Shield & Alert
- Moroccan Streamer Ilyas El Maliki Arrested Again
- Mauritania Confronts Concentrated Desert Locust Outbreak With Regional Spillover Risk
- Morocco: Ex-Minister and Lawyer, Mohamed Ziane Still in Detention
- West Africa: Allegations of Staged Military Takeover Cloud Guinea-Bissau’s Electoral Crisis
- Washington Initiates Review Process for Possible Terrorism Designations of Muslim Brotherhood Branches
- US: Global Media Reacts to America’s Epstein Reckoning
- Mauritania’s Former President Loses Final Appeal, Will Serve 15 Years
- Libya: The Strange Case of Hannibal Gaddafi: From Exile to Detention to Release
- Sahel: Community Mourns Mariam Cissé, Killed by Militants in Northern Mali
- Algeria: 25 Executives Charged in Alleged Metals Fraud
Mauritania Confronts Concentrated Desert Locust Outbreak With Regional Spillover Risk
Mauritania is confronting a concentrated desert locust outbreak, while FAO warns that shifting winds and favorable conditions could bring adult groups into neighboring countries.
US: Global Media Reacts to America’s Epstein Reckoning
Foreign coverage frames the Epstein documents release as a test of US transparency and political accountability, often highlighting global expectations for how democracies handle scandals involving powerful figures.
Business News & Analyses
Algeria: 25 Executives Charged in Alleged Metals Fraud
The trial of 25 senior figures from Algeria’s state-run metals group Imetal, including former executives and public officials, is set to begin on November 24 in Algiers. The case involves allegations of large-scale corruption, public fund diversion, and favoritism in public contracts, exposing deeper risks of opaque management in Algerian state-run industries. Prosecutors say the scandal contributed to production losses and repeated breakdowns at strategic facilities.
Tunisia: Wage Dispute Triggers Widespread Bank Shutdowns in Tunisia
A nationwide banking strike in Tunisia has halted operations across major institutions as employees protest falling living standards and demand wage hikes
Morocco: Drought Pressure Threatens 2025-26 Farming Season
Repeated drought and water shortages continue to strain Morocco’s agriculture sector, raising urgent concerns about food security. Despite recent investments in large dams, groundwater development, and desalination, below-average rainfall and shrinking storage reservoirs are disrupting both urban and rural water supplies. Farmers and rural communities are particularly vulnerable as planning for the 2025-26 season remains clouded by uncertainty over much-needed rain.
Tunisia: Economic Pressures Erode Household Purchasing Power
A Fitch Solutions report published in October 2025 finds that the average Tunisian household’s purchasing power has declined by 11.1% since 2019, with real incomes struggling to keep pace with inflation and economic growth. The report notes that while consumption continues to rise, it outpaces GDP growth and savings, deepening the country’s structural economic challenges.
Egypt Pegs its Power Supply to New Israeli Gas Imports
Egypt’s government has finalized a new multi-billion dollar contract to import natural gas from Israel, aiming to address domestic shortages that have led to rolling blackouts across the country.
Sahel: Fuel Blockade in Mali Brings Daily Life to a Standstill
A militant fuel blockade has brought much of Mali and its key trade routes to a halt, sparking shortages, shuttering schools, and disrupting daily life from Bamako to Dakar. With convoys targeted and fuel prices soaring, the region faces mounting economic and security risks.
Libya: NOC Expands Exploration as Libya Targets 1.6 Million Barrels by 2026
Libya’s energy sector is gaining momentum as Sonatrach and other major players resume exploration and drilling across the Ghadames Basin. Recent activity includes Sonatrach’s return after a decade-long halt, new exploratory wells by the National Oil Corporation, and successful deep-layer production tests by Zueitina Oil Company.
Morocco: Forces Drive Morocco’s 2026 Budget: Security Recruitment Leads Job Creation Push
Morocco’s 2026 Finance Bill expands state hiring across security, health, and education, creating 36,000 new public positions—mainly in the Interior and Defense Ministries—but the scale underscores political rather than economic priorities, in a country where unemployment hovers near 13 percent and youth joblessness exceeds a third of the labor force.
Egypt’s Debt Diplomacy: How Brussels Became Cairo’s Latest Creditor of Confidence
The EU’s €7.4 billion package to Egypt marks Europe’s largest financial commitment to any non‑EU partner, aimed at stabilizing Cairo’s economy but adding to its already heavy debt load, now nearing 90 percent of GDP. The deal underscores Egypt’s strategic value to Europe amid regional turmoil and migration pressures.
Mali’s Energy Collapse Deepens as Fuel Blockade and Infrastructure Decay Converge
Mali is sinking deeper into darkness as power outages, crumbling roads, and fuel shortages combine into a nationwide crisis. Months of blackouts and blocked fuel imports by jihadist fighters have crippled transport, trade, and daily life, exposing years of neglect in energy and infrastructure management.
ANALYSES & MAJOR EVENTS
MAGHREB
Moroccan Streamer Ilyas El Maliki Arrested Again
Moroccan online streamer Ilyas El Maliki was detained on the evening of Monday, 25 November 2025 in the coastal city of El Jadida, police sources...
Morocco: Ex-Minister and Lawyer, Mohamed Ziane Still in Detention
Former Moroccan minister and lawyer Mohamed Ziane is currently detained on the basis of two distinct criminal cases, with one sentence completed and...
Washington Initiates Review Process for Possible Terrorism Designations of Muslim Brotherhood Branches
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on 23 November 2025 that his administration has initiated a formal review to determine whether certain...
US: Global Media Reacts to America’s Epstein Reckoning
The global media is following the Epstein scandal as a sign of political strain in Washington. The battle over the release of Justice Department...
Libya: The Strange Case of Hannibal Gaddafi: From Exile to Detention to Release
Hannibal Gaddafi, the son of Libya’s former leader Muammar Gaddafi, was freed from a Lebanese jail in November 2025 after nearly ten years in...
Algeria: 25 Executives Charged in Alleged Metals Fraud
A high-profile corruption trial involving Algeria’s state-owned metals conglomerate Imetal is set to begin on November 24 before the economic and...
More on the Maghreb
SAHEL
Mauritania Confronts Concentrated Desert Locust Outbreak With Regional Spillover Risk
Mauritania is facing a concentrated desert locust outbreak in several western and northern regions, prompting intensified surveillance and control...
West Africa: Allegations of Staged Military Takeover Cloud Guinea-Bissau’s Electoral Crisis
Guinea-Bissau, a small West African nation of 2.2 million people sandwiched between Senegal and Guinea, has been thrust into political turmoil...
Mauritania: New Rescue Off Nouadhibou as Regional Migration Pressures Intensify
Mauritanian authorities and local rescue teams recovered a pirogue carrying 156 migrants on Monday off the coast of Nouadhibou, ending a ten-day...
Mauritania’s Former President Loses Final Appeal, Will Serve 15 Years
Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, who led Mauritania from 2009 to 2019, has lost his final appeal and will serve 15 years in prison. The Supreme Court of...
Sahel: Community Mourns Mariam Cissé, Killed by Militants in Northern Mali
Mariam Cissé, a well-known content creator from the town of Tonka in northern Mali, was abducted on November 6, 2025, at a weekly fair in Echel,...
Sahel: Foreign Workers Targeted in New Mali Kidnappings
A series of recent kidnappings in western and northern Mali have reinforced growing concerns for foreign workers and business interests operating in...
More on the Sahel
EGYPT
Washington Initiates Review Process for Possible Terrorism Designations of Muslim Brotherhood Branches
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on 23 November 2025 that his administration has initiated a formal review to determine whether certain...
Egypt’s Justice Reform: Promises and Persistent Problems
Egypt amended its criminal procedure code in November 2025, rolling out changes framed by officials as efforts to “modernize” the justice system and...
Egypt Pegs its Power Supply to New Israeli Gas Imports
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this week referred in court to a “historic” natural gas deal with Egypt, according to reporting from...
Egypt’s Debt Diplomacy: How Brussels Became Cairo’s Latest Creditor of Confidence
When European and Egyptian leaders convened in Brussels for their first‑ever EU–Egypt Summit on 22 October 2025, the event signaled Europe’s...
Egypt’s Red Sea Crisis Intersects with U.S. Trade Strategy in Global Infrastructure Rivalry
Egypt’s foreign minister warned last week that Houthi attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea have cost the country more than $9 billion in...
Egypt Draws a Red Line on Nile Rights in GERD Dispute
Egypt is insisting that Nile water security is an uncompromising national priority, with the country’s leadership rejecting any attempts at...
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
French Nationals Urged to Leave Mali as Insurgent Attacks Intensify in the Sahel
Defense ministers from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger met in Niamey to accelerate their joint military alliance, but no deployment date was confirmed. France is advising nationals to leave Mali “temporarily” amid deteriorating security, while international shipping companies hesitate to continue cargo routes. November 7 brought reports of multiple attacks by insurgents, further highlighting the region’s instability.
Morocco: Two Years After the High Atlas Mountains’ Earthquake, Recovery Remains Uneven
Two years after Morocco’s 2023 earthquake, thousands of families in the High Atlas Mountains are still living in temporary shelters as rebuilding moves slowly, despite major humanitarian efforts and cash aid programs.
This Week’s Premium Podcast
Why Morocco’s Protests Aren’t Just About Youth: The Fight for Dignity and Justice
Morocco is facing its largest wave of unrest in years, with mass protests erupting across major cities demanding better hospitals, schools, and an end to corruption.
POLITICS
US: Global Media Reacts to America’s Epstein Reckoning
Foreign coverage frames the Epstein documents release as a test of US transparency and political accountability, often highlighting global expectations for how democracies handle scandals involving powerful figures.
MORE ON POLITICS
Morocco: Ex-Minister and Lawyer, Mohamed Ziane Still in Detention
Former Moroccan minister and lawyer Mohamed Ziane is currently detained on the basis of two distinct criminal cases, with one sentence completed and...
West Africa: Allegations of Staged Military Takeover Cloud Guinea-Bissau’s Electoral Crisis
Guinea-Bissau, a small West African nation of 2.2 million people sandwiched between Senegal and Guinea, has been thrust into political turmoil...
Washington Initiates Review Process for Possible Terrorism Designations of Muslim Brotherhood Branches
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on 23 November 2025 that his administration has initiated a formal review to determine whether certain...
US: Global Media Reacts to America’s Epstein Reckoning
The global media is following the Epstein scandal as a sign of political strain in Washington. The battle over the release of Justice Department...
Mauritania’s Former President Loses Final Appeal, Will Serve 15 Years
Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, who led Mauritania from 2009 to 2019, has lost his final appeal and will serve 15 years in prison. The Supreme Court of...
Libya: The Strange Case of Hannibal Gaddafi: From Exile to Detention to Release
Hannibal Gaddafi, the son of Libya’s former leader Muammar Gaddafi, was freed from a Lebanese jail in November 2025 after nearly ten years in...
Spain Faces Scrutiny Over Migrant Centers in Mauritania
Debate in Spain has increased over government funding for migrant centers in Mauritania, with some critics arguing these sites operate more like...
Crisis in Sudan: Meet the Ruthless Warlord Hemedti
Libya has Khalifa Haftar, Sudan has its own ruthless warlord, Mohamed Hamdan Dagolo—better known as Hemedti. Like Haftar, Hemedti rose to power...
Mauritanian Police Detain Anti-Slavery Activist After Advocacy Event
Warda Ahmed Souleymane, a prominent member of Mauritania’s abolitionist movement, was detained by police in Nouakchott on October 31, 2025, soon...
Security Council Backs Morocco’s Plan for Western Sahara, Sets Out Negotiation Terms
The UN Security Council voted on October 31, 2025, to adopt a resolution regarding Western Sahara, which was drafted by the United States and...
Algerian Lawmakers Consider Stripping Citizenship from Nationals Abroad
A plan resurfacing in Algeria’s parliament would allow authorities to strip citizenship from Algerians who commit acts abroad deemed seriously...
Morocco’s New Election Law Sparks Free Speech Battle
Morocco’s government has just approved a controversial change to its election law—setting out steep new penalties for anyone who publicly spreads...
Tunisia: Pollution Uprising in Gabès Turning Into Sustained Protest Movement
MondAfrique: Gabès' fight against pollution has reached historic levels, turning into a sustained protest movement with possible national...
Opinion: Why Cameroon’s Crisis Threatens a Regional Collapse
In an oped in MondAfrique, Johnny Vianney Bissakonou argues that gambling with Cameroon’s stability is reckless. He warns that the uncertainty...
SECURITY, DEFENSE & TERRORISM
French Nationals Urged to Leave Mali as Insurgent Attacks Intensify in the Sahel
Defense ministers from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger met in Niamey to accelerate their joint military alliance, but no deployment date was confirmed. France is advising nationals to leave Mali “temporarily” amid deteriorating security, while international shipping companies hesitate to continue cargo routes. November 7 brought reports of multiple attacks by insurgents, further highlighting the region’s instability.
Sahel: Community Mourns Mariam Cissé, Killed by Militants in Northern Mali
Mariam Cissé, a well-known content creator from the town of Tonka in northern Mali, was abducted on November 6, 2025, at a weekly fair in Echel,...
Sahel: Foreign Workers Targeted in New Mali Kidnappings
A series of recent kidnappings in western and northern Mali have reinforced growing concerns for foreign workers and business interests operating in...
Crisis in Sudan: Meet the Ruthless Warlord Hemedti
Libya has Khalifa Haftar, Sudan has its own ruthless warlord, Mohamed Hamdan Dagolo—better known as Hemedti. Like Haftar, Hemedti rose to power...
French Nationals Urged to Leave Mali as Insurgent Attacks Intensify in the Sahel
Faced with a surge of Islamist insurgency and increased boldness, the Defense Ministers of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger met on November 7 in Niamey...
Mali’s Energy Collapse Deepens as Fuel Blockade and Infrastructure Decay Converge
Mali’s capital has grown quieter in the dark. Across Bamako and beyond, entire neighborhoods now spend long nights without electricity, while...
Mali: Bamako Strikes Back as JNIM Expands Its Rule
Over one turbulent weekend in mid‑October 2025, Mali’s army announced a series of airstrikes against jihadist strongholds just as the country’s most...
Sahel: Three Sahel States Join Forces in Northern Mali Offensive
Joint counterterrorism forces from the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) have carried out a precision operation in northern Mali, killing...
Africa: New Warning of Evolving Hybrid Threats Linking Terrorism, Crime, and Climate Pressures Across Africa
At a recent Mediterranean Dialogues Forum in Naples, Mauritania’s Foreign Minister Mohamed Salem Ould Merzoug delivered a sobering assessment of how...
Washington Returns to Libya’s Frontlines in Bid to Counter Russia and Reunify Militias
U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) has announced that Libya, long divided between rival political and military factions, will host a key segment of next...
Algeria and Tunisia Expand Military Cooperation Amid Regional Security Tensions
In a move reflecting the deepening security alignment between Algeria and Tunisia, the two neighbors signed a new defense cooperation agreement in...
Libya’s Path to Stability: Still Blocked by Fragmentation and Armed Rivalries
Libya closes 2025 still caught in a web of armed rivalries, political fragmentation, and recurring violence that continually unsettle both...
Sahel: Surging Jihadist Violence Batters the Sahel, Exposing Government Weakness
By Arezki Daoud: A surge in jihadist violence has rocked the Sahel region through late September and early October 2025, disrupting lives from the...
Algeria Plans Major Military Budget Increase for 2026
Algeria is set to approve a substantial increase in defense spending for 2026, marking the largest allocation ever proposed for its armed forces....
Mali: Ongoing Attacks Prompt Longer Curfew in Western Mali
Authorities in Mali have extended the curfew in Kayes for another month, following a series of violent attacks attributed to armed groups operating...
SOCIAL, LABOR & THE ENVIRONMENT
Tunisia: Pollution Uprising in Gabès Turning Into Sustained Protest Movement
Tens of thousands have taken to the streets of Gabès, Tunisia, demanding the shutdown of a polluting chemical complex and drawing national attention to public health, broken government promises, and the urgency of real change. As the crisis escalates, Gabès is testing Tunisia’s ability to respond to grassroots mobilization against environmental and political neglect.
Moroccan Streamer Ilyas El Maliki Arrested Again
Moroccan online streamer Ilyas El Maliki was detained on the evening of Monday, 25 November 2025 in the coastal city of El Jadida, police sources...
Mauritania Confronts Concentrated Desert Locust Outbreak With Regional Spillover Risk
Mauritania is facing a concentrated desert locust outbreak in several western and northern regions, prompting intensified surveillance and control...
Mauritania: New Rescue Off Nouadhibou as Regional Migration Pressures Intensify
Mauritanian authorities and local rescue teams recovered a pirogue carrying 156 migrants on Monday off the coast of Nouadhibou, ending a ten-day...
Sahel: Community Mourns Mariam Cissé, Killed by Militants in Northern Mali
Mariam Cissé, a well-known content creator from the town of Tonka in northern Mali, was abducted on November 6, 2025, at a weekly fair in Echel,...
Morocco: Two Years After the High Atlas Mountains’ Earthquake, Recovery Remains Uneven
In September 2023, a powerful earthquake struck Morocco’s High Atlas Mountains, killing nearly 3,000 people and destroying much of the rural...
Mauritanian Police Detain Anti-Slavery Activist After Advocacy Event
Warda Ahmed Souleymane, a prominent member of Mauritania’s abolitionist movement, was detained by police in Nouakchott on October 31, 2025, soon...
Algerian Lawmakers Consider Stripping Citizenship from Nationals Abroad
A plan resurfacing in Algeria’s parliament would allow authorities to strip citizenship from Algerians who commit acts abroad deemed seriously...
Tunisia: Pollution Uprising in Gabès Turning Into Sustained Protest Movement
MondAfrique: Gabès' fight against pollution has reached historic levels, turning into a sustained protest movement with possible national...
Sahel: Fuel Blockade in Mali Brings Daily Life to a Standstill
By MondAfrique: Mali is in the grip of an unprecedented fuel crisis—a crisis now spilling into Senegal. The vital Dakar-Bamako supply route is...
Morocco’s Youth Protests Regain Momentum, Calls for Reform Ahead of 2025 Africa Cup
Morocco’s youth-led protest movement, GenZ212, returned to the streets on Saturday, October 18, after a short pause, confirming growing frustration...
Morocco’s Youth Protests Regain Momentum, Calls for Reform Ahead of 2025 Africa Cup
Morocco’s youth-led protest movement, GenZ212, returned to the streets on Saturday, October 18, after a short pause, confirming growing frustration...
Sahel: The Demographic Tide Reshaping Mali’s Regional Balance
Mali is on the cusp of a demographic transformation. According to new projections from the country’s National Population Directorate (DNP), the...
Tunisia: Protests in Gabès Over Pollution and Repression
Over the past week, Gabès, in Tunisia, has seen a dramatic escalation in social unrest centered on anti-pollution protests targeting a...
Algeria: Diphtheria Death Sparks Outbreak Fears in Skikda
The province of Skikda is experiencing anxiety after the announcement on Thursday of a death caused by diphtheria. This resurgence of a disease once...
BUSINESS & THE ECONOMY
Tunisia: Wage Dispute Triggers Widespread Bank Shutdowns in Tunisia
A nationwide banking strike in Tunisia has halted operations across major institutions as employees protest falling living standards and demand wage hikes
Algeria: 25 Executives Charged in Alleged Metals Fraud
A high-profile corruption trial involving Algeria’s state-owned metals conglomerate Imetal is set to begin on November 24 before the economic and...
Tunisia: Wage Dispute Triggers Widespread Bank Shutdowns in Tunisia
Thousands of employees in Tunisia’s banking, financial, and insurance sectors observed a remote strike on Monday and Tuesday, November 3–4, 2025,...
Morocco: Drought Pressure Threatens 2025-26 Farming Season
Morocco's 2025-26 agricultural season faces mounting difficulties due to sustained drought and diminishing water resources. Despite temporary...
Tunisia: Economic Pressures Erode Household Purchasing Power
A recent Fitch Solutions report, “Consumption and Household Income in Tunisia,” published October 22, 2025, finds that Tunisia’s average household...
Egypt Pegs its Power Supply to New Israeli Gas Imports
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this week referred in court to a “historic” natural gas deal with Egypt, according to reporting from...
Libya: NOC Expands Exploration as Libya Targets 1.6 Million Barrels by 2026
Libya is pressing ahead with a broad-based energy revival that combines renewed foreign exploration, fresh domestic achievements, and ambitious...
Morocco: Forces Drive Morocco’s 2026 Budget: Security Recruitment Leads Job Creation Push
Morocco’s 2026 draft Finance Bill sets out one of the country’s most ambitious recruitment plans in years, creating more than 36,000 new jobs across...
Egypt’s Debt Diplomacy: How Brussels Became Cairo’s Latest Creditor of Confidence
When European and Egyptian leaders convened in Brussels for their first‑ever EU–Egypt Summit on 22 October 2025, the event signaled Europe’s...
Mali’s Energy Collapse Deepens as Fuel Blockade and Infrastructure Decay Converge
Mali’s capital has grown quieter in the dark. Across Bamako and beyond, entire neighborhoods now spend long nights without electricity, while...
Morocco Strengthens Global Standing with Record Tourism Growth
Morocco’s tourism sector continues its post-pandemic climb, welcoming 15 million visitors between January and September 2025 — a 14% increase...
Morocco Strengthens Global Standing with Record Tourism Growth
Morocco’s tourism sector continues its post-pandemic climb, welcoming 15 million visitors between January and September 2025 — a 14% increase...
Algeria Pushes for Ambitious Cashless Economy by 2028
Algeria says it will transition to a completely cashless economy by 2028, according to an official plan led by the Bank of Algeria and its National...
Egypt’s Red Sea Crisis Intersects with U.S. Trade Strategy in Global Infrastructure Rivalry
Egypt’s foreign minister warned last week that Houthi attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea have cost the country more than $9 billion in...
Egypt Draws a Red Line on Nile Rights in GERD Dispute
Egypt is insisting that Nile water security is an uncompromising national priority, with the country’s leadership rejecting any attempts at...