North Africa

Algerian Parliament Criminalizes French Colonization Algeria's parliament has passed legislation condemning French colonial rule, marking a significant step in the country's historical narrative. However, lawmakers stopped short of demanding compensation or an official apology from France. The law was unanimously approved by the upper house, the Council of the Nation. 12 articles concerning compensation and apology were reserved for further revision. Legislation was already approved by the lower house on Dec. 24.…

Senegal’s Dramatic AFCON Final: A Clash of Emotion and Controversy The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final between Senegal's Teranga Lions and hosts Morocco will be remembered for three things: officiating, raw emotion, and a historic protest. This gripping encounter not only showcased the competitive spirit of African football but also raised questions about the integrity of officiating in such high-stakes games. In a moment that stunned spectators and players alike, Senegal's head coach Pape Thiaw ordered his team…

In the Horn of Africa, Britain’s rhetoric and its risk tolerance no longer align. As the war in Sudan grinds on and North Western State of Somalia’s strategic port of Berbera grows in prominence, analysts say the United Kingdom’s choices reveal a pattern: prioritizing access and partnership while avoiding the political costs of forceful action. In December, London again urged accountability for mass civilian suffering in Sudan’s conflict between the army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Yet internal documents reported…

MOGADISHU — The Intergovernmental Authority on Development on Wednesday welcomed Somalia’s ratification of the new IGAD Treaty, calling it a significant step toward stronger regional cooperation and integration across the Horn of Africa. Somalia’s House of the People approved the treaty by show of hands after the agreement was presented by Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ali Omar Balcad, who urged lawmakers to endorse it as essential to the country’s regional engagement and political stability. According to Speaker…

Somalia’s 20‑Year Reset: From the Dervish Torch to a 2026 Inflection Point Somalia’s modern story reads like a sequence of 20-year resets. From the Dervish movement at the turn of the 20th century to the dawn of independence, from the rise and fall of military rule to civil war and fragile federal reconstruction, pivotal shifts seem to arrive roughly once a generation. As 2026 opens, the country stands at another hinge moment, shaped by constitutional change, a grinding war against Al-Shabaab, and a storm of geopolitics…

Senegal erupted in celebration after a dramatic, controversy-flecked final in which the Teranga Lions edged hosts Morocco 1-0 after extra time. President Bassirou Diomaye Faye moved quickly to declare a public holiday, turning a late-night sporting triumph into a national moment of pride and communal relief. The match — described by observers as one of the most explosive finals in African football — produced raw emotion on the pitch and on the streets. While details of the controversy have drawn intense attention, it was…

In a dramatic twist during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final, Senegal's national football team briefly walked off the pitch in protest against a contentious refereeing decision. The match against hosts Morocco, held at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, quickly escalated beyond the realm of sport, drawing sharp rebukes from FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who condemned the actions of "some Senegal players." The atmosphere was electric as Senegal faced Morocco, a match charged with national pride and the…

TRIPOLI, Libya — Libyan security forces have rescued more than 200 migrants from a clandestine underground prison in the southeastern town of Kufra, exposing what authorities described as brutal and degrading detention conditions along one of the world’s deadliest migration routes. Officials said the detainees — including women and children from sub-Saharan Africa, primarily Somalia and Eritrea — were found in multiple cells nearly three meters below ground. Some had been held for up to two years. The suspected trafficker…

Libya rescues more than 200 migrants from underground prison in Kufra as abuse allegations mount TRIPOLI, Libya — Libyan security forces have rescued more than 200 migrants from a clandestine underground detention site in the southeastern town of Kufra, where authorities say victims were held in brutal, degrading conditions for months and, in some cases, years. Security officials said the migrants were discovered in an improvised prison nearly three meters (about 10 feet) below ground, allegedly run by a Libyan trafficker.…

Senegal conquered Africa again on Sunday night, defeating host Morocco 1-0 after extra time in Rabat to win the Africa Cup of Nations and ignite raucous celebrations from the Atlantic shore to the Sahel. Fireworks crackled above Dakar, horns blared and flags waved as the Teranga Lions claimed their second continental crown in four years behind a dramatic winner from Pape Gueye and a performance that withstood a chaotic finish. What to know: Score: Senegal 1, Morocco 0 (after extra time) Match-winner: Pape Gueye for Senegal…