Shield and Alert: Maghreb Bound

A tactical thaw in the Sahel is reshaping Algeria’s ties with Mali, but the deeper conflict over northern Mali remains unresolved.

Algeria is battling a severe wildfire emergency this summer, with blazes ripping through forests, orchards, and grain fields across multiple regions. Civil protection officials say firefighters have had almost no respite, as more than a hundred fires flared up in a single day.

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.