Algeria's role as Spain's top natural gas provider is back in the spotlight. After a significant two-year diplomatic freeze, not only have trade relations surged, but Algeria has also re-established itself as Spain's leading gas source. According to data from Spanish...
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Moroccan Activist Detained Over Controversial Social Media Post
Moroccan activist Ibtissame Lachgar, known for her advocacy for individual liberties, women's rights, and LGBTQ+ rights, has been placed in custody after a controversial social media post. In late July, Lachgar published a photo of herself wearing a t-shirt that read...
Tunisia: Armed Militias Attack the UGTT
By MondAfrique: On Thursday, August 7, 2025, unidentified groups attempted to forcefully enter the Tunisian General Labor Union (UGTT) offices at Mohamed Ali Square, brandishing hateful and hostile slogans against the country's main labor union action, calling for its...
The Human Cost of the EU-Mauritania Migration Partnership
Since early 2024, the Mauritanian government has intensified its enforcement operations against undocumented sub-Saharan migrants in Nouakchott, Nouadhibou, and other urban centers. This campaign, which includes increased checkpoints and arrests, is a direct...
Geopolitics: Religion, Oil, and Minerals are Now Washington’s Africa Strategy
Under Donald Trump, US Africa policy is zeroing in on oil and mineral wealth while using evangelical networks as a back channel into Central Africa — offering political cover to leaders and countering Chinese and Russian influence where Catholic voices are more...
French President Wants to Suspend Visa-Free Travel for Algerian Diplomats
French President Emmanuel Macron has requested that the government suspend visa exemptions for Algerian diplomatic and official passport holders. This move, detailed in a letter to Prime Minister François Bayrou, is a response to growing diplomatic tensions between...
TOP REGIONAL HEADLINES
Algeria: Despite “winning” reelection, President Tebboune denounces “irregularities”
By MondAfrique: The three candidates in the Algerian presidential election, including President Tebboune, who was re-elected last Saturday with 94.65% of the vote, have accused the National Independent Election Authority (ANIE) of "irregularities" and "contradictions." They did so in a joint statement, which is unprecedented. ANIE’s president, Mohamed Charfi, clearly overstepped. Against all...
MAGHREB
Algeria Rebounds as Spain’s Primary Gas Supplier as Bilateral Trade Spikes
Algeria's role as Spain's top natural gas provider is back in the spotlight. After a significant two-year diplomatic freeze, not only have trade...
Moroccan Activist Detained Over Controversial Social Media Post
Moroccan activist Ibtissame Lachgar, known for her advocacy for individual liberties, women's rights, and LGBTQ+ rights, has been placed in custody...
Tunisia: Armed Militias Attack the UGTT
By MondAfrique: On Thursday, August 7, 2025, unidentified groups attempted to forcefully enter the Tunisian General Labor Union (UGTT) offices at...
MAGHREB PAGE
SAHEL
Turkey: Erdogan’s Winning Strategy in Africa
Despite the wave of coups d'état in West Africa, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who had close ties to the ousted regimes of Guinea, Mali,...
The Human Cost of the EU-Mauritania Migration Partnership
Since early 2024, the Mauritanian government has intensified its enforcement operations against undocumented sub-Saharan migrants in Nouakchott,...
Geopolitics: Religion, Oil, and Minerals are Now Washington’s Africa Strategy
Under Donald Trump, US Africa policy is zeroing in on oil and mineral wealth while using evangelical networks as a back channel into Central Africa...
SAHEL PAGE
EGYPT
Egypt: Inflation Creeps Back Up While Foreign Reserves Shrink
Egypt’s economy is showing signs of strain again. New data reveals a sharp rise in inflation and a drop in foreign currency reserves. Prices are...
Egypt: Challenged Energy Sector Faces Another Brutal Summer
Egypt faces a deepening energy crisis as natural gas production crashes 39%, forcing a return to costly LNG imports and the unpopular decision to...
U.S. Trade Policy Is Accelerating China–North Africa Economic and Defense Engagement
U.S. trade tariffs are accelerating China’s push into developing economies, with North Africa emerging as a key frontier. From a $265 million...
EGYPT PAGE
FOCAL POINTS
Sahel: The demise of the ancient city of Timbuktu
When jihadists in Mali announced they would blockade the ancient city of Timbuktu, residents thought it was just another intimidation tactic. But a month and a half later, the tens of thousands of inhabitants remain almost completely cut off from the world with the...
Libya: Ancient Greco-Roman city of Cyrene faces risk of collapse
Floods that killed thousands in the Libyan city of Derna also inundated one of the country's premier ancient sites, threatening its UNESCO-listed monuments with collapse, a recent visitor and a leading archaeologist said. The immediate damage to the monuments of...
Tunisian island of Djerba gets added to UNESCO World Heritage list
UNESCO announced Monday it was adding the Tunisian resort island of Djerba to its list of World Heritage Sites because of its ancient ruins, whitewashed villages, mosques, churches and synagogues. The United Nations cultural organisation took the decision in Saudi...
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POLITICAL AFFAIRS
Tunisia: Armed Militias Attack the UGTT
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.”
MORE ON POLITICS
Tunisia: Armed Militias Attack the UGTT
By MondAfrique: On Thursday, August 7, 2025, unidentified groups attempted to forcefully enter the Tunisian General Labor Union (UGTT) offices at...
Geopolitics: Religion, Oil, and Minerals are Now Washington’s Africa Strategy
Under Donald Trump, US Africa policy is zeroing in on oil and mineral wealth while using evangelical networks as a back channel into Central Africa...
French President Wants to Suspend Visa-Free Travel for Algerian Diplomats
French President Emmanuel Macron has requested that the government suspend visa exemptions for Algerian diplomatic and official passport holders....
Ivory Coast Edges Toward Political Flashpoint Ahead of 2025 Election
Rising tensions, legacy rivalries, and fears of renewed violence loom over a fragile democracy. With just months to go before Côte d’Ivoire’s...
Sahel: Russia Replaces Wagner in Mali Under Pressure from Algeria, Touaregs Brace
As Wagner withdraws from Mali, Russia is not stepping away, but it’s reshaping its presence there. Under quiet pressure from Algeria, the...
Mauritania: Ex-President Verdict Puts Mauritania’s Legal System Under Spotlight
Mauritania’s high-profile corruption trial of former President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz has sparked a bigger conversation across West Africa: are...
Algeria Cuts French Imports in Bid for Self-Sufficiency and Diversification
France once held a firm place in Algeria’s food supply chain, from wheat fields in Burgundy to cattle farms in the Auvergne. But over the past year,...
Sahel: Russia Reorganizes in Mali: Wagner Withdraws, Africa Corps Moves In
After months of behind-the-scenes talks, Russia has managed to phase out the Wagner Group in Mali and replace it with a new force called the Africa...
The EU’s Silent Partner: Mauritania’s Migration Deal Under Scrutiny
Mauritania is getting €210 million in EU funding to act as a migration gatekeeper to fortress Europe. The northwest African nation has intensified...
Libya in Perpetual Crisis: How Khalifa Haftar Is Gaining Ground Amid Institutional Collapse
Libya is unable to find a way out of its crisis. It is caught between two rival governments, a dysfunctional international diplomacy, military...
Mali in Turmoil: Junta Suspends Political Parties Amid Mounting Opposition
Mali’s ruling junta has officially suspended all political party activities, marking the most sweeping crackdown yet on democratic institutions...
North Africa Defense: Morocco Gets Surface-to-Air Missiles, Algeria-Mauritania Sign Defense Pact
April 2025 has seen a notable series of military developments across North Africa, where rivalries and competition for influence are adding more...
Algeria–France Diplomatic Crisis Intensifies
By Arezki Daoud: I was in Algeria last week and it was difficult to ignore the escalating diplomatic tension between France and Algeria. Both sides...
West Africa: ECOWAS in turmoil
West Africa's economic grouping, ECOWAS, faces a new crisis as former chairman and Guinea-Bissau President Umaro Sissoco Embalo refuses to step down...
PODCASTS
Pressure mounts in Algeria amid calls for resumption of Hirak | 18 June 2020
Audio PlayerCOVID-19: The Latest
Podcast: Sahel and North Africa week in review 7 Jan 2023
Greetings to our second episode of Week in Review and a quick summary of what we are tracking in the Sahel and in North Africa. Today is Saturday, the 7th of January 2023. This past week was somewhat subdued in the region largely due to the year-end holiday season and...
Covid-19: Ban on entry into Morocco for travelers from China takes effect on 3 January
Morocco said Saturday it will ban entry to all travellers from China, where cases of Covid-19 have exploded. Other nations, including France, Britain and Morocco's cross-strait neighbour Spain, have said they will require negative Covid tests for all travellers from...
Covid-19: First case of Omicron in Tunisia comes from Turkey
Tunisia recorded its first confirmed case of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus in a Congolese man who arrived from Istanbul, the health minister said Friday. Ali Mrabet said the 23-year-old man tested positive and all fellow travellers on his flight from Turkey...
SECURITY, DEFENSE & TERRORISM
Jihadist Expansion Threatens Coastal West Africa
The Sahel is confronting an intensifying insurgency that continues to evolve in scale and complexity. Armed groups such as the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM) and the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (EIGS) are adapting and adjusting their strategies to cement their presence and expand beyond. These actors, once largely confined to remote rural areas, are now expanding their...
Turkey: Erdogan’s Winning Strategy in Africa
Despite the wave of coups d'état in West Africa, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who had close ties to the ousted regimes of Guinea, Mali,...
Libya’s Fragile Peace Shaken Again by Local Violence
Tensions are flaring again in Libya, from deadly street battles in Tripoli’s suburbs to violent protests in Sabratha. The killing of a well-known...
Jihadist Expansion Threatens Coastal West Africa
The Sahel is confronting an intensifying insurgency that continues to evolve in scale and complexity. Armed groups such as the Group for the Support...
Sahel: Russia Replaces Wagner in Mali Under Pressure from Algeria, Touaregs Brace
As Wagner withdraws from Mali, Russia is not stepping away, but it’s reshaping its presence there. Under quiet pressure from Algeria, the...
Sahel: Russia Reorganizes in Mali: Wagner Withdraws, Africa Corps Moves In
After months of behind-the-scenes talks, Russia has managed to phase out the Wagner Group in Mali and replace it with a new force called the Africa...
Facing Regional Instability, Algeria Introduces Mobilization Law in Line with Global Practices
Facing fast-moving geopolitical changes and threats, Algeria is currently updating its defense-related laws, with a new legislation on general...
North Africa Defense: Morocco Gets Surface-to-Air Missiles, Algeria-Mauritania Sign Defense Pact
April 2025 has seen a notable series of military developments across North Africa, where rivalries and competition for influence are adding more...
Franco-Algerian relations set to worsen over planned military maneuvers in Morocco
On 6 March 2025, Algeria summoned French Ambassador Stéphane Romatet to convey its opposition to the planned Franco-Moroccan military maneuvers...
Morocco Busts ‘Lions of the Caliphate’ Terror Cell After Yearlong Probe
The Moroccan security services say the arrested a dozen operatives of an unknown “terrorist group” it named the “Lions of the Caliphate in the...
Sahel: France Concludes Military Presence in Chad
France has officially ended its military presence in Chad, returning the Kossei base to the Chadian government. This marks the end of a...
France’s decades-long military presence in Africa is winding down
France’s decades-long military presence in Africa is winding down as countries like Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire announce the closure of foreign bases,...
Could Syria Avoid a Repeat of the Libyan Disaster: Opinion by Arezki Daoud
By Arezki Daoud: What is happening in Syria cannot leave us insensitive to the plight of the Syrian people, who have endured decades of abuse from...
Sahel: Inside Chad’s Risky Alliance in Sudan’s Conflict
Chadian President Mahamat Déby’s support for Sudan’s Hemedti amid the Sudanese conflict has sparked tension at home, risking political instability...
The US Africa Policy: Don’t Expect Anything New
Africa has been a low priority for virtually all US administrations, be they republicans or democrats. It is true that Donald Trump has been more...
SOCIAL, LABOR & THE ENVIRONMENT
Geopolitics: Religion, Oil, and Minerals are Now Washington’s Africa Strategy
Under Donald Trump, US Africa policy is zeroing in on oil and mineral wealth while using evangelical networks as a back channel into Central Africa — offering political cover to leaders and countering Chinese and Russian influence where Catholic voices are more confrontational. This soft-power strategy runs alongside a “trade, not aid” push, with Washington targeting African oil, gas, and...
Moroccan Activist Detained Over Controversial Social Media Post
Moroccan activist Ibtissame Lachgar, known for her advocacy for individual liberties, women's rights, and LGBTQ+ rights, has been placed in custody...
Tunisia: Armed Militias Attack the UGTT
By MondAfrique: On Thursday, August 7, 2025, unidentified groups attempted to forcefully enter the Tunisian General Labor Union (UGTT) offices at...
The Human Cost of the EU-Mauritania Migration Partnership
Since early 2024, the Mauritanian government has intensified its enforcement operations against undocumented sub-Saharan migrants in Nouakchott,...
Geopolitics: Religion, Oil, and Minerals are Now Washington’s Africa Strategy
Under Donald Trump, US Africa policy is zeroing in on oil and mineral wealth while using evangelical networks as a back channel into Central Africa...
Tunis’ Crumbling Infrastructure: 1,500 Buildings Deemed At Risk of Collapse
Tunisia’s capital region faces a mounting urban safety crisis as officials warn of structural risks to residents In what may be one of the most...
West Africa: Despite Record Oil Production, Senegal Faces Fuel Price Pressure
In Senegal, drivers are feeling the pinch as fuel prices soar to the highest levels in the entire WAEMU region—even though the country pumped out 16...
The EU’s Silent Partner: Mauritania’s Migration Deal Under Scrutiny
Mauritania is getting €210 million in EU funding to act as a migration gatekeeper to fortress Europe. The northwest African nation has intensified...
Morocco: Villagers on Edge as Wildfire Spreads Near Tangier
Firefighters in northern Morocco are battling a rapidly spreading wildfire in Houara Forest near Tangier, with 60 hectares already burned. Strong...
Morocco: Two children killed in floods
Struggling with a debilitating drought, Morocco is now experiencing heavy rainfall resulting in floods that have been causing destruction and...
Tunisia’s Opposition Faces Mounting Legal Pressure
Government actions against opposition figures continue to dominate the political landscape in Tunisia. This week and after accusing the Organization...
Tunisia’s Opposition Faces Mounting Legal Pressure
Government actions against opposition figures continue to dominate the political landscape in Tunisia. This week and after accusing the Organization...
EU Report Accuses Tunisia of Migrant Trafficking to Libya
A report, presented to the European Parliament on January 29 by a group of researchers, accuses Tunisia of deporting sub-Saharan migrants and...
Morocco is confronting a measles outbreak
Morocco is experiencing a measles outbreak which appears to have caused the death of five people on 3,631 measles cases reported in the first three...
Morocco Reports Blocking Thousands of Migration Attempts in 2024, Suggesting Far Greater Total Numbers
In 2024, Moroccan authorities reported blocking 78,685 irregular migration attempts, according to data from the Ministry of the Interior. These...
BUSINESS & THE ECONOMY
Algeria Rebounds as Spain’s Primary Gas Supplier as Bilateral Trade Spikes
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.
Algeria Rebounds as Spain’s Primary Gas Supplier as Bilateral Trade Spikes
Algeria's role as Spain's top natural gas provider is back in the spotlight. After a significant two-year diplomatic freeze, not only have trade...
Turkey: Erdogan’s Winning Strategy in Africa
Despite the wave of coups d'état in West Africa, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who had close ties to the ousted regimes of Guinea, Mali,...
Algeria Officially Joins ASEAN
Algeria just made a big splash on the global stage, officially joining ASEAN as a partner (What is Asean: An Explainer). The North African nation is...
Egypt: Inflation Creeps Back Up While Foreign Reserves Shrink
Egypt’s economy is showing signs of strain again. New data reveals a sharp rise in inflation and a drop in foreign currency reserves. Prices are...
Morocco Wields Antidumping Measures to Shield Key Industries from Foreign Price Pressures
Morocco isn’t making much noise about it, but a subtle shift is taking place in how the country handles foreign competition. Over the past year,...
Guinea’s Mining Purge Echoes Mali’s Playbook, With Different Goals
Guinea’s junta has launched a sweeping crackdown on mining permits, abruptly revoking over 100 licenses for bauxite, gold, iron ore, and diamond...
West Africa: Despite Record Oil Production, Senegal Faces Fuel Price Pressure
In Senegal, drivers are feeling the pinch as fuel prices soar to the highest levels in the entire WAEMU region—even though the country pumped out 16...
Egypt: Challenged Energy Sector Faces Another Brutal Summer
Egypt faces a deepening energy crisis as natural gas production crashes 39%, forcing a return to costly LNG imports and the unpopular decision to...
Libya’s Oil Ambitions Undermined by Governance Gridlock
Libya’s energy sector is experiencing renewed interest, with billions in foreign investment and key infrastructure projects now underway....
Libya: Eni Leads Charge in Libya’s Energy Revival
The energy sector appears to be the only bright spot in the Libyan economy. The sector is experiencing significant developments, with substantial...
The Maghreb’s Response to U.S. Tariffs and Rising Chinese Influence
U.S. tariffs have not yet affected consumer spending in the Maghreb, but as the tariffs are sending shockwaves through global trade—North Africa is...
Algeria-France Business Ties Hit by Diplomatic Rift
The ongoing diplomatic tensions between Algeria and France are now affecting economic relations, which had so far remained relatively stable....