1-BLUE-LEFT-SECTION-Special-Focus-Free Bound

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been sentenced to five years in prison and fined €100,000 for conspiracy in the alleged Libyan financing of his 2007 campaign. The Paris court’s ruling, immediately enforceable, marks Sarkozy’s second prison sentence and further diminishes prospects of a political comeback.

Tensions between Algeria and Mali have deepened after Algeria rejected International Court of Justice jurisdiction over a disputed drone incident, halting legal mediation. The standoff, marked by sharp exchanges at the UN and ongoing suspension of diplomatic ties, underscores mounting mistrust and risks to regional stability in the Sahel.

Spanish prosecutors seek major prison sentences and fines for politicians and business leaders accused of paying bribes to win Algerian public contracts in a decade-long corruption scandal.

Morocco’s central bank maintains its interest rate at 2.25%, citing steady inflation and job growth despite global uncertainty and water shortages.