North Africa

Hundreds of migrants returned to Libya after rescue at sea

The Libyan Coast Guard has intercepted and brought back thousands of people seeking to illegally enter Europe via the Mediterranean this year.

Al-Monitor Staff | North Africa | Jun 17, 2021

Migrants arrive at the naval base in the Libyan capital of Tripoli on April 29, 2021, after the coastguard intercepted an inflatable boat carrying 99 Europe-bound migrants off its west coast.

United States ramps up Libyan engagement

The Biden administration has just appointed its first special envoy for Libya and sent Assistant Secretary of State Joey Hood to visit the North African nation.

Mustafa Fetouri | North Africa | Jun 1, 2021

Libyan Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibeh (R) shakes hands with a US State Department official as senior official Joey Hood (C) watches, during a visit by US officials to Libya in a show of support for the country's transitional government, Tripoli, Libya, May 18, 2021.

Libyan LGBTQ+ activists speak out on violence by extremist militias

In Libya, amid the ongoing conflict and chaos, the country's first LGBTQ+ platform is fighting for a safe space for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer individuals.

Fairouz ben Salah | North Africa | May 22, 2021

Spain hit by massive wave of migrants from Morocco

Morocco is also angry at Spain for providing medical care to the leader of a Western Saharan independence group.

Al-Monitor Staff | North Africa | May 18, 2021

Mercenaries, foreign fighters threaten Libya's fragile transition

Both sides of the Libyan conflict have so far failed to agree on the departure of foreign fighters from Libya as required by the country’s political settlement document known as the road map; it appears the issue rests with Moscow and Ankara.

Mustafa Fetouri | North Africa | May 14, 2021

Libyan Foreign Minister Najla al-Mangoush speaks, as her counterparts (R to L) French Jean-Yves Le Drian, German Heiko Maas and Italian Luigi Di Maio listen, during a press conference, Tripoli, Libya, March 25, 2021.

Tensions between Morocco, Polisario Front remain after leader's killing

Polisario Front Police Chief Addah al-Bendir was murdered. And much like the long-simmering dispute between the Front and Morocco, nothing about his death is clear.

Simon Speakman Cordall | North Africa | May 6, 2021

A Sahrawi soldier waves the Sahrawi flag during a parade marking the 45th anniversary of the declaration of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), at a refugee camp on the outskirts of the southwestern Algerian city of Tindouf, on Feb. 27, 2021.

Tunisian TV show pranks guests with 'lethal' COVID-19 vaccines

The WHO wants a Tunisian hidden camera prank show that purports to show people dying or falling seriously ill after taking COVID-19 vaccinations taken off the air.

Stephen Quillen | North Africa | May 3, 2021

An elderly wheelchair-bound woman receives a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine at El-Menzah sports hall, Tunis, Tunisia, April 12, 2021.

UN Security Council discusses concerns over spread of Libya's foreign fighters

The killing of Chad's leader has ignited fears over the potential spread of violent mercenaries outside of Libya.

Al-Monitor Staff | North Africa | May 3, 2021

Intel: UN to send cease-fire observers to Libya

Libya's interim government welcomed the step and echoed calls for foreign forces to leave.

Al-Monitor Staff | Libya | Apr 19, 2021

A delegate from Libya takes part in the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum hosted in Gammarth on the outskirts of Tunisia's capital, on Nov. 9, 2020. In October, the two main sides in the complex Libyan conflict signed a landmark cease-fire agreement.

Libya and Greece agree to resume talks on Mediterranean Sea border

Libya's new unity government has had warm relations with Greece so far, but there are remaining issues on energy drilling in the Eastern Mediterranean that also involve Turkey and Egypt.

Al-Monitor Staff | Libya | Apr 14, 2021

Libya's interim Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah (R) meets with Greece's Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Libya's capital, Tripoli, on April 6, 2021.

Algerian protesters keep up pressure as government targets activists abroad

Algeria's pro-democracy Hirak movement hits the streets, calling for a civil state.

Simon Speakman Cordall | North Africa | Apr 7, 2021

Algerians carry a large banner during an anti-government demonstration in the capital, Algiers, on April 2, 2021.

Can France’s decision to speed up declassification of Algeria war archives ease trauma in Algiers?

In light of France's attempt to reconcile with its former colony Algeria, it has announced the easing of security restrictions on the French archives of the Algerian war.

Simon Speakman Cordall | Algeria | Mar 18, 2021

French President Emmanuel Macron meets Algerian Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia at the Elysee presidential palace before the opening of an international congress on Libya, Paris, France, May 29, 2018.

Western Sahara media, activists criticize US decision to recognize Moroccan sovereignty

US President Donald Trump announced Thursday that the United States had accepted Morocco's claim to disputed Western Sahara and that Morocco and Israel were establishing full relations.

Adam Lucente | North Africa | Dec 11, 2020

Biden will face matrix of conflicting influence campaigns in Africa, Mideast

Egypt seeks to check Turkish influence in North Africa and the Horn, while its priority remains Nile Dam talks with Ethiopia.

Week in Review | North Africa | Nov 20, 2020

WHO regional director says COVID-19 threat far from over, despite vaccine progress

In a lengthy interview with Al-Monitor, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Ahmed al-Mandhari warns the coronavirus "remains a cause for concern," as he discussed his organization’s efforts to help the countries of the region cope with the pandemic.

Ahmed Gomaa | Gulf | Nov 6, 2020

North Africa

Hundreds of migrants returned to Libya after rescue at sea

The Libyan Coast Guard has intercepted and brought back thousands of people seeking to illegally enter Europe via the Mediterranean this year.

United States ramps up Libyan engagement

Libyan LGBTQ+ activists speak out on violence by extremist militias

Spain hit by massive wave of migrants from Morocco

Mercenaries, foreign fighters threaten Libya's fragile transition

Tensions between Morocco, Polisario Front remain after leader's killing

Tunisian TV show pranks guests with 'lethal' COVID-19 vaccines

UN Security Council discusses concerns over spread of Libya's foreign fighters

Intel: UN to send cease-fire observers to Libya

Libya and Greece agree to resume talks on Mediterranean Sea border

Algerian protesters keep up pressure as government targets activists abroad

Can France’s decision to speed up declassification of Algeria war archives ease trauma in Algiers?

Western Sahara media, activists criticize US decision to recognize Moroccan sovereignty

Biden will face matrix of conflicting influence campaigns in Africa, Mideast

WHO regional director says COVID-19 threat far from over, despite vaccine progress

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