Shield and Alert: Maghreb Bound

Algeria has set a new record for electricity demand as a punishing heat wave drives temperatures close to 49°C and wildfires burn across multiple regions. The state utility Sonelgaz says power use climbed above 21,300 megawatts on July 13, continuing a steep, year‑over‑year rise in summer load on the grid.

FAO monitoring shows Northwest Africa entering a new phase of desert locust activity, with Morocco facing the highest pressure and neighboring countries preparing for possible summer migrations toward Sahelian breeding zones.

Morocco’s courts are facing major delays as a nationwide strike by attorneys over Draft Law 66.23 enters its third week, with lawyers arguing that the proposed overhaul of the legal profession was prepared without adequate consultation and fails to protect defense rights, while the Justice Ministry defends the bill as a necessary modernization of access, training, and client protections.