North Africa

Libya's army chief, General Mohammed Ali Ahmed al-Haddad, was killed when the Falcon 50 jet he and four others were traveling in crashed in central Turkey, Turkish authorities and Libyan officials said. The aircraft was en route from Ankara to Tripoli when contact was lost about 42 minutes after takeoff. Officials said the jet had requested an emergency landing before it went down; searchers later found wreckage southwest of Ankara near the village of Kesikkavak. An investigation into the cause of the crash has been…

The Excitement Builds as AFCON 2023 Kicks Off in Morocco As teams begin to arrive in Morocco for the 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), anticipation is reaching a fever pitch. The tournament, which kicks off this weekend, will see the hosts take on Comoros in a highly anticipated opening match that promises to set the tone for a month filled with thrilling football. A Month of Football Rivalries This year’s AFCON features 24 nations, divided into six gripping groups, each showcasing intense rivalries that…

At least 37 people were killed after flash floods struck Morocco’s coastal Safi region following hours of torrential rain that swept cars and debris through the port city, local authorities said Monday. Dozens of people were treated in hospitals, and emergency services reported at least 70 homes flooded in the old city centre. Some roads into and out of Safi were blocked by water, mud and wreckage, hampering relief efforts and isolating neighbourhoods. “It is a dark day for the city,” residents told local media, urging the…

Tunisian authorities have charged six staff members of the Tunisian branch of the France Terre d'Asile aid group and 17 municipal workers from the eastern city of Sousse with sheltering migrants and facilitating “illegal entry and residence,” prosecutors said. If convicted, the defendants face up to 10 years in prison. The case centers on humanitarian assistance provided to migrants in Tunisia, a key transit point for tens of thousands of people each year trying to reach Europe. Authorities gave no immediate public timeline…

Africa Investment Forum Market Days opened Wednesday with government leaders and development experts urging expanded private‑sector participation, innovative financing solutions and accelerated policy reforms to unlock the continent’s economic potential. Speakers at the 2025 Africa Investment Forum (AIF) Market Days emphasized that private capital, new financing instruments and faster regulatory change are central to closing investment gaps across energy, infrastructure, agribusiness and manufacturing. Delegates described…

Morocco declares “Unity Day” after UN backs autonomy plan — but the Western Sahara question remains unresolved Morocco has named Oct. 31 a national holiday, calling it Unity Day, to mark the United Nations Security Council’s recent endorsement of an autonomy plan for Western Sahara under Moroccan sovereignty. The announcement was billed in Rabat as a celebration of national unity and territorial integrity — a symbolic capstone to a long campaign to secure international backing for a solution many Moroccans consider a matter…

A new citadel of memory rises beside the Great Pyramid Just a short walk from the ancient silhouette of Khufu, a modern glass-and-stone landmark opened its doors to the public this week: the Grand Egyptian Museum, known simply as GEM. With room for some 100,000 objects spanning roughly 7,000 years of history, the complex is being presented not only as the world’s largest archaeological museum but as a statement of national pride and a fresh engine for tourism. The building’s broad terraces and sunlit atrium create a…

Tunisia’s treatment of migrants and the EU’s quiet deal: a test of values For three years, human rights researchers listened to stories that should have set off alarms across Mediterranean capitals: men and women beaten and detained without charge, people stripped of their documents and pushed toward unsafe borders, and Black migrants singled out for abuse. The accounts, collected from 120 refugees and migrants from nearly 20 countries, form the backbone of a new Amnesty International report that accuses Tunisia of…

New Afreximbank chief vows to turn raw exports into homegrown industry — but the path is steep In a stately ceremony in Cairo on Oct. 25, Dr. George Elombi took the oath as president and chairman of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), laying out a mission that is at once technical and deeply political: to break a continent’s dependence on exporting raw materials and instead build the factories, ports and skills that keep wealth in Africa. "To change the structure, we must process. We must produce. Unless we…

Djibouti Clears Way for President Guelleh to Run Again — What It Means for a Tiny but Pivotal State Djibouti’s parliament has removed a constitutional age limit that would have barred the 77‑year‑old president, Ismail Omar Guelleh, from seeking another term, clearing the path for him to run in the April 2026 election. The decision, short and decisive in the capital, underscores a growing pattern across parts of Africa in which long‑serving leaders reshape rules to extend their time in office — with consequences that ripple…