economy upfront Bound

A nationwide banking strike in Tunisia has halted operations across major institutions as employees protest falling living standards and demand wage hikes

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.

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.

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.