Morocco: Government Initiative to Relieve Gulf War Impact on Citizens
Morocco: Government Initiative to Relieve Gulf War Impact on Citizens Summary: On 14 May 2026, the Moroccan government announced plans to add 20 billion dirhams (approximately $2 billion) to its 2026 budget to finance measures aimed at softening the domestic...
Mauritania: Nouakchott Trade Fair Showcases Algier’s Westward Push
Mauritania: Nouakchott Trade Fair Showcases Algier’s Westward Push Summary: The 8th edition of the Algerian Products and Services Fair in Nouakchott concluded on 11 May 2026 with the signing of 70 commercial agreements across trade, transport, healthcare, innovation,...
Libya: Coast Guard Incident Highlights Challenges to Maritime Operations
Libya: Coast Guard Incident Highlights Challenges to Maritime Operations Summary: On 12 May 2026, the Libyan coast guard fired on the migrant rescue vessel Sea-Watch 5 in international waters approximately 55 nautical miles north of Tripoli, then threatened to board...
Tunisia: France Arrests Tunisian National Suspected of Planning Jihadist Inspired Attack
Tunisia: France Arrests Tunisian National Suspected of Planning Jihadist Inspired Attack Summary: On 11 May 2026, French authorities announced the arrest of Dhafer Mellala, a 27-year-old Tunisian national, on suspicion of plotting a jihadist-inspired attack in...
Algeria: France Restores Ambassador as Diplomatic Tensions Thaw
Algeria: France Restores Ambassador as Diplomatic Tensions Thaw Summary: On 8 May 2026, French Ambassador Stéphane Romatet returned to Algiers, more than a year after being recalled to Paris at the height of a diplomatic crisis between the two...
Libya: Clashes at Zawiya Force Shutdown of Country’s Largest Refinery
Libya: Clashes at Zawiya Force Shutdown of Country’s Largest Refinery Summary: On 8 May 2026, heavy clashes broke out across Zawiya, a city of approximately 250,000 people located 45 km west of Tripoli, after authorities launched what they described as a...
Morocco: Germany’s SFC Investment Marks Latest Automotive Sector Expansion
Morocco: Germany’s SFC Investment Marks Latest Automotive Sector Expansion Summary: On 6 May 2026, German automotive supplier SFC Automotive Solutions inaugurated a new production facility in the Tanger Med industrial zone, supporting Morocco’s efforts to strengthen...
Algeria: Sonatrach Awards Contract for Production Expansion at Hassi Bir Rekaiz
Algeria: Sonatrach Awards Contract for Production Expansion at Hassi Bir Rekaiz Summary: On 5 May 2026, Algeria signed a more than $1 billion agreement to expand the Hassi Bir Rekaiz oilfield to increase crude production. State-owned Sonatrach awarded the engineering,...
Mauritania: Swiss Bunkering Service Launches Amid Global Trade Uncertainty
Mauritania: Swiss Bunkering Service Launches Amid Global Trade Uncertainty Summary: On 6 May 2026, Swiss-based energy and commodities trading company Minerva Bunkering launched a new bunkering service in Mauritania after receiving a license from the National...
Tunisia: EU Launches Data Platform to Track Funding, Investments
Tunisia: EU Launches Data Platform to Track Funding, Investments Summary: On 7 May 2026, the European Union (EU) unveiled a new digital platform aimed at improving transparency and public tracking of EU-funded projects in Tunisia. The initiative centralizes data on...
Libya: Bouri Field Offshore Construction Proceeding Despite Political Deadlock
Libya: Bouri Field Offshore Construction Proceeding Despite Political Deadlock Summary: On 5 May 2026, Mellitah Oil & Gas Company completed the fabrication and assembly of key components for the Bouri Field gas utilization project in Libya, a $1.56...
Mauritania: Instability in Mali Strains Humanitarian, Security Resources
Mauritania: Instability in Mali Strains Humanitarian, Security Resources Summary: Amid the recent attacks in Mali involving jihadist groups and Tuareg separatists, worsening insecurity across northern and central regions has triggered new displacement flows toward...
Morocco: BNP Paribas Plans Divestment of Majority Stake in Morocco’s BMCI
Morocco: BNP Paribas Plans Divestment of Majority Stake in Morocco’s BMCI Summary: On 29 April 2026, French multinational financial institution BNP Paribas and Holmarcom Finance Company (HFC) concluded an agreement for the divestment of BNP Paribas’s 67% controlling...
Algeria: Resumed Deportations by France Signal Improving Diplomatic Ties
Algeria: Resumed Deportations by France Signal Improving Diplomatic Ties Summary: On 23 April 2026, France resumed limited deportations of Algerian nationals after Algeria restarted issuing consular laissez-passers, ending nearly a year of operational blockage in...
Tunisia: Solar Energy Investment Plans Prompt Dismissal of Energy Minister
Tunisia: Solar Energy Investment Plans Prompt Dismissal of Energy Minister Summary: On 28 April 2026, President Kais Saied dismissed Energy and Industry Minister Fatma Thabet Chiboub in a brief presidency statement offering no explanation for the decision. Housing...
Libya: NOC Signs MOU with Chevron to Explore Shale Resources
Libya: NOC Signs MOU with Chevron to Explore Shale Resources Summary: On 28 April 2026, Chevron signed a memorandum of understanding with National Oil Corporation (NOC) to evaluate Libya’s unconventional oil and gas potential, marking a step toward expanding its...
Mali: Coordinated Attacks Target Bamako, Military Installations and Key Leaders
Mali: Coordinated Attacks Target Bamako, Military Installations and Key Leaders Summary: On 25 April 2026, al-Qaeda-linked Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) and the Tuareg separatist Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) launched a coordinated military...
Morocco: Gulf Conflict Prompts UAE to Suspend Transfer of Fighters to Rabat
Morocco: Gulf Conflict Prompts UAE to Suspend Transfer of Fighters to Rabat Summary: On 23 April 2026, the United Arab Emirates suspended the transfer of 30 Mirage 2000-9 fighter jets to Morocco, retaining the aircraft for immediate operational use due to regional...
Mauritania: Ghazouani Projects Stability Abroad as Political Tensions Mount at Home
Mauritania: Ghazouani Projects Stability Abroad as Political Tensions Mount at Home Summary: On 15 April 2026, Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani held a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris. The state visit was the...
Tunisia: Agreement with Algiers Targets Money Laundering Cooperation
Tunisia: Agreement with Algiers Targets Money Laundering Cooperation Summary: On 22 April 2026, Tunisia and Algeria signed a cooperation agreement to strengthen coordination and information exchange in combating money laundering, terrorist financing, and arms...
Algeria: Cooperation with Chad Signals Algiers’ Emerging Regional Leadership Role
Algeria: Cooperation with Chad Signals Algiers’ Emerging Regional Leadership Role Summary: On 22 April 2026, Algeria and Chad signed 27 cooperation agreements covering multiple sectors during the 4th session of the Joint Governmental Commission held in Algiers. The...
Libya: UN Experts Confirm Benghazi-Bound Vehicles Violated Arms Embargo
Libya: UN Experts Confirm Benghazi-Bound Vehicles Violated Arms Embargo Summary: On 20 April 2026, a United Nations Panel of Experts confirmed that a shipment of armored vehicles from the United Arab Emirates was delivered to Libya in violation of the UN arms embargo....
Tunisia: Norway’s Scatec Launches Operations at Tozeur Solar Plant
Tunisia: Norway’s Scatec Launches Operations at Tozeur Solar Plant Summary: On 16 April 2026, Norwegian renewable energy company Scatec announced the commencement of commercial operations of the 60 MW Tozeur solar plant, marking a further step in Tunisia’s expansion...