from Algeria, Touaregs Brace
With Wagner stepping aside, the Africa Corps is moving in, bringing structure and legitimacy to Moscow’s support for Bamako. Touareg leaders, fearing a more efficient and state-backed force, have begun testing quiet understandings with jihadist factions like GSIM. It’s not a formal alliance, but a sign of growing desperation in a region where alliances shift quickly and survival often overrides ideology.
Sahel: Russia Replaces Wagner in Mali Under Pressure from Algeria, Touaregs Brace
As Wagner withdraws from Mali, Russia is not stepping away, but it’s reshaping its presence there. Under quiet pressure from Algeria, the mercenaries are being replaced by the Africa Corps—a more organized, state-run force that gives Moscow’s backing to Bamako a new...
Business News & Analyses
Egypt: Inflation Creeps Back Up While Foreign Reserves Shrink
Egypt’s inflation jumps and foreign reserves dip, raising fresh concerns about the country’s fragile economic recovery.
Algeria Cuts French Imports in Bid for Self-Sufficiency and Diversification
France once held a firm place in Algeria’s food supply chain, from wheat fields in Burgundy to cattle farms in the Auvergne. But over the past year, that connection has weakened. Quietly but steadily, Algeria has stopped importing key French agricultural products—first wheat, then young cattle—while looking elsewhere to meet its needs.
Algeria Confirms Gold and Marble Reserves, Signals Opening of Mining Sector to Foreign Investment
Algeria updates gold and marble reserve figures and plans to ease foreign investment rules in mining.
Morocco Wields Antidumping Measures to Shield Key Industries from Foreign Price Pressures
Morocco steps up antidumping measures to protect key industries from unfair foreign pricing.
Guinea’s Mining Purge Echoes Mali’s Playbook, With Different Goals
Guinea’s junta has launched a sweeping crackdown on mining permits, abruptly revoking over 100 licenses for bauxite, gold, iron ore, and diamond projects in a bold move to “clean up” the sector. The decision targets firms accused of hoarding land without development or violating Guinea’s mining code.
ANALYSES & MAJOR EVENTS
MAGHREB
Algeria Cuts French Imports in Bid for Self-Sufficiency and Diversification
France once held a firm place in Algeria’s food supply chain, from wheat fields in Burgundy to cattle farms in the Auvergne. But over the past year,...
Algeria Confirms Gold and Marble Reserves, Signals Opening of Mining Sector to Foreign Investment
Algeria is taking a closer look at what lies beneath its southern soil—and the numbers are starting to add up. With new data pointing to large...
Morocco Wields Antidumping Measures to Shield Key Industries from Foreign Price Pressures
Morocco isn’t making much noise about it, but a subtle shift is taking place in how the country handles foreign competition. Over the past year,...
Libya in Perpetual Crisis: How Khalifa Haftar Is Gaining Ground Amid Institutional Collapse
Libya is unable to find a way out of its crisis. It is caught between two rival governments, a dysfunctional international diplomacy, military...
Morocco: Villagers on Edge as Wildfire Spreads Near Tangier
Firefighters in northern Morocco are battling a rapidly spreading wildfire in Houara Forest near Tangier, with 60 hectares already burned. Strong...
Facing Regional Instability, Algeria Introduces Mobilization Law in Line with Global Practices
Facing fast-moving geopolitical changes and threats, Algeria is currently updating its defense-related laws, with a new legislation on general...
More on the Maghreb
SAHEL
Sahel: Russia Replaces Wagner in Mali Under Pressure from Algeria, Touaregs Brace
As Wagner withdraws from Mali, Russia is not stepping away, but it’s reshaping its presence there. Under quiet pressure from Algeria, the...
Ethnic Targeting in West Africa and Sahel: The Forgotten Plight of the Fulani
What’s happening to the Fulani in the Sahel isn’t just war — it’s collective punishment. This is the story no one wants to tell.
Mauritania: Ex-President Verdict Puts Mauritania’s Legal System Under Spotlight
Mauritania’s high-profile corruption trial of former President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz has sparked a bigger conversation across West Africa: are...
Guinea’s Mining Purge Echoes Mali’s Playbook, With Different Goals
Guinea’s junta has launched a sweeping crackdown on mining permits, abruptly revoking over 100 licenses for bauxite, gold, iron ore, and diamond...
Sahel: Russia Reorganizes in Mali: Wagner Withdraws, Africa Corps Moves In
After months of behind-the-scenes talks, Russia has managed to phase out the Wagner Group in Mali and replace it with a new force called the Africa...
West Africa: Despite Record Oil Production, Senegal Faces Fuel Price Pressure
In Senegal, drivers are feeling the pinch as fuel prices soar to the highest levels in the entire WAEMU region—even though the country pumped out 16...
More on the Sahel
EGYPT
Egypt: Inflation Creeps Back Up While Foreign Reserves Shrink
Egypt’s economy is showing signs of strain again. New data reveals a sharp rise in inflation and a drop in foreign currency reserves. Prices are...
Egypt: Challenged Energy Sector Faces Another Brutal Summer
Egypt faces a deepening energy crisis as natural gas production crashes 39%, forcing a return to costly LNG imports and the unpopular decision to...
U.S. Trade Policy Is Accelerating China–North Africa Economic and Defense Engagement
U.S. trade tariffs are accelerating China’s push into developing economies, with North Africa emerging as a key frontier. From a $265 million...
Syria’s New Ruler Faces Jihadist Rebellion and Internal Strife
Ahmed Al-Charaa, once a top jihadist leader, now rules Syria after toppling Bashar al-Assad. But his grip on power is fragile. While rebranding...
Could Syria Avoid a Repeat of the Libyan Disaster: Opinion by Arezki Daoud
By Arezki Daoud: What is happening in Syria cannot leave us insensitive to the plight of the Syrian people, who have endured decades of abuse from...
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...
More on Egypt
EU Report Accuses Tunisia of Migrant Trafficking to Libya
A report presented to the European Parliament accuses Tunisia of deporting sub-Saharan migrants and selling them to Libyan armed groups.
Sahel: Terror Groups Gain Ground as Armies Struggle to Contain Them
Al-Qaeda’s Sahel branch (GSIM) is now emerging as the region’s dominant jihadist force. Even the brutal Islamic State has been largely unable to contain SGIM’s expansion, which has been expanding its control across Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.
Syria’s New Ruler Faces Jihadist Rebellion and Internal Strife
Ahmed Al-Charaa, once a top jihadist leader, now rules Syria after toppling Bashar al-Assad. But his grip on power is fragile. While rebranding himself as a moderate, he faces opposition from the Islamic State
Franco-Algerian Diplomatic Relations in Turmoil
The Franco-Algerian diplomatic relations are going through a turbulent period. The latest signs of discord between them stem from multiple sources that include the change in France’s recognition of Morocco’s plan on the Western Sahara
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.
MORE ANALYSES & MAJOR EVENTS
Libya in Perpetual Crisis: How Khalifa Haftar Is Gaining Ground Amid Institutional Collapse
As Libya’s political divide deepens and foreign actors recalibrate their alliances, Khalifa Haftar is emerging as the country’s dominant power broker, leveraging military strength and international diplomacy amid institutional collapse and the rise of financial crimes.
Morocco: Villagers on Edge as Wildfire Spreads Near Tangier
Firefighters in northern Morocco are battling a rapidly spreading wildfire in Houara Forest near Tangier. The blaze threatens rural communities and raises concerns over an early and intense fire season in the region.
This Week’s Premium Podcast
Ethnic Targeting in West Africa and Sahel: The Forgotten Plight of the Fulani
What’s happening to the Fulani in the Sahel isn’t just war — it’s collective punishment. This is the story no one wants to tell.
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
Sahel: Russia Replaces Wagner in Mali Under Pressure from Algeria, Touaregs Brace
With Wagner stepping aside, the Africa Corps is moving in, bringing structure and legitimacy to Moscow’s support for Bamako. Touareg leaders, fearing a more efficient and state-backed force, have begun testing quiet understandings with jihadist factions like GSIM. It’s not a formal alliance, but a sign of growing desperation in a region where alliances shift quickly and survival often overrides ideology.
MORE ON POLITICS
Sahel: Russia Replaces Wagner in Mali Under Pressure from Algeria, Touaregs Brace
As Wagner withdraws from Mali, Russia is not stepping away, but it’s reshaping its presence there. Under quiet pressure from Algeria, the...
Mauritania: Ex-President Verdict Puts Mauritania’s Legal System Under Spotlight
Mauritania’s high-profile corruption trial of former President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz has sparked a bigger conversation across West Africa: are...
Algeria Cuts French Imports in Bid for Self-Sufficiency and Diversification
France once held a firm place in Algeria’s food supply chain, from wheat fields in Burgundy to cattle farms in the Auvergne. But over the past year,...
Sahel: Russia Reorganizes in Mali: Wagner Withdraws, Africa Corps Moves In
After months of behind-the-scenes talks, Russia has managed to phase out the Wagner Group in Mali and replace it with a new force called the Africa...
The EU’s Silent Partner: Mauritania’s Migration Deal Under Scrutiny
Mauritania is getting €210 million in EU funding to act as a migration gatekeeper to fortress Europe. The northwest African nation has intensified...
Libya in Perpetual Crisis: How Khalifa Haftar Is Gaining Ground Amid Institutional Collapse
Libya is unable to find a way out of its crisis. It is caught between two rival governments, a dysfunctional international diplomacy, military...
Mali in Turmoil: Junta Suspends Political Parties Amid Mounting Opposition
Mali’s ruling junta has officially suspended all political party activities, marking the most sweeping crackdown yet on democratic institutions...
North Africa Defense: Morocco Gets Surface-to-Air Missiles, Algeria-Mauritania Sign Defense Pact
April 2025 has seen a notable series of military developments across North Africa, where rivalries and competition for influence are adding more...
Algeria–France Diplomatic Crisis Intensifies
By Arezki Daoud: I was in Algeria last week and it was difficult to ignore the escalating diplomatic tension between France and Algeria. Both sides...
West Africa: ECOWAS in turmoil
West Africa's economic grouping, ECOWAS, faces a new crisis as former chairman and Guinea-Bissau President Umaro Sissoco Embalo refuses to step down...
France’s Far-Right Pushes to End 1968 Franco-Algerian Treaty, Escalating Diplomatic Tensions
[Photo: French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau] France’s far-right movement has been escalating diplomatic tensions with Algeria by calling to...
Franco-Algerian relations set to worsen over planned military maneuvers in Morocco
On 6 March 2025, Algeria summoned French Ambassador Stéphane Romatet to convey its opposition to the planned Franco-Moroccan military maneuvers...
Building a Road to Nowhere? Morocco’s Unfinished Push to Mauritania
Morocco road project, Es-Semara road, Morocco Mauritania border, road to nowhere, Sahel connectivity, Morocco Algeria rivalry, Mauritania...
Libya Refutes ‘Best Option’ Claim for Gaza Displacement
Libya has been in the news lately in relation to the crisis in Gaza. Reports have been suggesting that Libya may be a potential destination for...
PODCASTS
Ethnic Targeting in West Africa and Sahel: The Forgotten Plight of the Fulani
What’s happening to the Fulani in the Sahel isn’t just war — it’s collective punishment. This is the story no one wants to tell.
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
Sahel: Russia Replaces Wagner in Mali Under Pressure from Algeria, Touaregs Brace
With Wagner stepping aside, the Africa Corps is moving in, bringing structure and legitimacy to Moscow’s support for Bamako. Touareg leaders, fearing a more efficient and state-backed force, have begun testing quiet understandings with jihadist factions like GSIM. It’s not a formal alliance, but a sign of growing desperation in a region where alliances shift quickly and survival often overrides ideology.
Sahel: Russia Replaces Wagner in Mali Under Pressure from Algeria, Touaregs Brace
As Wagner withdraws from Mali, Russia is not stepping away, but it’s reshaping its presence there. Under quiet pressure from Algeria, the...
Sahel: Russia Reorganizes in Mali: Wagner Withdraws, Africa Corps Moves In
After months of behind-the-scenes talks, Russia has managed to phase out the Wagner Group in Mali and replace it with a new force called the Africa...
Facing Regional Instability, Algeria Introduces Mobilization Law in Line with Global Practices
Facing fast-moving geopolitical changes and threats, Algeria is currently updating its defense-related laws, with a new legislation on general...
North Africa Defense: Morocco Gets Surface-to-Air Missiles, Algeria-Mauritania Sign Defense Pact
April 2025 has seen a notable series of military developments across North Africa, where rivalries and competition for influence are adding more...
Franco-Algerian relations set to worsen over planned military maneuvers in Morocco
On 6 March 2025, Algeria summoned French Ambassador Stéphane Romatet to convey its opposition to the planned Franco-Moroccan military maneuvers...
Morocco Busts ‘Lions of the Caliphate’ Terror Cell After Yearlong Probe
The Moroccan security services say the arrested a dozen operatives of an unknown “terrorist group” it named the “Lions of the Caliphate in the...
Sahel: France Concludes Military Presence in Chad
France has officially ended its military presence in Chad, returning the Kossei base to the Chadian government. This marks the end of a...
France’s decades-long military presence in Africa is winding down
France’s decades-long military presence in Africa is winding down as countries like Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire announce the closure of foreign bases,...
Could Syria Avoid a Repeat of the Libyan Disaster: Opinion by Arezki Daoud
By Arezki Daoud: What is happening in Syria cannot leave us insensitive to the plight of the Syrian people, who have endured decades of abuse from...
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...
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.
Ethnic Targeting in West Africa and Sahel: The Forgotten Plight of the Fulani
What’s happening to the Fulani in the Sahel isn’t just war — it’s collective punishment. This is the story no one wants to tell.
West Africa: Despite Record Oil Production, Senegal Faces Fuel Price Pressure
In Senegal, drivers are feeling the pinch as fuel prices soar to the highest levels in the entire WAEMU region—even though the country pumped out 16...
The EU’s Silent Partner: Mauritania’s Migration Deal Under Scrutiny
Mauritania is getting €210 million in EU funding to act as a migration gatekeeper to fortress Europe. The northwest African nation has intensified...
Morocco: Villagers on Edge as Wildfire Spreads Near Tangier
Firefighters in northern Morocco are battling a rapidly spreading wildfire in Houara Forest near Tangier, with 60 hectares already burned. Strong...
Morocco: Two children killed in floods
Struggling with a debilitating drought, Morocco is now experiencing heavy rainfall resulting in floods that have been causing destruction and...
EU Report Accuses Tunisia of Migrant Trafficking to Libya
A report, presented to the European Parliament on January 29 by a group of researchers, accuses Tunisia of deporting sub-Saharan migrants and...
Morocco is confronting a measles outbreak
Morocco is experiencing a measles outbreak which appears to have caused the death of five people on 3,631 measles cases reported in the first three...
Morocco Reports Blocking Thousands of Migration Attempts in 2024, Suggesting Far Greater Total Numbers
In 2024, Moroccan authorities reported blocking 78,685 irregular migration attempts, according to data from the Ministry of the Interior. These...
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...
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...
BUSINESS & THE ECONOMY
Morocco Wields Antidumping Measures to Shield Key Industries from Foreign Price Pressures
Morocco steps up antidumping measures to protect key industries from unfair foreign pricing.
Egypt: Inflation Creeps Back Up While Foreign Reserves Shrink
Egypt’s economy is showing signs of strain again. New data reveals a sharp rise in inflation and a drop in foreign currency reserves. Prices are...
Algeria Cuts French Imports in Bid for Self-Sufficiency and Diversification
France once held a firm place in Algeria’s food supply chain, from wheat fields in Burgundy to cattle farms in the Auvergne. But over the past year,...
Algeria Confirms Gold and Marble Reserves, Signals Opening of Mining Sector to Foreign Investment
Algeria is taking a closer look at what lies beneath its southern soil—and the numbers are starting to add up. With new data pointing to large...
Morocco Wields Antidumping Measures to Shield Key Industries from Foreign Price Pressures
Morocco isn’t making much noise about it, but a subtle shift is taking place in how the country handles foreign competition. Over the past year,...
Guinea’s Mining Purge Echoes Mali’s Playbook, With Different Goals
Guinea’s junta has launched a sweeping crackdown on mining permits, abruptly revoking over 100 licenses for bauxite, gold, iron ore, and diamond...
Egypt: Challenged Energy Sector Faces Another Brutal Summer
Egypt faces a deepening energy crisis as natural gas production crashes 39%, forcing a return to costly LNG imports and the unpopular decision to...
Libya’s Oil Ambitions Undermined by Governance Gridlock
Libya’s energy sector is experiencing renewed interest, with billions in foreign investment and key infrastructure projects now underway....
Libya: Eni Leads Charge in Libya’s Energy Revival
The energy sector appears to be the only bright spot in the Libyan economy. The sector is experiencing significant developments, with substantial...
The Maghreb’s Response to U.S. Tariffs and Rising Chinese Influence
U.S. tariffs have not yet affected consumer spending in the Maghreb, but as the tariffs are sending shockwaves through global trade—North Africa is...
Algeria-France Business Ties Hit by Diplomatic Rift
The ongoing diplomatic tensions between Algeria and France are now affecting economic relations, which had so far remained relatively stable....
Algeria-France Business Ties Hit by Diplomatic Rift
The ongoing diplomatic tensions between Algeria and France are now affecting economic relations, which had so far remained relatively stable....
Mauritania and Senegal Launch LNG Exports with First Cargo from Grand Tortue Ahmeyim Project
The first shipment of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the Grand Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) project, located offshore between Mauritania and Senegal, has...
Morocco to pour $3 billion on high-speed trains ahead of World Cup 2030
Morocco is moving full steam ahead with its high-speed train projects ahead of the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which it will cohost along with Spain and...
Algeria Opens First of Five Seawater Desalination Plants to Combat Water Shortages
On Thursday, February 20, 2025, Algeria opened the first of five planned seawater desalination stations, located in Cap-Blanc, Oran, in the...