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Mali’s first lithium mine shows how global demand for critical minerals can leave local communities behind. While China secures the raw materials it needs, Mali risks missing the chance to build jobs, industries, and real value at home.

Algeria has reclaimed its position as Spain’s leading natural gas supplier, with bilateral trade surging after a two-year diplomatic freeze. This economic rebound highlights the strategic importance of the energy link that endured despite significant political tensions.

Moroccan activist Ibtissame Lachgar has been placed in police custody following a controversial social media post that featured a slogan deemed offensive to Islam. The incident highlights the legal risks faced by human rights advocates under Morocco’s penal code, which criminalizes insulting the Islamic religion.

On August 7, 2025, unidentified men attempted to forcefully enter the Tunisian General Labor Union (UGTT) offices in Tunis, calling for its dissolution, a day after President Kaïs Saïed, in reaction to a transport sector strike, had publicly accused union members of “treason.”