North Africa Weekly: November 5, 2025

From protests in Tunisia to humanitarian crisis caused by Sudan’s civil war and Egypt’s emerging role as a mediator

By  Hafed Al Ghwell  •  Lana Bleik  •  Yusuf Can  •  Alexander Farley

From youth-led frustration in Morocco to renewed oil exploration in Libya and high-stakes diplomatic shifts in Algeria— explore the latest developments shaping North Africa and the Sahel’s political, economic, and security landscapes.

Read the North Africa Weekly on LinkedIn or join the conversation on X: @StimsonNAfrica

On Our Radar

The headlines you need to follow across North Africa.

REUTERS

One Dies, Dozens Missing After Shipwreck off Italy’s Lampedusa

A tragic migrant boat accident near Lampedusa has left one person dead and dozens missing, underscoring ongoing migration pressures in the central Mediterranean.

ASHARQ AL-AWSAT

Armed Clashes Erupt in Libya’s Misrata for the First Time Since 2011

Fighting broke out between rival militias in Misrata, marking the city’s most serious violence in over a decade and threatening Libya’s fragile security balance.

REUTERS

Saudi Arabia Undecided on Investing in Egypt’s Red Sea Coast

Saudi officials remain cautious about investing in Egypt’s Red Sea projects amid fiscal concerns and regional economic realignments.

BLOOMBERG

Moroccan Authorities Charge 2,400 People Over Gen Z Protests

Moroccan prosecutors have charged thousands following youth-led protests tied to unemployment and political frustration.

BBC

Mali’s Fuel Crisis Deepens as Jihadists Block Supply Routes

Armed militants linked to al-Qaeda extended road blockades near Bamako, halting fuel convoys and causing severe shortages in the Malian capital.

AL JAZEERA

Massacre in Darfur: RSF Seizes El-Fasher, Kills 1,500 Civilians

The RSF captured North Darfur’s capital, committing mass killings in what Sudanese doctors call “a true genocide.”

REUTERS

Tunisians Protest Toxic Gas Leaks in Gabès

Thousands marched in Gabès and Tunis against state-run phosphate pollution, the largest protests since President Saied’s power consolidation.

REUTERS

UN Backs Morocco’s Autonomy Plan in Western Sahara

The UN Security Council adopted a U.S.-drafted resolution supporting Morocco’s autonomy proposal, sparking backlash from Algeria and the Polisario Front.

DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS (MSF)

MSF Ordered to Leave Libya Amid Crackdown on NGOs

Libyan authorities expelled MSF from western Libya, leaving migrant detention centers without international medical support.

THE NEW ARAB

Dozens Dead in Libya Migrant Boat Disaster

The IOM confirmed multiple deaths after a migrant vessel sank off Libya’s coast in rough seas.

POLITICO EUROPE

EU to Expand Erasmus Program to Southern Mediterranean countries

The EU wants students from the bloc’s southern neighbors to join its Erasmus exchange program as part of a broader strategy to strengthen Europe’s presence in the Mediterranean region.

REUTERS

Algeria Signs $5.4 Billion Oil and Gas Deal with Saudi Firm Midad Energy

The agreement marks deepening energy ties between Algiers and Riyadh, with implications for the regional energy landscape.

DAILY NEWS EGYPT

Egypt Records 18 New Oil and Gas Discoveries Since July 13

Cairo’s petroleum ministry announced significant new discoveries integrated into national production efforts.

OILPRICE.COM

Sonatrach Returns to Libya for Oil and Gas Exploration

After more than a decade, Algeria’s Sonatrach resumes operations in Libya’s Ghadames Basin.

IL FOGLIO

UAE Provides Haftar with Patrol Boats Used to Repel Migrants

An investigation reveals that vessels supplied by the UAE to Libyan warlord Khalifa Haftar are being used to intercept migrant boats.

LE POINT

Vers une Sortie de Crise au Sahara Occidental

A French editorial suggests that diplomatic channels could reopen for a negotiated settlement in Western Sahara.

Reports & Analysis on the Region

Deeper dives from experts across the region.

COMMENTARY

Reconsidering the 1968 Franco-Algerian Accord

Stimson Center North Africa Program Director Hafed Al-Ghwell argues that North Africa is emerging as a key node in reshaping global supply chains, particularly in critical-minerals logistics, processing, and transit.

COMMENTARY

Sudan’s War: The Failure of Mediation and the Struggle for Civilian Rule

Arab Center Washington analysis warns that ineffective diplomacy risks solidifying Sudan’s east-west split.

REPORT

Healthcare and Public Priorities in Mali – Afrobarometer

Survey shows 82% of Malians worry about access to care and demand government-backed universal health coverage.

COMMENTARY

Egypt’s Expanding Regional Mediation Role

The Soufan Center examines Cairo’s role in brokering Gaza and Libya deals amid shifting U.S. alliances.

REPORT

UN Human Rights Mission on Sudan’s Atrocities

A UN inquiry released Oct 30 documents RSF war crimes and calls for international accountability.

COMMENTARY

Sustainable Blue Tourism in the Mediterranean: Trends, Challenges, and Policy Pathways


A comprehensive LUISS Mediterranean Platform analysis of how coastal economies can balance growth with sustainability in the Mediterranean tourism sector.

COMMENTARY

Egypt and Saudi Arabia Construct a New Strategic Naval Axis


A deep-dive published by the Stimson Center into Cairo and Riyadh’s emerging maritime cooperation, reshaping Red Sea geopolitics.

REPORT

Egypt’s Export Performance: The Role of Exchange Rate Regimes and Investment in Product Diversification


An evidence-based study on how monetary policy and diversification shape Egypt’s export competitiveness.

COMMENTARY

Why Morocco’s Gen Z Protests Aren’t a Second Arab Spring


An exploration by Sarah Yerkes and Kathryn Selfe of Morocco’s restless young generation and its demands for reform and better governance.

COMMENTARY

The extortion state: how the EU helps Libya to turn migrants into cash


A critical look by Le Monde diplomatique at Libya’s fractured power structures and external interference a decade after Qaddafi.

COMMENTARY

After Qaddafi: Haftar’s Dynastic Ambitions and Türkiye’s Expanding Role in Libya


An in-depth Saratoga Foundation analysis of Khalifa Haftar’s efforts to establish a political dynasty in Libya.

COMMENTARY

Sudan’s Deadly Conflict and the Shape of Wars to Come


Coverage of civil war in Sudan and armed contestation within the country and how it could shape the structure of wars all over the globe.

Upcoming Events

Mark your calendar for upcoming conversations and briefings across the region and beyond.

Africa Investment Forum 2025 Market Days

Nov 26–28 in Rabat, connecting investors with major African infrastructure projects.

Africa’s rising influence: Advancing agency in foreign policy and global governance

Nov 5-6 in Addis Ababa, Chatam House conference examines how Africa can assert greater strategic influence across a rapidly evolving global landscape.

Tune In

Hear directly from experts, regional voices, and thought leaders shaping North Africa’s future.

IMF Raises MENA Growth Forecast for 2025 but Risks Remain

An interview exploring regional economic trends and vulnerabilities.

Gabès Pollution Protests

A visual report on Tunisia’s October 21 general strike protesting industrial pollution.

Interview with Senior Advisor to the U.S. President for Arab and African Affairs, Masad Boulos

In this interview, U.S. Presidential Advisor Masad Boulos discusses the outcomes of the Sharm el-Sheikh Summit.

The fall of El-Fasher: A turning point in Sudan’s brutal civil war?

A video analysis of the Sudanese civil war by France 24.

Job Opportunities

Career moves, fellowships, and calls for applications—all in one place.

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