By Maïssata Koné-Dubois, Mondafrique: In an explosive report, the German think tank Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik accuses Abu Dhabi of being a major force behind instability across Africa. [Full report here] Until the Sudan war, the United Arab Emirates had...
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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 denounced attempts to involve it in political disputes. The unusual communication has fueled conflicting speculation and raises...
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" publishes something, part of Morocco's elite holds its breath. Who is behind Jabaroot? It was under this name that the hacking...
Morocco Steps Up Tangier Crackdown on Undocumented Migrants
Moroccan authorities are tightening their grip on irregular migration in and around the northern city of Tangier, stepping up raids and mass arrests of sub‑Saharan migrants who use the region as a launchpad toward Europe. According to information provided to local...
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 late April 2026. The global average pump price for gasoline stood at around $1.49 per liter, while several North African...
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 with 62,000 tons of liquefied natural gas (LNG), 900 tons of diesel, and 450 tons of heavy fuel oil, it poses the risk of...
TOP REGIONAL HEADLINES
French Nationals Urged to Leave Mali as Insurgent Attacks Intensify in the Sahel
Defense ministers from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger met in Niamey to accelerate their joint military alliance, but no deployment date was confirmed. France is advising nationals to leave Mali “temporarily” amid deteriorating security, while international shipping companies hesitate to continue cargo routes. November 7 brought reports of multiple attacks by insurgents, further highlighting the region’s instability.
MAGHREB
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...
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,...
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...
MAGHREB PAGE
SAHEL
Nigeria: More than 160 people killed in Muslim communities in Kwara State
Nigeria’s Woro massacre in early February 2026 was a large‑scale attack on two mainly Muslim farming communities that left Muslim and Christian...
Niger: Roadside Bomb Kills Civilians Near Baroua in Diffa Region
An improvised explosive device struck a mixed transport vehicle near Baroua in Niger’s Diffa region at around 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, February 10,...
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...
SAHEL PAGE
EGYPT
North Africa Tests the Limits of Ride-Hailing as Uber Returns Under Tight Control
Morocco is once again testing the boundaries of app-based urban transport, reopening a politically sensitive debate about mobility, labor...
Egypt Anchors Its Energy Strategy With Long-Term Israeli Gas as Israel Weighs the Trade-Offs
Israel has approved a long-term natural gas export agreement that will channel roughly 131 billion cubic meters of gas from the offshore Leviathan...
Migration: 17 Migrants, Mostly Egyptians, Lost at Sea on the Road to Greece
Fourteen Egyptians have been confirmed dead after an irregular migrant boat capsized on the way to Greece, the latest in a long line of disasters on...
EGYPT PAGE
FOCAL POINTS
Egypt: Archaeologists find human and animal embalming workshops in ancient Egyptian capital city Memphis
Archaeologists in Egypt have unearthed two human and animal embalming workshops, as well as two tombs, discovered in the Saqqara necropolis south of Cairo, the government said on Saturday. The vast burial site, at the ancient Egyptian capital Memphis, is a UNESCO...
Egyptians struggle with Cleoptra’s skin color
An Egyptian archaeologist on Wednesday released a documentary on the life of Cleopatra, the same day Netflix began streaming a controversial production depicting the ancient queen as black. For weeks, pundits and officials in Egypt have reacted angrily to streaming...
Podcast: South Africa today: achievements and challenges
In this podcast, Arezki Daoud of MEA Risk and of The North Africa Journal, reports on his thoughts on South Africa, after a 10-day visit in April 2023. Audio only podcast: Youtube video presentation:
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POLITICAL AFFAIRS
With Saif al-Islam Killed, Gaddafi Dynasty’s Political Ambitions All But Collapse
Saif al‑Islam Gaddafi, the son of Libya’s longtime ruler Muammar Gaddafi and a former presidential candidate, has been killed in the western town of Zintan by armed attackers. His death, confirmed by family and advisers, raises fresh questions about Libya’s fragile political balance.
MORE ON POLITICS
UAE Regional Influence Under Strain Amid Sudan, Libya, Yemen, and Maghreb Frictions
Across several regions, the United Arab Emirates is facing visible diplomatic and political friction with key Arab states. The developments span...
Inside the US Decision to Target Specific Muslim Brotherhood Branches
The United States has designated three Muslim Brotherhood chapters as terrorist organizations, targeting branches in Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon...
Egypt’s Red Lines in the Horn of Africa Are Becoming Explicit
By Arezki Daoud: Egypt’s recent posture toward Somalia and Sudan reflects a clear strategic doctrine that is no longer implicit. Cairo is signaling...
Flashpoints: How Emirati and Qatari Competition Is Redrawing the Red Sea Map
Charlotte Touati - Mondafrique: Two competing poles are now clearly taking shape in the contest for control over access to the Red Sea. The first,...
Flashpoints: Benin-Niger Tensions Deepen as Diplomatic Relations Deteriorate
Relations between Benin and Niger have entered a new period of strain following reciprocal diplomatic expulsions. In recent days, authorities in...
Europe’s New Migration Rules Shift Pressure South to North Africa
The European Union’s revised migration framework, set to take effect in mid-2026, is already reshaping how migration is managed across the...
Nigeria Adjusts Airstrike Strategy Under Expanded U.S. Security Cooperation
Nigeria is adjusting how it conducts air operations against armed groups as part of an updated security arrangement with the United States. Under...
How the US Intervention in Venezuela is Reviving Global South Fears of Power Politics
The US raid that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is resonating across Africa as part of a broader pattern of great‑power behavior that...
Burkina Faso Faces New Security Tensions Amid Coup Allegations
Burkina Faso experienced a sudden spike in political and security tension overnight in early January, with coordinated public mobilizations in...
Libya: Turkey is Here to Stay, Abandons Exit Strategy
Turkey's parliament has approved a 24-month extension of its military deployment in Libya, running through early 2028. The decision, while...
Nigeria Adjusts Airstrike Strategy Under Expanded U.S. Security Cooperation
Nigeria is adjusting how it conducts air operations against armed groups as part of an updated security arrangement with the United States. Under...
How the US Intervention in Venezuela is Reviving Global South Fears of Power Politics
The US raid that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is resonating across Africa as part of a broader pattern of great‑power behavior that...
Burkina Faso Faces New Security Tensions Amid Coup Allegations
Burkina Faso experienced a sudden spike in political and security tension overnight in early January, with coordinated public mobilizations in...
Libya: Turkey is Here to Stay, Abandons Exit Strategy
Turkey's parliament has approved a 24-month extension of its military deployment in Libya, running through early 2028. The decision, while...
PODCASTS
Pressure mounts in Algeria amid calls for resumption of Hirak | 18 June 2020
COVID-19: The Latest
Tunisian government in crisis amid exploding Covid-19 cases
Tunisia's government stumbled deeper into crisis on Wednesday over its handling of the coronavirus pandemic, after premier Hichem Mechichi fired the health minister amid skyrocketing cases in the North African country. Mechichi, whose office had announced Faouzi...
Covid-19: Mauritania reinstates new measures to contain coronavirus
Mauritania, concerned over rising Covid-19 infections, has banned mosque prayers over the Islamic festival of Eid al-Adha set for Wednesday in the West African country. Prayers will be confined to the home, the government in the conservative Muslim country said in a...
Covid-19: Algeria is confronting a more virulent third wave
The North Africa Journal - Daily confirmed positive cases in Algeria rose sharply on Wednesday, 7 July, crossing the 500-case mark for the first time in weeks, according to the unreliable statistics of the health ministry. It said 585 new cases have been recorded in...
SECURITY, DEFENSE & TERRORISM
Iran War: How Tehran and Washington Stepped Back From the Brink
Trump’s threat to bring “civilizational” destruction to Iran collided with last‑minute diplomacy involving Pakistan and China,producing a fragile two‑week ceasefire that left both sides preparing for talks even as they quietly brace for the war to resume.
Egypt’s Red Lines in the Horn of Africa Are Becoming Explicit
By Arezki Daoud: Egypt’s recent posture toward Somalia and Sudan reflects a clear strategic doctrine that is no longer implicit. Cairo is signaling...
Egypt Moves to Shore Up Somalia as Regional Alignments Shift in the Horn of Africa
Cairo has significantly intensified its military involvement in Somalia, driven by mounting anxieties over regional power dynamics in the Horn of...
Mali: Gold Mining Site in Sikasso Region Hit by Armed Group
Armed attackers struck the Morila gold mine in southern Mali during the night of January 4 to January 5, 2026, causing material damage to the site,...
Sahel: Jihadist Attack Kills Local Prefect in Southwestern Niger
A jihadist attack in Niger targeted the residence of the prefect (governor) of Torodi during the night of Sunday, January 4, into Monday, January 5....
Flashpoints: How Emirati and Qatari Competition Is Redrawing the Red Sea Map
Charlotte Touati - Mondafrique: Two competing poles are now clearly taking shape in the contest for control over access to the Red Sea. The first,...
Nigeria Adjusts Airstrike Strategy Under Expanded U.S. Security Cooperation
Nigeria is adjusting how it conducts air operations against armed groups as part of an updated security arrangement with the United States. Under...
How the US Intervention in Venezuela is Reviving Global South Fears of Power Politics
The US raid that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is resonating across Africa as part of a broader pattern of great‑power behavior that...
Burkina Faso Faces New Security Tensions Amid Coup Allegations
Burkina Faso experienced a sudden spike in political and security tension overnight in early January, with coordinated public mobilizations in...
Sahel: Rising Attacks on Military and Economic Targets Deepen Mali’s Instability
As the year closes, Mali’s security environment shows no sign of improvement , marked by coordinated jihadist operations, persistent pressure on...
Sahel: Violence in Northern Mali Drives New Wave of Displacement Into Mauritania
More than 3,300 people have fled northern Mali over the past month, crossing into Mauritania to escape escalating violence and severe disruptions to...
How the US Intervention in Venezuela is Reviving Global South Fears of Power Politics
The US raid that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is resonating across Africa as part of a broader pattern of great‑power behavior that...
Burkina Faso Faces New Security Tensions Amid Coup Allegations
Burkina Faso experienced a sudden spike in political and security tension overnight in early January, with coordinated public mobilizations in...
Sahel: Rising Attacks on Military and Economic Targets Deepen Mali’s Instability
As the year closes, Mali’s security environment shows no sign of improvement , marked by coordinated jihadist operations, persistent pressure on...
Sahel: Violence in Northern Mali Drives New Wave of Displacement Into Mauritania
More than 3,300 people have fled northern Mali over the past month, crossing into Mauritania to escape escalating violence and severe disruptions to...
SOCIAL, LABOR & THE ENVIRONMENT
Morocco’s Influencers Face Rising Legal Risks
Morocco is seeing a steady rise in court cases against social media influencers, as prosecutors apply existing penal‑code provisions to online speech that once drew little official reaction. Recent prosecutions targeting YouTubers and TikTok personalities for alleged false information, insult, privacy violations, and offenses against public morals highlight how visible digital creators have become a frontline test of the country’s approach to free expression.
Migration: 17 Migrants, Mostly Egyptians, Lost at Sea on the Road to Greece
Fourteen Egyptians have been confirmed dead after an irregular migrant boat capsized on the way to Greece, the latest in a long line of disasters on...
Mauritania Arrests Anti‑Corruption Figure Mohamed Ould Gadda
Mauritanian authorities have arrested former senator Mohamed Ould Gadda, now heading the anti‑corruption NGO “Transparence Totale,” in a move that...
Morocco: Urban Safety Concerns Grow Amid Deadly Floods and Building Collapse
Morocco has been experiencing a series of deadly urban disasters in recent days that have intensified scrutiny of housing safety, infrastructure...
Survey on French Muslims Reopens Debate on Religious Practice, Identity, and Interpretation
A recent survey conducted by the French polling institute IFOP has reignited debate about the religious attitudes of Muslims in France and how these...
Algeria Raises Minimum Wage and Jobless Benefits for 2026
Algeria has approved increases to both the national minimum wage and unemployment benefits, starting in 2026, according to Algerian media reports....
Morocco’s Influencers Face Rising Legal Risks
Morocco’s courts are handling a growing number of cases involving high‑profile social media creators, signaling a pivot toward tighter control of...
Moroccan Streamer Ilyas El Maliki Arrested Again
Moroccan online streamer Ilyas El Maliki was detained on the evening of Monday, 25 November 2025 in the coastal city of El Jadida, police sources...
Mauritania Confronts Concentrated Desert Locust Outbreak With Regional Spillover Risk
Mauritania is facing a concentrated desert locust outbreak in several western and northern regions, prompting intensified surveillance and control...
Mauritania: New Rescue Off Nouadhibou as Regional Migration Pressures Intensify
Mauritanian authorities and local rescue teams recovered a pirogue carrying 156 migrants on Monday off the coast of Nouadhibou, ending a ten-day...
Sahel: Community Mourns Mariam Cissé, Killed by Militants in Northern Mali
Mariam Cissé, a well-known content creator from the town of Tonka in northern Mali, was abducted on November 6, 2025, at a weekly fair in Echel,...
Morocco’s Influencers Face Rising Legal Risks
Morocco’s courts are handling a growing number of cases involving high‑profile social media creators, signaling a pivot toward tighter control of...
Moroccan Streamer Ilyas El Maliki Arrested Again
Moroccan online streamer Ilyas El Maliki was detained on the evening of Monday, 25 November 2025 in the coastal city of El Jadida, police sources...
Mauritania Confronts Concentrated Desert Locust Outbreak With Regional Spillover Risk
Mauritania is facing a concentrated desert locust outbreak in several western and northern regions, prompting intensified surveillance and control...
Mauritania: New Rescue Off Nouadhibou as Regional Migration Pressures Intensify
Mauritanian authorities and local rescue teams recovered a pirogue carrying 156 migrants on Monday off the coast of Nouadhibou, ending a ten-day...
BUSINESS & THE ECONOMY
Energy Markets Are Reacting to Iran, But Not Panicking Yet
Energy markets often react before the rest of the economy when geopolitical crises erupt. Oil has surged toward $90 per barrel as traders price the risk of disruption around the Strait of Hormuz, while European natural gas remains relatively calm but structurally exposed through LNG shipping routes. Together, the charts suggest markets are pricing risk, not yet a supply shock, as the conflict involving Iran enters its early phase.
Algeria: Fuel Price Increase Triggers Brief Transport Disruption, Services Resume
Algeria entered 2026 with a moderate adjustment in domestic fuel prices, a move authorities say is necessary to secure national supply and sustain...
Tunisian Equity Market Posts Record Gains in 2025
Despite the unsettling political realities of Tunisia, the country's equity market closed 2025 with one of its strongest performances in decades,...
Algeria: Rail, Water, and Transport Drive 2026 Infrastructure Spending
Algeria’s 2026 finance law, officially published in the government gazette on Wednesday and entered into force on January 1, outlines a budget...
North Africa Tests the Limits of Ride-Hailing as Uber Returns Under Tight Control
Morocco is once again testing the boundaries of app-based urban transport, reopening a politically sensitive debate about mobility, labor...
Aviation: Ryanair Picks Rabat as New Low-Cost Aviation Hub
Ryanair, Europe’s largest low-cost airline by passenger volume, plans to establish a new operational base at Rabat–Salé Airport starting in April...
Egypt Bets on Upstream Investment to Reverse Gas Production Decline
Egypt is planning a significant expansion of upstream energy activity over the next five years as it seeks to stabilize a decline in natural gas...
Business: As Relations With France Strain, Algeria Broadens Its Grain Suppliers
Algeria has been broadening its wheat supplier base in an effort recalibrate economic ties with France, long Algeria’s dominant cereal supplier....
Algeria’s Parallel Currency Market Surges, Puts Pressure on the Dinar
The euro and the US dollar are trading at record levels on Algeria’s parallel currency market, widening the gap with official rates to more than...
Business: Chinese Logistics Platform Scouts Tunisia As Africa Gateway
Wuhan Yangluo Port Services, a Chinese state-linked entity active across trade, logistics, finance, and investment, has dispatched a delegation to...
EU–Morocco Tomato Dispute Deepens Over Western Sahara Labeling
Allegations of unfair competition and labeling disputes are straining relations between Morocco and the European Union over tomato exports,...
Algeria Raises Minimum Wage and Jobless Benefits for 2026
Algeria has approved increases to both the national minimum wage and unemployment benefits, starting in 2026, according to Algerian media reports....
Algeria Rolls Out 5G Network with Six-Year Expansion Plan
Algeria has activated its 5G mobile network, with the formal launch occurring on December 3rd in Algiers. The country's three major...