Jan 8, 2026

Flashpoints: How Emirati and Qatari Competition Is Redrawing the Red Sea Map$

Analysis by The North Africa Journal

A low-profile but consequential rivalry between the United Arab Emirates and Qatar is reshaping access to the Red Sea. Through competing alliances, port investments, and security partnerships, both Gulf states are extending their influence across the Horn of Africa. At the center of this struggle lies Somaliland, whose strategic coastline, port infrastructure, and political status have become critical factors in a broader contest involving regional and extra-regional powers.

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Algeria Deploys Water Bombers as Fires Threaten Mountain Villages$

by The North Africa Journal | Jul 15, 2026 | Social & Human Affairs, 1shorts, Maghreb, Environment, Shield and Alert: Maghreb, Environment, Environment, 1PREMIUM, 1-BLUE-LEFT-SECTION-Special-Focus-Free, Briefs

Algeria is battling a severe wildfire emergency this summer, with blazes ripping through forests, orchards, and grain fields across multiple regions. Civil protection officials say firefighters have had almost no respite, as more than a hundred fires flared up in a single day.

Algeria: New Record for Electricity Demand Amid Brutal Heat Wave$

by The North Africa Journal | Jul 15, 2026 | Social & Human Affairs, 1shorts, Maghreb, Social, Environment, Shield and Alert: Maghreb, Environment, 1PREMIUM, 1-BLUE-LEFT-SECTION-Special-Focus-Free, Algeria, Briefs

Algeria has set a new record for electricity demand as a punishing heat wave drives temperatures close to 49°C and wildfires burn across multiple regions. The state utility Sonelgaz says power use climbed above 21,300 megawatts on July 13, continuing a steep, year‑over‑year rise in summer load on the grid.

Gulf crisis: War Widens in the Gulf Region$

by The North Africa Journal | Jul 15, 2026 | Briefs, Security & Defense, 1shorts, security upfront, 111, International News, 1PREMIUM

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.

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