Algeria is battling a severe wildfire emergency this summer, with blazes ripping through forests, orchards, and grain fields across multiple regions. Fire crews have had almost no respite as new fires flare up day after day. Since early summer, wildfires have...
[pj-news-ticker]
Algeria: New Record for Electricity Demand Amid Brutal Heat Wave
Algeria has set a new record for electricity demand as a brutal heat wave drives power use to unprecedented levels. The surge comes amid extreme temperatures approaching 49°C (120°F) and ongoing wildfires in several regions. Record-breaking demand On Monday, July 13,...
Gulf crisis: War Widens in the Gulf Region
Iran-aligned Houthi forces in Yemen and Iranian military action are straining Gulf security on multiple fronts at once, with missile fire, drone attacks, and strikes on commercial shipping disrupting aviation and maritime trade across the region. The longer the...
North Africa and the Sahel on Alert Over Locust Upsurge
An upsurge of desert locusts is taking shape in Northwest Africa, with Morocco currently facing the highest pressure while Algeria, Mauritania, and Sahel countries prepare for possible summer migrations. Recent reports from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization...
Morocco: Draft Law 66.23 Deepens Standoff Between Moroccan Lawyers and Government
Morocco’s legal system has been severely disrupted as a nationwide strike by attorneys enters its third week, halting many court proceedings and delaying a large number of criminal trials. The work stoppage has extended pretrial detention for many defendants and added...
Egypt joins China’s tariff-free initiative as Beijing opens its market to nearly all of Africa
China extended zero-tariff access to Egyptian exports. The move is a bilateral milestone, but one that is also part of a far larger continental trade play. From 1 May 2026, Egypt joined a regime under which 53 African countries with diplomatic ties to Beijing can...
TOP REGIONAL HEADLINES
Egypt joins China’s tariff-free initiative as Beijing opens its market to nearly all of Africa
Egypt joined China’s expanded zero-tariff scheme on 1 May 2026, gaining duty-free access to the Chinese market alongside 52 other African countries with diplomatic ties to Beijing. The move eliminates tariffs that previously ran from 8 to 30 percent on key Egyptian exports, though the arrangement is a two-year preferential window through April 2028 rather than a permanent deal, and non-tariff barriers like rules of origin and phytosanitary standards still apply.
MAGHREB
Algeria Deploys Water Bombers as Fires Threaten Mountain Villages
Algeria is battling a severe wildfire emergency this summer, with blazes ripping through forests, orchards, and grain fields across multiple...
Algeria: New Record for Electricity Demand Amid Brutal Heat Wave
Algeria has set a new record for electricity demand as a brutal heat wave drives power use to unprecedented levels. The surge comes amid extreme...
Morocco: Draft Law 66.23 Deepens Standoff Between Moroccan Lawyers and Government
Morocco’s legal system has been severely disrupted as a nationwide strike by attorneys enters its third week, halting many court proceedings and...
MAGHREB PAGE
SAHEL
North Africa and the Sahel on Alert Over Locust Upsurge
An upsurge of desert locusts is taking shape in Northwest Africa, with Morocco currently facing the highest pressure while Algeria, Mauritania, and...
Mali’s Jihadist-Separatist Alliance Pushes Toward Anéfis as Fighting Enters Its Sixth Day
A jihadist-separatist alliance has opened a new front in northern Mali, ambushing a Malian-Russian convoy near Anéfis and pushing to seize the...
Mali: Bamako Under Siege
For years, Mali's conflict has been defined by territorial control, military offensives, and shifting alliances among jihadist groups, separatist...
SAHEL PAGE
EGYPT
Egypt joins China’s tariff-free initiative as Beijing opens its market to nearly all of Africa
China extended zero-tariff access to Egyptian exports. The move is a bilateral milestone, but one that is also part of a far larger continental...
Egypt Clears $6.1 Billion Oil and Gas Arrears, Energy Sector Looks to Rebuild Investor Trust
Egypt has cleared roughly 6.1 billion dollars in overdue payments to foreign oil and gas companies, closing a multi‑year backlog that had...
North African Countries Among World’s Cheapest for Gasoline, Lead Global Rankings
North African countries currently rank among the cheapest places in the world to buy gasoline, according to international price data published in...
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
Egypt joins China’s tariff-free initiative as Beijing opens its market to nearly all of Africa
Egypt joined China’s expanded zero-tariff scheme on 1 May 2026, gaining duty-free access to the Chinese market alongside 52 other African countries with diplomatic ties to Beijing. The move eliminates tariffs that previously ran from 8 to 30 percent on key Egyptian exports, though the arrangement is a two-year preferential window through April 2028 rather than a permanent deal, and non-tariff barriers like rules of origin and phytosanitary standards still apply.
MORE ON POLITICS
While its Minorities are Winning World Cup Games, France is Preparing to Pivot to the Far Right
Polling for the 2027 presidential race now puts Marine Le Pen, the most prominent face of the nationalist Rassemblement National (RN), clearly ahead...
Libya: Washington’s Libya Plan Would Install Haftar’s Son as President. Libya’s Institutions Are Saying No
U.S. diplomacy has been making moves in Libya these days. Washington's latest push in the troubled North African nation sits inside a crowded field...
Libya: Pakistan Steps In as Surprise Broker to Unify Libya
Energized by its mediation role between the United States and Iran, Pakistan has quietly opened a new diplomatic front in North Africa. It is now...
Middle East Descends Deeper into Chaos and New Flashpoints Emerge
As June 2026 begins, the Middle East finds itself trapped in an increasingly chaotic cycle of military escalation, regional confrontation, and...
German Think Tank Accuses the UAE of Destabilizing Africa
By Maïssata Koné-Dubois, Mondafrique: In an explosive report, the German think tank Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik accuses Abu Dhabi of being a...
Tunisian Army Denies Rumors of a Power Grab
By Selim Jaziri, Mondafrique: In a brief statement published on May 21, the Ministry of Defense reaffirmed that the army remains neutral and...
Jabaroot, the Telegram Account That Has the Moroccan State on Edge
By Mondafrique - This is a modest Telegram account with no official newsroom, no headquarters, and no spokesperson. Yet every time "Jabaroot"...
Mali: After Kidal, The War Comes to Bamako
Mali’s military government is facing one of its most serious crises since taking power. On April 25 and 26, fighters from the Front de libération de...
Gulf War Escalates as Energy Markets Reel and Regional Fronts Multiply
The war involving Iran, Israel, and the United States continues to intensify across multiple fronts, raising concerns about energy supply...
Trump Sends Controversial Envoy to South Africa at a Diplomatic Low Point
The arrival of Leo Brent Bozell III as the new U.S. ambassador to South Africa comes at a moment of visible diplomatic tension between Washington...
Algeria and Niger Relaunch Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline After Diplomatic Freeze
Algeria and Niger have formally reset strained bilateral relations and announced the operational relaunch of the long-delayed Trans-Saharan Gas...
Tunisia: Arrest of Opposition Figure Olfa Hamdi Raises Concerns
A Tunisian civil liberties organization has publicly challenged the Tunisian authorities over the reported detention of opposition politician Olfa...
Algeria and Niger Restore Ties, Signaling a Shift in Sahel Diplomacy
After nearly a year of tensions, Algeria and Niger have formally reset their relationship. On February 12, 2026, both governments announced the...
French Interior Minister Renews Dialogue with Algeria
By Mondafrique: Initially scheduled for December 2025 and postponed a second time in January, the long-awaited visit of the French Interior...
PODCASTS
Pressure mounts in Algeria amid calls for resumption of Hirak | 18 June 2020
COVID-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
Gulf crisis: War Widens in the Gulf Region
Yemeni missile and drone strikes on Saudi Arabia’s Abha airport, Iranian attacks on tankers near the Strait of Hormuz, and a US-Iran military exchange are compounding aviation and shipping risks across the Gulf, with no resolution in sight.
Gulf crisis: War Widens in the Gulf Region
Iran-aligned Houthi forces in Yemen and Iranian military action are straining Gulf security on multiple fronts at once, with missile fire, drone...
Mali’s Jihadist-Separatist Alliance Pushes Toward Anéfis as Fighting Enters Its Sixth Day
A jihadist-separatist alliance has opened a new front in northern Mali, ambushing a Malian-Russian convoy near Anéfis and pushing to seize the...
Libya: Pakistan Steps In as Surprise Broker to Unify Libya
Energized by its mediation role between the United States and Iran, Pakistan has quietly opened a new diplomatic front in North Africa. It is now...
German Think Tank Accuses the UAE of Destabilizing Africa
By Maïssata Koné-Dubois, Mondafrique: In an explosive report, the German think tank Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik accuses Abu Dhabi of being a...
Tunisian Army Denies Rumors of a Power Grab
By Selim Jaziri, Mondafrique: In a brief statement published on May 21, the Ministry of Defense reaffirmed that the army remains neutral and...
Mali: After Kidal, The War Comes to Bamako
Mali’s military government is facing one of its most serious crises since taking power. On April 25 and 26, fighters from the Front de libération de...
Mali: Russian-linked Forces Under Drone Pressure in Northern Mali
Russian-linked forces in Mali are increasingly coming under attack from armed groups that are adapting to the drone age. Two recent incidents in the...
Niger Turns to Local Self-Defense Units to Contain Growing Insecurity
Niamey's decision to formalize local self-defense units called Domol Leydi is the latest sign that Niger's security crisis has worsened, moving...
Iran War: How Tehran and Washington Stepped Back From the Brink
Officials in the U.S. learned Monday that Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, had instructed his negotiators to move toward a deal for the...
Gulf War Escalates as Energy Markets Reel and Regional Fronts Multiply
The war involving Iran, Israel, and the United States continues to intensify across multiple fronts, raising concerns about energy supply...
West Africa: Jihadist Attacks Intensify in Northern Benin Amid Cross-Border Insurgency Pressure
Armed attacks attributed to Sahel-based jihadist groups have intensified in northern Benin in recent weeks, highlighting the continued spread of...
Niger: Armed Attacks Target Military Bases in Tahoua
In the early hours of March 9, 2026, armed militants launched coordinated assaults on military facilities in Tahoua, a city in northwestern Niger...
Algeria and Niger Relaunch Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline After Diplomatic Freeze
Algeria and Niger have formally reset strained bilateral relations and announced the operational relaunch of the long-delayed Trans-Saharan Gas...
Algeria and Niger Restore Ties, Signaling a Shift in Sahel Diplomacy
After nearly a year of tensions, Algeria and Niger have formally reset their relationship. On February 12, 2026, both governments announced the...
SOCIAL, LABOR & THE ENVIRONMENT
Morocco’s Labor Market Gaps Push Growing Numbers of Women Toward Seasonal Work in Spain
Morocco sends 14,000–18,000 women to Spain’s farms each year under a growing seasonal work program, even as domestic training and wage gaps persist.
Algeria Deploys Water Bombers as Fires Threaten Mountain Villages
Algeria is battling a severe wildfire emergency this summer, with blazes ripping through forests, orchards, and grain fields across multiple...
Algeria: New Record for Electricity Demand Amid Brutal Heat Wave
Algeria has set a new record for electricity demand as a brutal heat wave drives power use to unprecedented levels. The surge comes amid extreme...
Morocco: Draft Law 66.23 Deepens Standoff Between Moroccan Lawyers and Government
Morocco’s legal system has been severely disrupted as a nationwide strike by attorneys enters its third week, halting many court proceedings and...
Morocco’s Labor Market Gaps Push Growing Numbers of Women Toward Seasonal Work in Spain
Morocco's weak labor market and limited rural opportunities are pushing tens of thousands of citizens toward seasonal jobs in Europe. The government...
Moroccan Lawyers Stage Open Sit‑In Over Draft Law Reshaping Their Profession
Moroccan bar associations have opened a prolonged dispute with the Justice Ministry over a draft bill that would overhaul rules governing the legal...
Libya: A drifting Russian gas tanker threatens the Mediterranean
By the Mondafrique: Since March 3, 2026, the Russian LNG tanker Arctic Metagaz, 277 meters long, has been drifting off the Libyan coast. Loaded...
Morocco Detains Civic Activist Amid Online Speech Concerns
Authorities in Morocco have detained another young activist in what appears to be a developing pattern involving members of the youth movement...
Tunisia: Arrest of Opposition Figure Olfa Hamdi Raises Concerns
A Tunisian civil liberties organization has publicly challenged the Tunisian authorities over the reported detention of opposition politician Olfa...
Tunisian Women’s Rights Group Warns Early Retirement Proposal Could Undermine Female Labor Participation
A new legislative proposal in Tunisia has triggered strong opposition from women’s rights advocates, who argue that the measure risks reinforcing...
Morocco: Employment Gains Concentrate in Urban Centers as Rural Areas Fall Behind
Recent employment data released by High Commission for Planning points to a marked acceleration in job creation in Morocco during 2025. On paper,...
Morocco: Employment Gains Concentrate in Urban Centers as Rural Areas Fall Behind
Recent employment data released by High Commission for Planning points to a marked acceleration in job creation in Morocco during 2025. On paper,...
Cyclone Harry’s Hidden Toll: NGOs Fear Up to 1,000 Migrants Lost at Sea
Humanitarian groups say the death toll from January’s Central Mediterranean storms may be far higher than official figures, warning that Cyclone...
French Law Eases Path to Nuclear Test Compensation for Algerian and Polynesian Victims
France’s National Assembly has unanimously approved a landmark reform that makes it easier for people harmed by its nuclear tests in Polynesia and...
Flashpoints: In Southern Chad, A Local Clash Reveals Deeper Fragility
Clashes in southern Chad between government forces and a little‑known rebel movement offer a window into how local conflicts feed into the...
BUSINESS & THE ECONOMY
Egypt joins China’s tariff-free initiative as Beijing opens its market to nearly all of Africa
Egypt joined China’s expanded zero-tariff scheme on 1 May 2026, gaining duty-free access to the Chinese market alongside 52 other African countries with diplomatic ties to Beijing. The move eliminates tariffs that previously ran from 8 to 30 percent on key Egyptian exports, though the arrangement is a two-year preferential window through April 2028 rather than a permanent deal, and non-tariff barriers like rules of origin and phytosanitary standards still apply.
Egypt joins China’s tariff-free initiative as Beijing opens its market to nearly all of Africa
China extended zero-tariff access to Egyptian exports. The move is a bilateral milestone, but one that is also part of a far larger continental...
Egypt Clears $6.1 Billion Oil and Gas Arrears, Energy Sector Looks to Rebuild Investor Trust
Egypt has cleared roughly 6.1 billion dollars in overdue payments to foreign oil and gas companies, closing a multi‑year backlog that had...
Algeria’s Northern Grain Farmers Push Back Against the Government’s Saharan Wheat Strategy
Algeria has spent the past several years betting a growing share of its food security on wheat grown deep in the Sahara desert. According to local...
Energy: Africa’s LNG surging to global leverage
Africa is moving from the margins to the center of the global liquefied natural gas (LNG) story. As Europe scrambles to replace Russian gas and...
Egypt Cuts Nighttime Economy to Reduce Electricity Consumption
Responding to a severe energy crisis amplified by the war in Iran, Egypt introduced a nationwide 9 p.m. closing time for shops, restaurants, cafés,...
Global Energy Markets Jolt as Iran War Disrupts Gulf Oil Flows
Saudi Arabia has begun cutting oil output as the escalating U.S. and Israeli war against Iran disrupts shipping across the Gulf region, pushing...
Energy Markets Are Reacting to Iran, But Not Panicking Yet
By Arezki Daoud: This morning, I spent a little more money on gasoline at the pump in Miami, but I admit I expected to pay much more. And so as I...
Morocco’s Deficit Widens in Trade With Turkey
Economic ties between Turkey and Morocco are expanding at an unprecedented pace. Over the past two years, trade flows have accelerated sharply,...
Moroccan pharmacy unions push back against proposed ownership reforms
Morocco’s debate over whether to open pharmacy ownership to outside investors has sharpened after the Competition Council scheduled a new meeting...
Agriculture: Drought‑Hit 2025 Season Leaves Morocco More Dependent on Cereal Imports, According to FAO
Morocco is heading into 2026 with a mixed outlook for its cereal sector, as favorable early-season conditions contrast with an expected drop in...
Algeria’s 2,000‑Kilometer Mining Corridor: Rail, Iron Ore, and the Road to the Mediterranean
Algeria has officially opened a new rail line that links the remote southwest to the Mediterranean, a move with important implications for economic...
Algeria Expands Core Infrastructure Investment Across Core Sectors
Algeria is continuing a broad, state-led investment drive focused on basic infrastructure, spanning roads, railways, water systems, energy, mining,...