Maghreb Edition
MEA Risk’s Arezki Daoud reviews the major political and security highlights that took place in North Africa for the week ending 28 April 2019.
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.
Algeria has reclaimed its position as Spain’s leading natural gas supplier, with bilateral trade surging after a two-year diplomatic freeze. This economic rebound highlights the strategic importance of the energy link that endured despite significant political tensions.
Moroccan activist Ibtissame Lachgar has been placed in police custody following a controversial social media post that featured a slogan deemed offensive to Islam. The incident highlights the legal risks faced by human rights advocates under Morocco’s penal code, which criminalizes insulting the Islamic religion.
Despite the wave of coups d’état in West Africa, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who had close ties to the ousted regimes of Guinea, Mali, and Niger, has successfully protected his country’s interests in the region. He has done so through a strategy that combines drone diplomacy with business interests.
