From large-scale coordinated attacks shaking Mali to mounting global energy volatility, with oil prices projected to reach $120 per barrel, the Iran war is straining emerging markets and disrupting supply chains—explore the latest developments shaping North Africa, the Mediterranean, and the Sahel.
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From the Stimson Center
Deeper dives from the Stimson Center.
A Conversation with H.E. Ambassador Taher El-Sonni: Libya’s Strategic Outlook
Join us for a fireside chat with Libya’s UN Ambassador Taher El-Sonni on Libya’s political outlook, energy role, and regional security amid shifting Mediterranean and Sahel dynamics.
Sudan: How One of the Most Severe Humanitarian Crises Became Marginalized in the Global System
Stimson Nonresident Fellow Amb Mohamed Ali Chihi writes on how Sudan’s catastrophic war became a neglected crisis, exposing geopolitical selectivity and the erosion of global humanitarian response.
Reassessing Tunisia’s Strategic Importance for the United States
Ambassador (ret) Joey R. Hood, in a new issue brief for the Stimson Center, writes on U.S. policy options to leverage Tunisia for regional security, economic stability, and Sahel-focused cooperation.
Mali’s Post-Alignment Strategy: Sovereignty, Partnerships, and the Limits of Stabilization
Yahia Zoubir and Abdelkader Abderrahmane write for Stimson Center on how Mali’s shift in external partnerships has failed to improve security, governance, or economic conditions
A Conversation with H.E. Ambassador Duarte Lopes: Europe, North Africa, and the Mediterranean
Watch this public fireside chat with Ambassador Duarte Lopes on Europe’s engagement with North Africa and the Sahel, Mediterranean security dynamics, and Portugal’s role in EU–Africa partnerships.
On Our Radar
The headlines shaping politics, security, and economics across North Africa and the Sahel.
Financial Times
Oil Could Trade at Nearly $120 If War Drags On, Goldman Sachs Warns
Goldman Sachs has warned that oil could trade at nearly $120 a barrel later this year as hopes fade for further talks between the U.S. and Iran leaving Gulf shipments in limbo pushing the price of crude to its highest level since the start of a ceasefire earlier this month. Brussels.
Al Jazeera
Algeria’s Ex-Minister of Industry Jailed in High-Profile Corruption Case
Former Industry Minister Ali Aoun sentenced to 5 years and a 1-million-dinar fine over irregular metal-waste sales, part of President Tebboune’s anticorruption drive.
Al Jazeera
Gunmen Stage Simultaneous Attacks Across Mali, Army Says
Coordinated JNIM and Tuareg-led FLA assaults struck Bamako, Kati, Sévaré, Kidal and Gao in the most significant offensive in years against the junta.
The Africa Report
Morocco and US Accelerate Military Alliance, Leaving Algeria in the Cold
Morocco’s Loudiyi and US Under Secretary Elbridge Colby signed a 10-year defense roadmap covering industries and cybersecurity, deepening Rabat’s NATO-style integration.
France 24
Why Supporters of Burkina Faso’s Junta Leader Are Campaigning Against a Sky News Journalist
Captain Traoré’s online supporters launched a coordinated AI-image harassment campaign against Sky News correspondent Yousra Elbagir after a critical security report.
NPR
Mali reeling after coordinated attacks hit multiple cities
Heavy gunfire and explosions hit Bamako’s airport, government buildings and military installations in Mali’s worst coordinated assault in years.
Morocco World News
African Lion 2026 Launches in Morocco with Drones, Cyber, Link-16 Focus
400+ multinational service members began the academic phase in Agadir of the largest annual joint exercise in Africa, running through May 8 across Morocco, Ghana, Senegal and Tunisia.
Xinhua
Burkina Faso Launches National Culture Week
President Traoré opened the 22nd National Culture Week in Bobo-Dioulasso as an act of cultural sovereignty, meeting Alliance of Sahel States PMs on the margins.
Egypt Today
Egypt FM Discusses Regional De-escalation with Six Counterparts
Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty held separate phone calls on Monday with the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Pakistan, Iran, and Turkey to discuss efforts to halt regional escalation and support negotiations.
Al Jazeera
Mali’s Defence Minister Sadio Camara Killed During Coordinated Attacks
A suicide car bomb hit Camara’s residence in fortified Kati; his second wife and two grandchildren also died.
Al Jazeera
Mali Rattled by Ongoing Armed Attacks: What to Know
Explainer on JNIM-FLA tactical coordination, Russian Africa Corps redeployments to Ukraine, and panic in Malian ranks.
Libya Herald
New Shipping Line Between Italy-Tunisia-Tripoli Launched Today
Tunisia’s Zarzis port received its first container ship on a new line connecting Zarzis and Rades to Italy’s Gioia Tauro and Tripoli.
Reuters
Pakistan Places $1.5 Billion Sudan Weapons Sale on Hold After Saudi Objection
Pakistan suspended a major arms sale to Sudan’s SAF following pressure from Saudi Arabia, which objected to the transfer amid fears it could prolong the civil war and complicate Gulf-led mediation efforts.
Reuters
War, Drought and Aid Shortfall Fuel Hunger in 2026, Global Report Says
A major global hunger report found that war, climate shocks and collapsing aid budgets have pushed acute food insecurity to record levels, with Sudan, the Sahel and North Africa among the most severely affected regions.
Jeune Afrique
Mohammed VI – Tebboune: Two Diplomacies Tested on Sahelian Ground
Compares Morocco’s pragmatic multi-sector diplomacy with Algeria’s security-first Sahel approach following Mali’s April 10 endorsement of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara.
Le Monde Afrique
French FM Barrot Downplays Russia’s Growing Influence During Togo Visit
Jean-Noël Barrot dismissed Russia’s African development contribution as having no comparison with European efforts, as Togo edges closer to Moscow.
Africa Center for Strategic Studies
Border Security: Boucar Baba Ndiaye on Protecting Senegal Against the Spread of Jihadism
Warns of deteriorating eastern Senegal security from JNIM’s expansion since July 2025, proposing a community-trust cross-border approach.
Al Jazeera
Sudan Refugees Returning Home Face New ‘Struggle for Survival’: UN
IOM reports nearly 4 million Sudanese have voluntarily returned to Khartoum and Al-Jazirah, but face destroyed infrastructure; IOM’s $170m 2026 plan, meanwhile, is underfunded by $97.2m.
Refugees International
New Evidence of United Arab Emirates Fueling Genocide in Sudan
Refugees International cited that the UAE continues fueling RSF operations including Colombian mercenary involvement at El Fasher; calls for arms-sale halt and corporate partnership suspensions.
UNHCR
CAR–Sudan Situation: April 20, 2026
Weekly UNHCR update on Sudanese refugee crossings into the Central African Republic with arrival numbers, protection needs and onward-movement trends.
African Union
The AU, through its Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS), in partnership with the Moroccan government, successfully convened the 5th Edition of the Joint Specialized Training for African Union Short-Term Election Observers (STOs) from April 20–24 in Rabat, Morocco.
African Union Commission
Africa Think Tank Platform: AU Signs Grants with 13 Think Tanks
AUC signed grant agreements organized into RAISED, CACEPS and BRIDGE Africa consortia, including Egypt’s Economic Research Forum, under the $50 million World Bank-funded Agenda 2063 platform.
Reuters
At Senegal Forum, Niger and Mali Say Neighbours Sponsor Terrorism
At a security forum in Dakar, Malian and Nigerien foreign ministers publicly accused unnamed neighboring states and France of harboring and financing armed groups, deepening the diplomatic rift between the AES junta states and their West African neighbors.
Reuters
Battle-Scarred Developing Nations Look for a Path Out of Permacrisis
Analysis of how countries in the Sahel, North Africa and beyond are navigating simultaneous economic, security and humanitarian shocks as the Iran war deepens global fragmentation and cuts off development financing.
Reuters
Two Months into the Iran War, Economic Strain Mounts Across Emerging Markets
Two months after the Strait of Hormuz closure, emerging market economies including Egypt, Tunisia and Mauritania are showing rising inflation, currency pressure and fiscal stress as global commodity supply chains remain disrupted.
The Guardian
Mali Attacks: Insurgents Seize Towns, Kill Defence Minister
Comprehensive coverage of the April 25–26 coordinated JNIM-FLA assault across Mali, documenting the killing of Defense Minister Sadio Camara, seizure of towns in northern Mali, and the chaos unleashed as Russian Africa Corps prepares to withdraw from Kidal.
Bloomberg
Morocco’s Latest Attraction Is a Rocket-Inspired Tower Outside Rabat
Feature on the Mohammed VI Tower under construction near Rabat, a 55-story rocket-shaped skyscraper set to become Africa’s tallest building and a centerpiece of Morocco’s Diamniadio-style new administrative city project.
Morocco World News
Morocco Expands Aerospace Industry with Pratt & Whitney Casablanca Plant
Pratt & Whitney announced a new engine component manufacturing facility in the Casablanca Midparc aerospace zone, expanding Morocco’s growing role as a hub for European and North American aerospace supply chains.
Business Insider Africa
Russia’s State-Owned Nuclear Giant Eyes Congo with New Power Projects
Rosatom is advancing negotiations to build nuclear power infrastructure in the Democratic Republic of Congo, part of a broader Russian strategy to secure African energy partnerships as Western financing contracts in Central and West Africa.
Bloomberg
Egypt’s Talaat Moustafa Unveils Plan for $27 Billion New City
Egyptian real estate conglomerate Talaat Moustafa Group unveiled plans for a new $27 billion city development on Egypt’s Mediterranean coast, one of the largest private real estate projects in the country’s history.
Wall Street Journal
Libya Is Pumping an Extra Million Barrels of Oil a Day, National Oil Company Says
Libya’s NOC announced it has ramped up output by approximately one million barrels per day as a direct result of the Iran war driving oil prices up and creating European demand for alternative Mediterranean suppliers, alongside the first unified budget approval.
Business Insider Africa
Global Container Shipping Giant Maersk Suspends Shipments Disrupting Key Horn of Africa Route
Maersk announced a suspension of container shipments on a key Horn of Africa corridor following Houthi escalation linked to the Iran war, affecting supply chains running through Djibouti and onward to North African and Sahel import markets.
Yabiladi
Algeria Offers Djen Djen Port to Sahel Countries as Alternative to Moroccan Ports
Algeria is promoting its Djen Djen deep-water port in Jijel as a logistics alternative for landlocked Sahel states (Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso), positioning it as a counterweight to Morocco’s expanding Atlantic and Mediterranean port dominance.
AP News
Tunisia Crackdown: Rights Group Documents Sweeping Arrests of Opponents
A human rights organization documented a new wave of arrests targeting political opponents, journalists and civil society figures in Tunisia under President Saied, drawing international condemnation and concerns about democratic backsliding.
World Bank
Africa Economic Update: Resilience Amid Disruption — Spring 2026
The World Bank’s semi-annual Africa Economic Update assesses how the region is managing the triple shock of the Iran war commodity surge, collapsing development aid, and tightening global financing conditions, with country-specific analysis including Egypt, Morocco, Senegal and Sahel fragile states.
Al-Monitor
IMF Slashes Mideast Outlook Nearly 3 Points as Iran War Hits Economies
Al-Monitor analysis of the IMF’s Spring 2026 MENA Regional Economic Outlook, documenting a near-3 percentage point downgrade in regional growth forecasts driven by the Strait of Hormuz closure, with Egypt and Morocco facing the sharpest adjustments among North African economies.
The New York Times
Rescue Effort for Russian Tanker Fails, in a New Era of Maritime Peril
A Russian tanker, carrying fuel and natural gas, has been adrift for weeks in the Mediterranean Sea after a drone attack, alarming officials who fear an environmental disaster.
Reports & Analysis on the Region
Deeper dives from experts, think tanks, and research institutes.
COMMENTARY
Why Africa Needs A New Lens for Global Engagement
Stimson Center North Africa, Mediterranean and the Sahel Program Director Hafed Al Ghwell writes for the Arab News and argues that Africa’s political and economic trajectory is increasingly distorted by disinformation and external influence, enabling regimes to trade real development for narrative control and undermining genuine sovereignty.
COMMENTARY
The Full Monty: Why the Mediterranean Pact Needs to Offer the Works
European Council on Foreign Relations Visiting Fellow Tarek Megerisi argues that the EU’s new Pact for the Mediterranean risks failing if it sticks to a piecemeal menu approach, and calls instead for comprehensive country-specific grand bargains bundling investment, energy partnerships, visa access and infrastructure to make European partnership irresistible to North African governments.
REPORT
MED OR Monthly Africa Report, April 2026
Monthly Mediterranean-Africa monitoring brief covering key political, economic and security developments including the AES-ECOWAS thaw, North African energy shifts, and the Iran war’s cascading effects on Mediterranean trade routes.
REPORT
Innovation and Emerging Technologies: From Progress to Prosperity
ISPI (Italian Institute for International Political Studies) report examining how technology and innovation can drive economic growth in developing and emerging economies, with sections covering Morocco’s AI factory investment, Egypt’s digital transformation and the technology gap facing Sahel states amid aid cuts.
REPORT
The Mediterranean Platform shared new findings on local governance dynamics in Libya, examining how municipalities and local actors are navigating political fragmentation amid a rare moment of east-west institutional cooperation.
COMMENTARY
Egypt and the Gulf: A Relationship under Pressure
Senior Fellow at Arab Center Washington DC Imad K. Harb analyzes how the Iran war has created a rupture between Egypt and its Gulf patrons, with Gulf critics demanding military support Cairo cannot afford to give while Egypt navigates Suez Canal revenue losses, inflation above 15%, and a debt-to-GDP ratio of around 83%.
COMMENTARY
Togo Summit Marks Diplomatic Thaw for Sahel’s Splinter States
International Crisis Group Examines the April 18 Lomé summit, the first formal AES-ECOWAS interaction since May 2025, joined by EU, France and Russia envoys, assessing whether the Togo-mediated dialogue can restore a degree of regional cooperation with Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger.
POLICY ANALYSIS
Togo Summit Marks Diplomatic Thaw for Sahel’s Splinter States
International Crisis Group analysis of the April 18 Lomé summit — the first formal AES-ECOWAS interaction since May 2025 — joined by EU, France and Russia envoys, assessing prospects for restored regional dialogue.
COMMENTARY
After Three Years of War, Sudan’s Civilians Need Stronger Support
Chatham House commentary on the Berlin International Sudan Conference, calls for a civilian-led political process and stronger Troika/Quad/Quintet coordination, analyzing UAE-Saudi rivalry shaping the war.
COMMENTARY
Spat with Trump Distracts from Pope Leo’s Africa Tour
ISS Africa commentary where Peter Fabricius argues public friction with the Trump administration overshadowed local African questions during Pope Leo XIV’s visit, which included Algeria.
COMMENTARY
Niger-Benin: A Narrow Window for Diplomatic Reset
ISS Africa analysis on Cotonou’s political transition opens an AU-mediated de-escalation opportunity with Sahel-coastal stability implications.
COMMENTARY
A Quiet US-AU Deal That Could Reshape Investment in Africa
ISS Africa commentary argues new Trump administration–African Union framework that could reshape development cooperation, with consequences for Sahel and North African economies.
REPORT
Springing Forward: Relaunching the Africa Technology Policy Tracker
Carnegie Africa Program newsletter highlights AfTech 2.0 launch alongside analysis of why Russia is losing the Sahel, and on the Maghreb’s green transition.
COMMENTARY
Healthcare Crisis in Tunisia: The Doctor Exodus in a Failing System
Iyed Hamadi from TIMEP (Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy) examines record young-doctor emigration and the cascading impact on Tunisia’s stressed public healthcare system.
POLICY ANALYSIS
No Monopoly Left: How Drone Warfare Escaped Its Architects
Egmont Institute’s Africa Policy Brief examines armed drone proliferation across Burkina Faso, the Persian Gulf and Ukraine, and implications for European policy.
COMMENTARY
‘Saying You’re a Geopolitical Actor Doesn’t Make It So’: Sven Biscop on Europe
Egmont senior fellow discusses Europe’s actual capabilities and limitations in its southern neighborhood.
COMMENTARY
Western Sahara: Three Wrong Turns the World Must Not Take
Modern Diplomacy Op-ed analysis ahead of the late-April UN Security Council MINURSO mandate review by Western Sahara expert Kamal Fadel.
COMMENTARY
Maritime Security in the Gulf of Guinea: The Shift from Piracy to Proxy Conflicts
Al Jazeera Centre for Studies commentary argues piracy has declined while Russia/China/US/AES grey zone activities reshape coastal West African security with Sahel spillover.
REPORT
Sudan’s Humanitarian Crisis, Explained
Council on Foreign Relations refresh marking a three-year war anniversary with post-El Fasher dynamics, ongoing Darfur/Kordofan violence and Berlin conference outcomes.
COMMENTARY
Counter-terrorism lessons to avoid a Lake Chad Basin scenario in Borgu-Kainji
ISS Africa Examines convergence of climate stress, Boko Haram/ISWAP violence and mass displacement across Chad, Niger, Nigeria and Cameroon.
Upcoming Events
Key briefings and conferences to watch.
European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR)
Africa-Europe Forum 2026 – May 7, 2026
ECFR’s annual flagship Africa-Europe convening bringing together senior European and African policymakers, diplomats, civil society and industry representatives for policy exchange on energy transitions, critical minerals, development, migration, and evolving regional security dynamics.
Policy Center for the New South (PCNS) & Geological Sustainable Mining Institute (UM6P)
Critical Raw Materials in Africa: Cross-Cutting Issues and Emerging Perspectives – May 12, 2026
Expert workshop on the geopolitics, governance, and supply-chain dynamics of critical minerals in Africa, directly relevant to EU-Africa relations and resource competition in North Africa and the Sahel.
International Space Summit Africa (ISSA)
ISSA 2026 – August 10–12, 2026
Continental forum for African and global space agencies, governments, and industry covering satellite communication, Earth observation, space policy, and dual-use applications including drone and ISR capabilities relevant to humanitarian response across the Sahel and Sudan.
Economic Science Association (ESA)
2026 African Meeting – June 15–17, 2026
Academic conference on economic research relevant to the African continent, including macroeconomic vulnerability and political-economy themes pertinent to Egypt, Morocco, the Sahel, and the post-Hormuz shock environment.
Tune In
Hear the latest insights from regional experts.
VIDEO REPORT
New Fighting Erupts in North Mali’s Kidal as Army Clashes with Rebels
France 24 video coverage of the April 25–26 attacks and announcement that Russian Africa Corps would withdraw from Kidal Camp 2 under a Tuareg-rebel deal.
WEBINAR
Sudan War Third Anniversary — Security Council Open Briefing
UN Security Council open meeting video coverage marking three years of Sudan’s civil war, featuring statements by UN Special Adviser Pekka Haavisto, OCHA chief Tom Fletcher and member-state representatives on humanitarian access and ceasefire prospects.
PODCAST
Africa’s Top Priorities for the 2026 World Bank and IMF Spring Meetings
Brookings Institution’s Landry Signé speaks with IMF Executive Director Regis N’Sonde and World Bank Executive Director Harold Tavares about debt vulnerabilities, the Sahel Country Partnership Framework, and the macroeconomic pressures facing African countries as the Iran war deepens commodity shocks.
VIDEO REPORT
Mali and Niger Accuse Neighbours of Backing Terrorism in Sahel Rift
Africanews coverage of a Senegal security forum, where Malian and Nigerien foreign ministers accused unnamed neighbors and France of harboring and fueling armed groups, deepening AES-ECOWAS tensions.
VIDEO REPORT
Sudan War Enters Fourth Year: Humanitarian Collapse and Ceasefire Prospects
Reuters video segment marking three years of Sudan’s civil war, covering the humanitarian collapse, Berlin conference outcomes, and prospects for a ceasefire as the SAF-RSF military stalemate deepens.
WEBINAR
How the Iran War is Shifting Regional Dynamics
MEI panel event examining how the US-Israel war on Iran is reshaping security and political alignments across the MENA region, with particular focus on North African states including Egypt, Libya and Algeria and their economic exposure.
PODCAST
Beyond Aid: Redefining Africa’s Development
In this episode of CSIS (Into Africa podcast), Tjada D’Oyen McKenna, CEO of Mercy Corps, and Noam Unger, Vice-President of the Global Development department at CSIS, join Oge to assess the current state of the international development and humanitarian assistance landscape and explore what challenges and opportunities this moment presents for Africa’s future.
PODCAST
What Does the Morocco-Nigeria Gas Pipeline Involve?
BBC World Service discussion on (Focus on Africa podcast) A $25 billion Nigeria–Morocco gas pipeline is advancing toward final approval, aiming to expand energy access across West Africa and potentially connect to Europe, while in Tanzania, scientists are using AI to monitor declining Masai giraffe populations, offering hope for conservation.
WEBINAR
Parlons Développement 23rd Edition: Territories in Action — Creating Sustainable Jobs for Youth
Policy Center for the New South-organized public dialogue with World Bank/UNDP on territorial economic development and youth employment in Morocco and the Atlantic-Sahel space.
PODCAST
Leadership Talks: How Civic-Tech Can Protect Cultural Heritage in the Digital Age
Policy Center for the New South podcast talk examining civic technology in safeguarding African cultural heritage.
Job Opportunities
Career moves, fellowships, and calls for applications—all in one place.
St. Andrew’s Refugee Services
Deputy Director, Refugee Legal Aid Program (Cairo, Egypt)
Under the supervision of the Director of Refugee Legal Aid Program, the Deputy Director supports management of program services implementation focused on legal advice and representation to urban refugees in matters of refugee status determination, protection, and resettlement.
UNICEF
Social Policy Specialist (Khartoum, Sudan)
Fixed-term position providing technical support to social policy programming with focus on public budget and expenditure analysis to improve equitable allocations for children’s services in Sudan.
International Rescue Committee
Senior Manager, Emergency Cash and Basic Needs (Sudan)
Senior role managing IRC’s emergency cash transfer and basic needs response.
Triangle Génération Humanitaire
Finance Manager (Sudan)
Finance leadership for French INGO managing country-office budgets and donor reporting in Sudan. Posted April 18, deadline May 1, 2026.
Danish Refugee Council
Consultancy (Darfur, Sudan)
Short-term consultancy designing resilience and durable solutions programming for displaced populations.
International Rescue Committee
Country Director, Burkina Faso
The IRC is recruiting a National Country Director for Burkina Faso who combines strategic vision, unifying leadership, integrity, and rigorous risk management to ensure institutional representation and operational management of the country program.
Norwegian Refugee Council
Multi-CC Project Manager, Sudan — Kadugli, South Kordofan
Manages multi-sector humanitarian projects covering protection, shelter, and food security for displaced populations. Posted April 19, closes May 1.
International Rescue Committee
Senior Manager, Emergency Cash and Basic Needs, Sudan
Leads IRC’s emergency cash assistance and basic-needs programming through December 2026. Posted approximately April 23, closes May 15.
UNICEF
Chief Field Office P-4, Wau, South Sudan
Coordinates child protection, education, WASH and emergency response in a region heavily impacted by Sudan refugee influx. Posted approximately April 21, closes April 28.
INTERSOS
Humanitarian Access Manager, Niger — Niamey
Senior role negotiating with state and non-state actors to enable aid delivery in conflict-affected central Sahel zones.
UNODC
Expert in Data Collection, Coordination and Analysis, Abuja
Senior consultant supporting data and analysis on transnational organized crime, trafficking, and counterterrorism in the Sahel and Lake Chad.
