Moroccan Activist Detained Over Controversial Social Media Post
Moroccan activist Ibtissame Lachgar, known for her advocacy for individual liberties, women’s rights, and LGBTQ+ rights, has been placed in custody after a controversial social media post. In late July, Lachgar published a photo of herself wearing a t-shirt...Turkey: Erdogan’s Winning Strategy in Africa
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...Tunisia: Armed Militias Attack the UGTT
By MondAfrique: On Thursday, August 7, 2025, unidentified groups attempted to forcefully enter the Tunisian General Labor Union (UGTT) offices at Mohamed Ali Square, brandishing hateful and hostile slogans against the country’s main labor union action, calling...The Human Cost of the EU-Mauritania Migration Partnership
Since early 2024, the Mauritanian government has intensified its enforcement operations against undocumented sub-Saharan migrants in Nouakchott, Nouadhibou, and other urban centers. This campaign, which includes increased checkpoints and arrests, is a direct...Geopolitics: Religion, Oil, and Minerals are Now Washington’s Africa Strategy
Under Donald Trump, US Africa policy is zeroing in on oil and mineral wealth while using evangelical networks as a back channel into Central Africa — offering political cover to leaders and countering Chinese and Russian influence where Catholic voices are more...French President Wants to Suspend Visa-Free Travel for Algerian Diplomats
French President Emmanuel Macron has requested that the government suspend visa exemptions for Algerian diplomatic and official passport holders. This move, detailed in a letter to Prime Minister François Bayrou, is a response to growing diplomatic tensions between...Protests Erupt as Water Shortage Grips Mauritania
Opposition lawmakers in Mauritania staged a sit-in at the Ministry of Water to protest a two-week-long water shortage in the capital. The demonstration, which included a demand for the immediate resignation of the Water Minister, comes amid growing public frustration...Ivory Coast Edges Toward Political Flashpoint Ahead of 2025 Election
________ This analysis is reserved for clients subscribing to The North Africa Journal Already a subscriber? Please log in here Not a subscriber? Take advantage of our lowest subscription rates. Subscribe todayNiger Deepens Strategic Ties with Russia After Break from France
________ This analysis is reserved for clients subscribing to The North Africa Journal Already a subscriber? Please log in here Not a subscriber? Take advantage of our lowest subscription rates. Subscribe todayTunis’ Crumbling Infrastructure: 1,500 Buildings Deemed At Risk of Collapse
________ This analysis is reserved for clients subscribing to The North Africa Journal Already a subscriber? Please log in here Not a subscriber? Take advantage of our lowest subscription rates. Subscribe todayLibya’s Fragile Peace Shaken Again by Local Violence
Tensions are flaring again in Libya, from deadly street battles in Tripoli’s suburbs to violent protests in Sabratha. The killing of a well-known militia leader and the death of a police officer days apart reveal a deeper unraveling—where everyday disputes turn into...
Jihadist Expansion Threatens Coastal West Africa
The Sahel is confronting an intensifying insurgency that continues to evolve in scale and complexity. Armed groups such as the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM) and the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (EIGS) are adapting and adjusting their...Mali’s Airports Are Battling a Flow of Cocaine
Mali’s airports, from the bustling hub in Bamako to smaller regional ones, have become a key front in the battle against the flood of cocaine pouring into West Africa. While international help and modern tools like AI and trained dogs have led to some big busts,...Algeria Officially Joins ASEAN
Algeria just made a big splash on the global stage, officially joining ASEAN as a partner (What is Asean: An Explainer). The North African nation is essentially hitting the reset button on its foreign policy, shifting its gaze from its usual European and Mediterranean...
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...
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 countries in the region finally holding powerful leaders accountable, or are courtrooms becoming battlegrounds for...
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 climbing faster than expected, and the financial cushion Egypt relies on has shrunk. Despite recent efforts backed by the...
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...
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 reserves of gold and marble, state mining group Sonarem has announced a more active push to tap into these resources. At the...
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, authorities have launched a string of antidumping investigations and trade measures aimed at shielding local...
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—announced in dramatic prime-time...
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 Corps—a clear sign that Moscow is reworking its playbook in the Sahel. Wagner’s fighters, once relied on by Mali’s...
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 million barrels of oil in 2024. Behind the wheel and across the economy, frustration is building. Many point to the...
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 its role as Europe’s southern migration police—intercepting over 30,000 migrants in 2025 and dismantling smuggling...
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 grandstanding, and a debilitating illicit financial activity. Despite efforts to bring stability to the country through...
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 use polluting fuel oil. With multinationals like Chevron exiting failed exploration blocks and summer blackouts looming,...
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 winds and high temperatures are hampering containment efforts as Canadair planes assist ground crews. The blaze threatens...
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 since the 2020 coup. The decision, announced on May 7 by General Assimi Goïta, cites public order concerns and follows weeks...
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 mobilization. The proposed law was submitted by the justice ministry to the national assembly, stating that it is in line...
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 phosphate plant in Egypt to multi-billion-dollar industrial agreements in Algeria and renewed commercial diplomacy in Libya,...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. Unsurprisingly, Italian energy firm Eni is at the forefront of foreign investment in Libya’s energy sector, announcing a...
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 foreign investments announced in various projects, including an ambitious offshore drilling project, and the... 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 not insulated. With Washington ramping up protectionist measures, the Maghreb is also exposed. Algeria, Morocco, and...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. According to RFI, multiple high-level business visits from business leaders on both sides of the Mediterraneans have been...
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 stress.From U.S. missile sales to Morocco to new defense agreements between Algeria and Mauritania, the regional defense...
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 been successfully loaded for export, marking a key milestone for both countries as they join the ranks of LNG-exporting...
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 seem to be fired up, with the right-wing hardliners in France coalescing in favor of more anti-Algeria actions, while...