Algeria: Six members of the same family die of carbon monoxide in MSilaF

Six members of the same family died on Sunday, 14 January 2024, at their home in the municipality of Ain El Melh in the wilaya of M’Sila, after being poisoned with carbon monoxide gas, said a statement from the Civil Protection Directorate. The gas emanated from...
Sahel: Mali acquires lethal drones from TurkeyF

Sahel: Mali acquires lethal drones from TurkeyF

On January 4, 2024, the Malian military acquired six Turkish Bayraktar TB2 drones. The military authorities say the drones will be used to “surveil the national territory, detect suspicious targets, track them and strike them, if necessary, with surgical precision.” ...

Algeria fires head of police, arrests 11 Oran Airport security officersF

Farid Bencheikh, the head of gigantic police and security agency, the Director General of National Security (DGSN), was fired today and replaced by another officer, Ali Badaoui. Bencheikh had been in office since 15 March 2021. Although the presidency did not specify...

Tunisia neutralizes human smugglersF

The Tunisian police reported on January 7, 2024 the dismantling of an alleged human trafficking network in the Sfax region. Authorities say the gang facilitated the illegal movement in and out of the Tunisian territory of sub-Saharan migrants. The operation consisted...

Libya releases four Hamas members held since 2016F

Libyan authorities on Friday released four members of the Palestinian militant group Hamas who were arrested in 2016 on charges including trafficking arms to Gaza, according to Libyan media. The four men — Marwan al-Ashqar, his son Baraa, Mouayad Abed and Nasib...

North Africa’s use of drones in the agricultural sectorF

By Aymen Jamli: A drone buzzed back and forth above rows of verdant orange trees planted near Nabeul, eastern Tunisia. The black unmanned aircraft, equipped with a multi-lens camera and sensors, has been enlisted by Tunisian farmers to help adapt to years of drought...

Turkey’s inflation ticks up to 62%F

Turkey’s annual inflation rate ticked up slightly in November, the state statistics agency said on Monday, showing further signs of levelling off following a series of sharp interest rate hikes. The rate moved to 61.98 percent last month from 61.36 percent in...
Egypt: Italy sets new trial for Egyptians accused of student’s murderF

Egypt: Italy sets new trial for Egyptians accused of student’s murderF

A court in Italy on Monday set a February date for a new trial in absentia of four Egyptian security officers accused of murdering an Italian student in 2016. Giulio Regeni, 28, was researching his doctorate at Cambridge University when he was abducted while in Cairo....

Turkey’s opposition fractures ahead of March pollsF

By Dmitry Zaks: Turkey’s main opposition party lost a crucial ally Monday in its bid to form a united front against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling coalition in high-stakes March municipal polls. The secular opposition joined forces in landmark...
Niger ditches security arrangements with EU, engages more with RussiaF

Niger ditches security arrangements with EU, engages more with RussiaF

Niger’s military leaders said Monday that they were ending two European Union security and defence missions in the country, after earlier in the day agreeing to strengthen military cooperation with Russia.  The Nigerien foreign ministry said that it was ending...

Nigerian army drone hits village in Kaduna State, kills civiliansF

By Aminu Abubakar with Laurie Churchman in Abuja: An army drone strike accidentally hit a village in northwestern Nigeria killing dozens of civilians celebrating a Muslim festival, local authorities, the military and residents said on Monday. Nigeria’s armed...