Jan 2, 2026

U.S. Immigration Policy and the Changing Landscape of Africa-U.S. Travel$

Analysis by The North Africa Journal

In 2026, U.S. visa policy is entering a more restrictive phase for large parts of Africa and the Middle East. Countries including Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana, and Zimbabwe now face higher application costs, expanded biometric requirements, mandatory disclosure of social media and digital histories, and longer processing timelines. At the same time, several Sahel states have responded with reciprocal measures, suspending or banning visas for U.S. citizens. What began as a security-driven adjustment to immigration screening has evolved into a broader diplomatic signal, reshaping mobility, bilateral relations, and perceptions of U.S. engagement across Africa and the Middle East.

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Premium Contents

Southern Libya Boils Over: Three Haftar Soldiers Killed in Border Raid Near Niger$

by The North Africa Journal | Feb 4, 2026 | Shield and Alert: Maghreb, 1PREMIUM, 1-BLUE-LEFT-SECTION-Special-Focus-Free, Briefs, Libya, Security & Defense, 1shorts, Maghreb, Security

Three soldiers loyal to Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar were killed and several others captured in coordinated attacks on border posts near Niger, underscoring how southern Libya has become a key fault line in the country’s fractured security landscape. Fighters claiming to represent “revolutionaries of the South” say they are targeting Haftar’s forces over dire living conditions and alleged resource plunder, as cross-border armed groups test the limits of state control from Al-Tum to the Salvador Pass.

Tunisia Appeals Court Extends Rached Ghannouchi’s Prison Term by 20 Years$

by The North Africa Journal | Feb 4, 2026 | 1PREMIUM, 1-BLUE-LEFT-SECTION-Special-Focus-Free, 1Alert, Briefs, Politics, Tunisia, 1Notify, 1shorts, Maghreb, Politics, Shield and Alert: Maghreb

Rached Ghannouchi, the 84-year-old leader of Tunisia’s Ennahda party, has had his prison sentence increased to 20 years in a case known as “Conspiracy 2,” pushing his cumulative jail time from multiple convictions to more than four decades. His defense team says he will not seek a final appeal, denouncing the charges as politically driven and warning that the ruling deepens Tunisia’s crackdown on organized opposition.

With Saif al-Islam Killed, Gaddafi Dynasty’s Political Ambitions All But Collapse$

by The North Africa Journal | Feb 4, 2026 | 1PREMIUM, Briefs, 1Alert, Libya, Politics, 1Notify, 1shorts, Maghreb, Politics, Security, politics upfront, 111

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.

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