1 Up Front Bound

Egypt: After wishing each other a happy new year, Egyptians see price hikes that will make 2024 not such a happy yearF

Immediately after “winning” a third term at the end of December 2023, President Abdelfattah Al-Sisi ordered the “progressive” dismantling of the so-called subsidies. Overnight, as the calendar shifted to 2024, the prices of electricity increased by as much as 26%. As you would expect many other products followed immediately, such as the prices for accessing the Internet up 33%, the price of Cairo metro ticket up by 20%. And that’s just the beginning. In the coming weeks and months, check out the prices of food and basic commodities soaring again, as the Egyptian Pound likely to lose more value.

Libya: The king is dead, long live the kingF

Opinion  by Arezki Daoud: Pardon me if I am not convinced that Libya's eastern leaders have any interest in the rule of law and in the well-being of their people. We've seen this scenario many times in history and in the modern era, it usually does not end well. An...

Sahel: Mauritania sends ex-president Ould Abdelaziz to prison for corruptionF

A court in Mauritania's capital Nouakchott on Monday sentenced former president Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz to five years in prison for having abused his position to amass an ill-gotten fortune.  Aziz, who ruled the pivotal country between North Africa and sub-Saharan...

Mali: The taking of Kidal: Why the town in north Mali is so importantF

Mali's army has retaken the town of Kidal from Tuareg-dominated rebels. Here we look at the significance of the place which has for years been a northern stronghold for the separatists. - Where and what is Kidal? - Kidal occupies a special place in the geography and...