From Morocco expanding green hydrogen development and Egypt deepening energy relations with China to Algeria considering severing ties with the UAE— explore the latest developments shaping North Africa, the Mediterranean, and the Sahel’s political, economic, and security landscapes.
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On Our Radar
The headlines shaping politics, security, and economics across North Africa and the Sahel.
MAGHREBI
Western Sahara: US pushes Algeria to review its stance
The United States is reported to be urging Algeria to reassess its position on Western Sahara as diplomatic pressure mounts ahead of renewed regional engagement.
MIDDLE EAST EYE
Algeria could sever ties with the UAE in coming days, media report
Reports suggest Algeria is considering breaking diplomatic ties with the UAE amid rising tensions over regional alignments and foreign policy disputes.
LE MATIN D’ALGERIE
Political parties law: structural reform or deeper political lock-in?
An analysis questioning whether Algeria’s proposed reform of the political parties law opens the system or further restricts political pluralism.
HESPRESS
Morocco’s labor code reform: pay, hours, and worker protections
Morocco is advancing labor code reforms addressing wages, working hours, and protections, with implications for competitiveness and social stability.
YABILADI
Standard Chartered projects stronger growth for Morocco
Standard Chartered forecasts improved economic growth for Morocco, citing infrastructure investment, industrial policy, and external demand.
ARAB NEWS
Tunisia court frees NGO workers accused of helping migrants
A Tunisian court has freed a group of humanitarian workers after handing them suspended sentences for facilitating the “illegal entry and residence” of migrants.
DAILY SABAH
Seven children among ten killed in drone strike in Sudan’s El Obeid
A drone strike in Sudan’s El Obeid killed at least ten people, including children, highlighting the war’s toll on civilians.
BUSINESS INSIDER AFRICA
Burkina Faso says alleged $125,000 plot to assassinate Ibrahim Traoré foiled
Authorities in Burkina Faso claim to have uncovered and disrupted a plot to assassinate junta leader Ibrahim Traoré.
AL JAZEERA
US suspends assistance to Somalia over alleged seizure of aid
Washington suspended assistance to the Somali government following allegations that US-funded food aid was seized or diverted.
ARAB NEWS
Egypt’s annual inflation falls to 10.3% in December: CAPMAS
Egypt’s annual headline inflation rate slowed sharply to 10.3% in December, down from 23.4% in the same month a year earlier, official data showed.
FINANCIAL TIMES
Young Africans turning on liberation parties, says Mozambique’s opposition leader
Young people across Africa have turned against aging liberation parties for failing to deliver on their promises, Mozambique’s firebrand opposition leader said over a year after leading the biggest protests in his country’s history.
NORTH AFRICA POST
Morocco and Switzerland to launch solar rooftop program
Morocco and Switzerland are launching a large-scale solar rooftop initiative, described as a first in the MENA region, to expand renewable energy adoption.
NORTH AFRICA POST
Morocco expands green hydrogen development amid regulatory challenges
Morocco is accelerating green hydrogen projects but faces regulatory and infrastructure hurdles that could shape the pace of deployment.
AL-MONITOR
Youth and strong AI adoption could make MENA a leading smartphone region
High youth populations and rapid AI uptake are positioning MENA as a potential global leader in smartphone growth and digital services.
AL-MONITOR
US envoy pushes Sudan truce, meets UAE’s MBZ after Saudi talks
The US envoy intensified ceasefire diplomacy on Sudan, holding talks with Gulf leaders amid growing regional rivalry.
OILPRICE
The Libya oil story no one is pricing in yet
An analysis arguing that political and infrastructure risks in Libya’s oil sector remain underpriced by global markets.
BUSINESS INSIDER AFRICA
Egypt deepens energy transition with $18bn deal involving China and Norway
Egypt signed a major energy deal with Chinese and Norwegian partners, underscoring its push toward large-scale energy transition projects.
AHRAM ONLINE
New Egyptian House of Representatives members take oath
Members of Egypt’s newly elected parliament were sworn in, consolidating President Sisi’s legislative support.
LIBYA OBSERVER
Libya becomes fifth-largest importer of Turkish gold
Turkish trade data show Libya emerging as a major importer of Turkish gold, reflecting shifting trade patterns and domestic demand.
EGYPT TODAY
Hundreds of Egyptians to be released from Libyan prisons
Officials announced that hundreds of Egyptian detainees are expected to be released from Libyan prisons following diplomatic coordination.
REUTERS
Egypt announces final parliamentary results consolidating Sisi’s majority
Egypt released results for the last parliamentary seats, confirming a strong pro-Sisi majority.
BUSINESS INSIDER AFRICA
Israel extends military reach into Africa through Morocco defense partnership
Israel is expanding its defense footprint in Africa via cooperation agreements with Morocco.
XINHUA (ENGLISH)
Libya’s oil revenues reach new levels
China’s state media reports on Libya’s oil revenue performance, emphasizing continued reliance on hydrocarbons.
Commentaries from the North Africa, Mediterranean and the Sahel Program
Africa in Washington’s Lens: Myopia, Transactionalism & Aggressive Disinterest
North Africa Program Director Hafed Al-Ghwell writes on how the 2025 U.S. National Security Strategy reduces Africa to a transactional resource frontier, eroding long-term American influence.
Morocco’s Two-Speed Reality
MENA Policy Expert Safae El Yaaqoubi argues that Morocco’s development is moving at two speeds, leaving half the country behind, while recent protests reflect a broad intergenerational movement.
Reality Dose: Libya’s False Unity
North Africa Program Director Hafed Al-Ghwell writes on how Libya’s unity is a political fiction masking entrenched fractures, rival power centers, and a decade of failed state-building.
Reports & Analysis on the Region
Deeper dives from experts, think tanks, and research institutes.
ARAB NEWS
Libya and the brutal reality of migrant ‘deterrence’
North Africa Program Director Hafed Al-Ghwell writes for Arab News on Libya’s evolving role in Mediterranean migration management, examining how interception, detention, and regional instability have reshaped migration routes and produced severe humanitarian consequences.
CHATHAM HOUSE
How MENA can benefit from adaptive climate governance
A Chatham House analysis outlines how adaptive climate governance could help the region manage climate shocks while improving policy credibility.
CHATHAM HOUSE
Will Morocco become a battleground in the global trade war?
Chatham House examination of whether Morocco’s industrial strategy and trade ties could expose it to geopolitical trade competition.
CARNEGIE ENDOWMENT
Rethinking power-sharing agreements in Libya
This Carnegie Endowment paper argues that Libya’s past power-sharing arrangements have entrenched fragmentation and calls for alternative governance frameworks.
CHATHAM HOUSE
Egypt’s foreign policy will remain “too little, too late” in 2026
A Chatham House assessment suggesting Egypt’s cautious foreign policy approach will limit its regional influence in the coming year.
MIDDLE EAST COUNCIL ON GLOBAL AFFAIRS
Local mediation as a bridge to peace in Yemen, Libya, and Sudan
A Middle East Council report highlighting local mediation as a critical but underused tool in resolving protracted conflicts, including in North Africa.
Upcoming Events
Key briefings and conferences to watch.
2026 IMF MENA Research Conference – “Rethinking MENA Integration in a Fast-Changing Global Environment”
An International Monetary Fund (IMF) announcement and call for papers for a research conference to be held June 29–30, 2026 at Mohammed VI Polytechnic University in Rabat, Morocco, inviting work on trade and financial integration, macroeconomic policy under new external shocks, digitalization, energy, and regional cooperation.
39th African Union Summit
Media accreditation is now open for the 39th AU Summit, including the Executive Council and the Assembly of Heads of State and Government, taking place 11–15 February 2026 at the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
CHATHAM HOUSE – EVENT
MENA region: stabilizing or spiralling?
A research event exploring whether political and economic trends in MENA point toward stabilization or deeper fragmentation.
Tune In
Hear the latest insights from regional experts.
Shamel Aboul Fadl On Bonyan’s Blueprint For Real Estate Investment In Egypt
In a special Forbes Middle East podcast, Shamel Aboul Fadl, Founder of Compass Capital and Executive Chairman of Bonyan, unpacks Bonyan’s bold strategy to capitalize on asset appreciation, rental returns, and the company’s long-term vision in Egypt through its investment philosophy.
Sahel nations unite to battle extremism
On DW AfricaLink Podcast with security analyst Adib Saani and DW Sahel correspondent Bram Posthumous discuss how Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso are betting on a new joint military force pooling troops, intelligence, and resources to stabilize the Sahel, while questioning whether security cooperation alone can deliver durable protection and meaningful change.
Egypt: Stability Lays Groundwork for Transformation
In this IMF Podcast, IMF Egypt lead Ivanna Vladkova Hollar explains that while the IMF-supported Extended Fund Facility has helped restore macroeconomic stability, the country’s next critical challenge is deeper economic transformation to unlock private-sector growth.
Job Opportunities
Career moves, fellowships, and calls for applications—all in one place.
United Nations
Humanitarian Affairs Officer (Rabat, Morocco)
A United Nations vacancy seeking a humanitarian affairs professional to support coordination, reporting, and response planning in crisis-affected settings.
St. Antony’s College
Visiting faculty announcement (Oxford, UK)
The 2026–2027 Tunisian Visiting Faculty Programme call is open for research active faculty from Tunisian universities in the humanities and social sciences.
International Union for Conservation of Nature
Tunisia Programme Assistant, Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation (Malaga, Spain) This position will focus primarily on national project delivery, while enhancing coordination with government authorities and enabling closer collaboration with local civil society organisations (CSOs).
United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism
Programme Management Officer (Rabat, Morocco)
The National Professional Officer position supports the development and delivery of counter-terrorism and preventing violent extremism initiatives, including national training programmes, to strengthen Member State capacity.
