North Africa

With the presidential election in Tunisia approaching in October, there’s a palpable tightening of the reins on dissent, particularly within the media, warns Bassam Khawaja, Deputy Director for the Middle East and North Africa at Human Rights Watch. He pointed out that at least five journalists find themselves incarcerated, simply for expressing their viewpoints. “This crackdown is systematically erasing criticism and stifling diverse opinions across Tunisia’s media landscape,” Khawaja noted. He elaborated that meaningful…

Tensions have significantly intensified between Ethiopia and Somalia, particularly following Ethiopia's formal engagement earlier this year with the self-proclaimed Republic of Somaliland—an entity that Somalia adamantly contests. The deal grants Ethiopia access to Somaliland's ports in exchange for a nod of political recognition from this landlocked regional power. In response to this maneuver, Somalia expressed vehement opposition, labeling Ethiopia's actions as an unwelcome intrusion into its internal matters.…

The Central Bank of Libya has officially declared a halt to its operations following the alarming kidnapping of its IT chief by unidentified armed assailants. This disturbing event unfolds amid escalating tensions among various armed factions throughout the nation. Prior to this incident, gunmen had surrounded the bank's headquarters located in Tripoli, demanding the resignation of Governor Seddik al-Kabir. This bold move has sparked international outrage, notably from Richard Norland, the U.S. Ambassador to Libya. He…

A prominent rights organization has urged the Tunisian government to halt prosecutions rooted in political motives and ensure the upcoming elections uphold principles of fairness and integrity. This organization has disclosed that authorities have "prosecuted, convicted, or imprisoned" a minimum of eight potential candidates ahead of the presidential election scheduled for October 6. Notably, the electoral commission has sanctioned only three candidates, one of whom is the current President, Kais Saied. "By incarcerating…

Algerians living overseas have started to exercise their right to vote as they prepare for the presidential elections happening this Saturday. Despite the enthusiasm of expatriates, there's a prevailing expectation of a dismal voter turnout within Algeria itself, coupled with predictions leaning towards the probable re-election of the current president, Abdelmadjid Tebboune. On another front, the situation in Algeria remains tense. Authorities have ramped up their efforts to clamp down on civil liberties, targeting…

Ethiopia has officially replied to the Egyptian Foreign Minister’s correspondence, characterizing the contents as a "series of unfounded claims." Foreign Minister Taye Atske-Selassie of Ethiopia addressed the Council on September 6, 2024, regarding Egypt's correspondence, which firmly rejected Ethiopia's fifth and latest effort to fill the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). Ethiopia's rebuttal stems from Egypt's allegations of breaching international regulations by proceeding with the dam's filling without the…

One year has passed since a cataclysmic earthquake ravaged the High Atlas Mountains of Morocco, and the people on the ground express a sense of frustration over the sluggish pace of rebuilding efforts. Many remain in temporary tents, while others have been compelled to relocate entirely. Lisa Bryant reports for VOA on the ongoing struggle for recovery. This seismic event, registering a staggering 6.8 on the Richter scale, was the most powerful earthquake to strike Morocco in over a century. It hit on September 8, 2023,…

President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has officially begun his second term in office after an impressive electoral victory, clinching a remarkable 84% of the votes. Despite this resounding win, the election was shadowed by a notable sense of voter disinterest and persistent worries regarding the fairness of the vote counting process. In his inaugural address, Tebboune thanked the Algerian populace for their trust and support. He emphasized his commitment to engaging in comprehensive consultations with a variety of political…

Flames erupted across northern Algeria on Thursday as the country observed a national day of mourning for dozens of people killed in recent forest fires to cover the Mediterranean. The North African country has been gripping devastating fires since Monday that have claimed 69 lives - 41 civilians and 28 soldiers. Soldiers and civilian volunteers have joined firefighters on several fronts in an effort to put out the fires that are being blown by windy and dry dry conditions. In the district of Tizi…

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune on Saturday began talks to form a new government following a parliamentary election marked by low turnout, a statement from his office said. Algeria's incumbent National Liberation Front (FLN) won the most seats in the June 12 vote, which saw record-breaking votes, with a turnout of just 23%. On Thursday, Prime Minister Abdelaziz Jarad presented the resignation of his government to Tebboune, who asked him to continue to address current issues. "In the context of…