Shield & Alert
- Niger Moves Uranium From SOMAÏR Mine Despite Arbitration Ruling
- Survey on French Muslims Reopens Debate on Religious Practice, Identity, and Interpretation
- Benin Soldiers Mount Brief Coup Attempt
- EU–Morocco Tomato Dispute Deepens Over Western Sahara Labeling
- Algeria Raises Minimum Wage and Jobless Benefits for 2026
- Tunisia’s Main Union Calls Nationwide Strike Amid Political Tensions
- Morocco’s Influencers Face Rising Legal Risks
- Moroccan Streamer Ilyas El Maliki Arrested Again
- Mauritania Confronts Concentrated Desert Locust Outbreak With Regional Spillover Risk
- Morocco: Ex-Minister and Lawyer, Mohamed Ziane Still in Detention
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.
Washington Initiates Review Process for Possible Terrorism Designations of Muslim Brotherhood Branches
The United States has opened a formal review into whether specific branches of the Muslim Brotherhood meet the legal criteria for terrorism designation, signaling a procedural shift without yet issuing any listing. The process focuses on country-level chapters and remains under evaluation by the State and Treasury Departments.
Business News & Analyses
Morocco: Forces Drive Morocco’s 2026 Budget: Security Recruitment Leads Job Creation Push
Morocco’s 2026 Finance Bill expands state hiring across security, health, and education, creating 36,000 new public positions—mainly in the Interior and Defense Ministries—but the scale underscores political rather than economic priorities, in a country where unemployment hovers near 13 percent and youth joblessness exceeds a third of the labor force.
Egypt’s Debt Diplomacy: How Brussels Became Cairo’s Latest Creditor of Confidence
The EU’s €7.4 billion package to Egypt marks Europe’s largest financial commitment to any non‑EU partner, aimed at stabilizing Cairo’s economy but adding to its already heavy debt load, now nearing 90 percent of GDP. The deal underscores Egypt’s strategic value to Europe amid regional turmoil and migration pressures.
Mali’s Energy Collapse Deepens as Fuel Blockade and Infrastructure Decay Converge
Mali is sinking deeper into darkness as power outages, crumbling roads, and fuel shortages combine into a nationwide crisis. Months of blackouts and blocked fuel imports by jihadist fighters have crippled transport, trade, and daily life, exposing years of neglect in energy and infrastructure management.
Morocco Strengthens Global Standing with Record Tourism Growth
Morocco welcomed 15 million tourists between January and September 2025, a 14 percent increase from last year. The steady rise, including 1.4 million arrivals in September alone, reflects stronger air links, new marketing efforts, and ongoing improvements to visitor experiences.
Algeria Pushes for Ambitious Cashless Economy by 2028
Algeria’s central bank has set a goal to phase out cash transactions completely by 2028, launching an ambitious strategy to expand digital payments and modernize the financial system. But with most Algerians relying on cash, skepticism remains over how quickly this transition will take place.
Egypt’s Red Sea Crisis Intersects with U.S. Trade Strategy in Global Infrastructure Rivalry
Attacks in the Red Sea have cost the Egypt over $9 billion in lost Suez Canal revenue, cutting daily ship traffic by nearly 60% and straining the country’s foreign reserves.
Egypt Draws a Red Line on Nile Rights in GERD Dispute
Egypt has reiterated that the Nile River is an “existential issue” for his country, warning that Cairo will not compromise or tolerate unilateral measures over its water security. Egypt says it is relying on international law to defend its rights as tensions continue with Ethiopia over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.
Egypt’s Fuel Price Hike Deepens Economic Strain Amid IMF Reforms
Egypt has raised fuel prices for the second time this year, increasing gasoline, diesel, and CNG rates by up to 13% as part of IMF-backed reforms to reduce subsidies and stabilize public finances. The move, effective October 17, is expected to ripple across transport, food, and manufacturing sectors as inflation remains stubbornly above 11%.
Sonatrach Signs $5.4 Billion Exploration Deal With Saudi Firm Midad Energy
Algeria’s Sonatrach has signed a $5.4 billion production-sharing contract with Saudi Arabia’s Midad Energy North Africa to explore and develop hydrocarbons in the Illizi Sud field, marking one of the country’s largest energy partnerships of 2025.
Algeria’s 2026 Budget Plan: Spending Rises with Emphasis on Salaries, Subsidies, and Investment
Algeria’s 2026 draft budget raises government spending above 17.6 trillion dinars, with a significant portion allocated to public salaries, subsidies for basic goods, and infrastructure investments. The plan anticipates 4.1% economic growth.
ANALYSES & MAJOR EVENTS
MAGHREB
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...
Morocco: Ex-Minister and Lawyer, Mohamed Ziane Still in Detention
Former Moroccan minister and lawyer Mohamed Ziane is currently detained on the basis of two distinct criminal cases, with one sentence completed and...
Washington Initiates Review Process for Possible Terrorism Designations of Muslim Brotherhood Branches
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on 23 November 2025 that his administration has initiated a formal review to determine whether certain...
US: Global Media Reacts to America’s Epstein Reckoning
The global media is following the Epstein scandal as a sign of political strain in Washington. The battle over the release of Justice Department...
Libya: The Strange Case of Hannibal Gaddafi: From Exile to Detention to Release
Hannibal Gaddafi, the son of Libya’s former leader Muammar Gaddafi, was freed from a Lebanese jail in November 2025 after nearly ten years in...
Algeria: 25 Executives Charged in Alleged Metals Fraud
A high-profile corruption trial involving Algeria’s state-owned metals conglomerate Imetal is set to begin on November 24 before the economic and...
More on the Maghreb
SAHEL
Mauritania’s Former President Loses Final Appeal, Will Serve 15 Years
Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, who led Mauritania from 2009 to 2019, has lost his final appeal and will serve 15 years in prison. The Supreme Court of...
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,...
Sahel: Foreign Workers Targeted in New Mali Kidnappings
A series of recent kidnappings in western and northern Mali have reinforced growing concerns for foreign workers and business interests operating in...
Spain Faces Scrutiny Over Migrant Centers in Mauritania
Debate in Spain has increased over government funding for migrant centers in Mauritania, with some critics arguing these sites operate more like...
Crisis in Sudan: Meet the Ruthless Warlord Hemedti
Libya has Khalifa Haftar, Sudan has its own ruthless warlord, Mohamed Hamdan Dagolo—better known as Hemedti. Like Haftar, Hemedti rose to power...
French Nationals Urged to Leave Mali as Insurgent Attacks Intensify in the Sahel
Faced with a surge of Islamist insurgency and increased boldness, the Defense Ministers of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger met on November 7 in Niamey...
More on the Sahel
EGYPT
Egypt’s Fuel Price Hike Deepens Economic Strain Amid IMF Reforms
Egypt has raised domestic fuel prices sharply as part of a multi-faceted effort to stabilize the country's economy amidst persistent fiscal pressure...
Egypt: Sisi Confronts Worldwide Embassy Uproar
A series of protests and confrontations at Egyptian embassies around the world has sparked international attention in recent months. Demonstrations...
Infrastructure: Egypt’s High-Speed Rail Network Nears Completion
Egypt’s flagship high-speed electric rail project is changing the landscape of national mobility. The game-changing Ain Sokhna to Marsa Matrouh line...
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...
More on Egypt
Sahel: Terror Groups Gain Ground as Armies Struggle to Contain Them
Al-Qaeda’s Sahel branch (GSIM) is now emerging as the region’s dominant jihadist force. Even the brutal Islamic State has been largely unable to contain SGIM’s expansion, which has been expanding its control across Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.
Syria’s New Ruler Faces Jihadist Rebellion and Internal Strife
Ahmed Al-Charaa, once a top jihadist leader, now rules Syria after toppling Bashar al-Assad. But his grip on power is fragile. While rebranding himself as a moderate, he faces opposition from the Islamic State
Franco-Algerian Diplomatic Relations in Turmoil
The Franco-Algerian diplomatic relations are going through a turbulent period. The latest signs of discord between them stem from multiple sources that include the change in France’s recognition of Morocco’s plan on the Western Sahara
Burkina Faso Junta Faces Governance Challenges Amid Controversies and Rumors
The military junta in Burkina Faso is not governing at ease. The country is struggling with repressive actions from the junta, with opposition figures, lawyers and activities feeling the brunt of the regime.
Sahel: French company Orano loses operating license of key uranium site in Niger
The Nigerien government revoked the operating permit for the Imouraren uranium mine from the French company Orano to assert sovereignty over its resources.
North Africa Confronted with New Security Concerns
There is news coverage in Spain about Morocco stepping up its military presence near the Spanish-controlled enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, and a lot of chatter about a Russian military presence in Tunisia.
MORE ANALYSES & MAJOR EVENTS
Spain Faces Scrutiny Over Migrant Centers in Mauritania
Political debate in Spain is increasing over the country’s funding of migrant centers in Mauritania, as critics claim these sites lack adequate legal safeguards and human rights protections.
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.
This Week’s Premium Podcast
Ethnic Targeting in West Africa and Sahel: The Forgotten Plight of the Fulani
What’s happening to the Fulani in the Sahel isn’t just war — it’s collective punishment. This is the story no one wants to tell.
POLITICS
Libya: The Strange Case of Hannibal Gaddafi: From Exile to Detention to Release
Hannibal Gaddafi, son of Libya’s former dictator Muammar Gaddafi, was released from a Lebanese prison in November 2025 after nearly ten years in detention. Gaddafi was originally kidnapped from Syria in 2015 by militants seeking information about the 1978 disappearance of Lebanese cleric Musa al-Sadr—a case that has strained Libya–Lebanon relations for decades.
MORE ON POLITICS
US: Global Media Reacts to America’s Epstein Reckoning
The global media is following the Epstein scandal as a sign of political strain in Washington. The battle over the release of Justice Department...
Mauritania’s Former President Loses Final Appeal, Will Serve 15 Years
Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, who led Mauritania from 2009 to 2019, has lost his final appeal and will serve 15 years in prison. The Supreme Court of...
Libya: The Strange Case of Hannibal Gaddafi: From Exile to Detention to Release
Hannibal Gaddafi, the son of Libya’s former leader Muammar Gaddafi, was freed from a Lebanese jail in November 2025 after nearly ten years in...
Spain Faces Scrutiny Over Migrant Centers in Mauritania
Debate in Spain has increased over government funding for migrant centers in Mauritania, with some critics arguing these sites operate more like...
Crisis in Sudan: Meet the Ruthless Warlord Hemedti
Libya has Khalifa Haftar, Sudan has its own ruthless warlord, Mohamed Hamdan Dagolo—better known as Hemedti. Like Haftar, Hemedti rose to power...
Mauritanian Police Detain Anti-Slavery Activist After Advocacy Event
Warda Ahmed Souleymane, a prominent member of Mauritania’s abolitionist movement, was detained by police in Nouakchott on October 31, 2025, soon...
Security Council Backs Morocco’s Plan for Western Sahara, Sets Out Negotiation Terms
The UN Security Council voted on October 31, 2025, to adopt a resolution regarding Western Sahara, which was drafted by the United States and...
Algerian Lawmakers Consider Stripping Citizenship from Nationals Abroad
A plan resurfacing in Algeria’s parliament would allow authorities to strip citizenship from Algerians who commit acts abroad deemed seriously...
Morocco’s New Election Law Sparks Free Speech Battle
Morocco’s government has just approved a controversial change to its election law—setting out steep new penalties for anyone who publicly spreads...
Tunisia: Pollution Uprising in Gabès Turning Into Sustained Protest Movement
MondAfrique: Gabès' fight against pollution has reached historic levels, turning into a sustained protest movement with possible national...
Tunisia: Pollution Uprising in Gabès Turning Into Sustained Protest Movement
MondAfrique: Gabès' fight against pollution has reached historic levels, turning into a sustained protest movement with possible national...
Opinion: Why Cameroon’s Crisis Threatens a Regional Collapse
In an oped in MondAfrique, Johnny Vianney Bissakonou argues that gambling with Cameroon’s stability is reckless. He warns that the uncertainty...
West Africa’s New Rulers Use the Same Same Old Playbook of Their Predecessors
Cameroon’s election aftermath is fueling more street violence, Côte d’Ivoire’s political prospects remain stuck in limbo, and now Guinea is laying...
Egypt Draws a Red Line on Nile Rights in GERD Dispute
Egypt is insisting that Nile water security is an uncompromising national priority, with the country’s leadership rejecting any attempts at...
SECURITY, DEFENSE & TERRORISM
Mali: Bamako Strikes Back as JNIM Expands Its Rule
Mali’s military launched air raids in Ségou just days after jihadists announced new sharia‑based restrictions and widened their blockade. The standoff now defines who controls the roads, fuel, and daily life in central Mali.
Mali’s Energy Collapse Deepens as Fuel Blockade and Infrastructure Decay Converge
Mali’s capital has grown quieter in the dark. Across Bamako and beyond, entire neighborhoods now spend long nights without electricity, while...
Mali: Bamako Strikes Back as JNIM Expands Its Rule
Over one turbulent weekend in mid‑October 2025, Mali’s army announced a series of airstrikes against jihadist strongholds just as the country’s most...
Sahel: Three Sahel States Join Forces in Northern Mali Offensive
Joint counterterrorism forces from the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) have carried out a precision operation in northern Mali, killing...
Africa: New Warning of Evolving Hybrid Threats Linking Terrorism, Crime, and Climate Pressures Across Africa
At a recent Mediterranean Dialogues Forum in Naples, Mauritania’s Foreign Minister Mohamed Salem Ould Merzoug delivered a sobering assessment of how...
Washington Returns to Libya’s Frontlines in Bid to Counter Russia and Reunify Militias
U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) has announced that Libya, long divided between rival political and military factions, will host a key segment of next...
Algeria and Tunisia Expand Military Cooperation Amid Regional Security Tensions
In a move reflecting the deepening security alignment between Algeria and Tunisia, the two neighbors signed a new defense cooperation agreement in...
Libya’s Path to Stability: Still Blocked by Fragmentation and Armed Rivalries
Libya closes 2025 still caught in a web of armed rivalries, political fragmentation, and recurring violence that continually unsettle both...
Sahel: Surging Jihadist Violence Batters the Sahel, Exposing Government Weakness
By Arezki Daoud: A surge in jihadist violence has rocked the Sahel region through late September and early October 2025, disrupting lives from the...
Algeria Plans Major Military Budget Increase for 2026
Algeria is set to approve a substantial increase in defense spending for 2026, marking the largest allocation ever proposed for its armed forces....
Mali: Ongoing Attacks Prompt Longer Curfew in Western Mali
Authorities in Mali have extended the curfew in Kayes for another month, following a series of violent attacks attributed to armed groups operating...
Mali: Ongoing Attacks Prompt Longer Curfew in Western Mali
Authorities in Mali have extended the curfew in Kayes for another month, following a series of violent attacks attributed to armed groups operating...
Mali: Diplomatic Rift Widens as France Expels Malian Envoys, Halts Counterterrorism Ties
Tensions between Mali and France have escalated after Paris expelled two Malian diplomats and suspended joint counterterrorism activities,...
Niger Dissolves Hundreds of Private Security Firms in Major Industry Overhaul
Niger’s government has shuttered 400 private security companies by ministerial decree, implementing a sweeping sector-wide reset in an effort to...
Sahel: Drone Incident Escalates Diplomatic Rift on Algeria–Mali Border
The diplomatic crisis between Algeria and Mali, long simmering over border security and regional influence, escalated further this week following...
SOCIAL, LABOR & THE ENVIRONMENT
Tunisia: Pollution Uprising in Gabès Turning Into Sustained Protest Movement
Tens of thousands have taken to the streets of Gabès, Tunisia, demanding the shutdown of a polluting chemical complex and drawing national attention to public health, broken government promises, and the urgency of real change. As the crisis escalates, Gabès is testing Tunisia’s ability to respond to grassroots mobilization against environmental and political neglect.
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: Two Years After the High Atlas Mountains’ Earthquake, Recovery Remains Uneven
In September 2023, a powerful earthquake struck Morocco’s High Atlas Mountains, killing nearly 3,000 people and destroying much of the rural...
Algeria: Salima Melizi’s Case Highlights Algeria’s Cultural Tensions
The arrest and release of Salima Melizi, an Algerian writer and publisher known for her independent voice, has generated significant concern within...
Algerian Lawmakers Consider Stripping Citizenship from Nationals Abroad
A plan resurfacing in Algeria’s parliament would allow authorities to strip citizenship from Algerians who commit acts abroad deemed seriously...
Tunisia: Pollution Uprising in Gabès Turning Into Sustained Protest Movement
MondAfrique: Gabès' fight against pollution has reached historic levels, turning into a sustained protest movement with possible national...
Sahel: Fuel Blockade in Mali Brings Daily Life to a Standstill
By MondAfrique: Mali is in the grip of an unprecedented fuel crisis—a crisis now spilling into Senegal. The vital Dakar-Bamako supply route is...
Morocco’s Youth Protests Regain Momentum, Calls for Reform Ahead of 2025 Africa Cup
Morocco’s youth-led protest movement, GenZ212, returned to the streets on Saturday, October 18, after a short pause, confirming growing frustration...
Sahel: The Demographic Tide Reshaping Mali’s Regional Balance
Mali is on the cusp of a demographic transformation. According to new projections from the country’s National Population Directorate (DNP), the...
Morocco’s Youth Protests Regain Momentum, Calls for Reform Ahead of 2025 Africa Cup
Morocco’s youth-led protest movement, GenZ212, returned to the streets on Saturday, October 18, after a short pause, confirming growing frustration...
Sahel: The Demographic Tide Reshaping Mali’s Regional Balance
Mali is on the cusp of a demographic transformation. According to new projections from the country’s National Population Directorate (DNP), the...
Tunisia: Protests in Gabès Over Pollution and Repression
Over the past week, Gabès, in Tunisia, has seen a dramatic escalation in social unrest centered on anti-pollution protests targeting a...
Algeria: Diphtheria Death Sparks Outbreak Fears in Skikda
The province of Skikda is experiencing anxiety after the announcement on Thursday of a death caused by diphtheria. This resurgence of a disease once...
BUSINESS & THE ECONOMY
Algeria Rolls Out 5G Network with Six-Year Expansion Plan
Algeria has formally launched its 5G mobile network in Algiers, with licenses granted to the country’s three major carriers—Mobilis, Djezzy, and Ooredoo. Over a planned six‑year rollout, coverage will expand from priority regions to the rest of the country, supporting faster data speeds, low‑latency services, and new applications in sectors such as agriculture, urban management, and industry.
Morocco: Drought Pressure Threatens 2025-26 Farming Season
Morocco's 2025-26 agricultural season faces mounting difficulties due to sustained drought and diminishing water resources. Despite temporary...
Tunisia: Economic Pressures Erode Household Purchasing Power
A recent Fitch Solutions report, “Consumption and Household Income in Tunisia,” published October 22, 2025, finds that Tunisia’s average household...
Egypt Pegs its Power Supply to New Israeli Gas Imports
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this week referred in court to a “historic” natural gas deal with Egypt, according to reporting from...
Sahel: Fuel Blockade in Mali Brings Daily Life to a Standstill
By MondAfrique: Mali is in the grip of an unprecedented fuel crisis—a crisis now spilling into Senegal. The vital Dakar-Bamako supply route is...
Libya: NOC Expands Exploration as Libya Targets 1.6 Million Barrels by 2026
Libya is pressing ahead with a broad-based energy revival that combines renewed foreign exploration, fresh domestic achievements, and ambitious...
Egypt’s Debt Diplomacy: How Brussels Became Cairo’s Latest Creditor of Confidence
When European and Egyptian leaders convened in Brussels for their first‑ever EU–Egypt Summit on 22 October 2025, the event signaled Europe’s...
Mali’s Energy Collapse Deepens as Fuel Blockade and Infrastructure Decay Converge
Mali’s capital has grown quieter in the dark. Across Bamako and beyond, entire neighborhoods now spend long nights without electricity, while...
Morocco Strengthens Global Standing with Record Tourism Growth
Morocco’s tourism sector continues its post-pandemic climb, welcoming 15 million visitors between January and September 2025 — a 14% increase...
Algeria Pushes for Ambitious Cashless Economy by 2028
Algeria says it will transition to a completely cashless economy by 2028, according to an official plan led by the Bank of Algeria and its National...
Egypt’s Red Sea Crisis Intersects with U.S. Trade Strategy in Global Infrastructure Rivalry
Egypt’s foreign minister warned last week that Houthi attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea have cost the country more than $9 billion in...
Algeria Pushes for Ambitious Cashless Economy by 2028
Algeria says it will transition to a completely cashless economy by 2028, according to an official plan led by the Bank of Algeria and its National...
Egypt’s Red Sea Crisis Intersects with U.S. Trade Strategy in Global Infrastructure Rivalry
Egypt’s foreign minister warned last week that Houthi attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea have cost the country more than $9 billion in...
Egypt Draws a Red Line on Nile Rights in GERD Dispute
Egypt is insisting that Nile water security is an uncompromising national priority, with the country’s leadership rejecting any attempts at...
Egypt’s Fuel Price Hike Deepens Economic Strain Amid IMF Reforms
Egypt has raised domestic fuel prices sharply as part of a multi-faceted effort to stabilize the country's economy amidst persistent fiscal pressure...