economy upfront Bound

A new agricultural agreement between Morocco and the European Union has ignited a tense dispute over tomato imports, origin labeling, and Western Sahara. European farmer groups accuse Moroccan exporters of unfair competition and misuse of labeling rules, while Moroccan producers argue that they are simply meeting a growing EU demand that local producers cannot fully supply.

Algeria has formally launched its 5G mobile network in Algiers, with licenses granted to the country’s three major carriers—Mobilis, Djezzy, and Ooredoo. Over a planned six‑year rollout, coverage will expand from priority regions to the rest of the country, supporting faster data speeds, low‑latency services, and new applications in sectors such as agriculture, urban management, and industry.

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.