The North Africa Journal

13/11/2025

- Mauritania’s Former President Loses Final Appeal, Will Serve 15 Years:

Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, who led Mauritania from 2009 to 2019, has lost his final appeal and will serve 15 years in prison. The Supreme Court of Mauritania upheld his conviction for illicit enrichment and money laundering, following a years-long legal process that saw a lower court dismiss the more politically charged charges of abuse of power and influence peddling. Abdel Aziz, who took office after a military coup in 2008 and later won two presidential elections, was initially handed a five-year prison sentence in 2023, but the penalty was increased to 15 years after a successful state appeal in 2025.

https://north-africa.com/mauritanias-former-president-loses-final-appeal-will-serve-15-years/

Mauritania’s Supreme Court has confirmed a 15-year prison sentence for former president Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz on charges of illicit enrichment and money laundering, marking the end of a historic legal process and setting a new regional precedent for the prosecution of financial crimes by former ...

13/11/2025

Libya: The Strange Case of Hannibal Gaddafi: From Exile to Detention to Release

Hannibal Gaddafi, the son of Libya’s former leader Muammar Gaddafi, was freed from a Lebanese jail in November 2025 after nearly ten years in detention, closing one of the region’s most unusual and politically charged cases. His story weaves together the legacies of Libya’s past, Lebanese political intrigue, and the decades-old disappearance of a Shiite religious leader. https://north-africa.com/libya-the-strange-case-of-hannibal-gaddafi-from-exile-to-detention-to-release/

10/11/2025

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10/11/2025

- Sahel: Community Mourns Mariam Cissé, Killed by Militants in Northern Mali

Mariam Cissé, a well-known content creator from the town of Tonka in northern Mali, was abducted on November 6, 2025, at a weekly fair in Echel, roughly twenty kilometers northwest of her hometown. The following day, she was executed in public in an area under the strong influence of armed groups connected to JNIM, an al-Qaeda affiliate exerting control over parts of the Timbuktu region. Her killing took place in front of local residents, reflecting the extent of armed group authority in the area. Continue here:
https://north-africa.com/sahel-community-mourns-mariam-cisse-killed-by-militants-in-northern-mali/

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10/11/2025

- Spain Faces Scrutiny Over Migrant Centers in Mauritania

Debate in Spain has increased over government funding for migrant centers in Mauritania, with some critics arguing these sites operate more like detention centers than shelters. The controversy is drawing attention to broader questions about European border security, migration policy, and cooperation with countries along transit routes to Europe.

Due to its geographical location in northwest Africa, Mauritania serves as an important transit point for migrants seeking routes to Spain’s Canary Islands and, by extension, continental Europe. In recent years, Spain and the European Union have supported the development and refurbishment of migrant facilities in Mauritania to help manage these migration flows. This approach, sometimes termed “externalization”, involves collaborating with non-European states to process and house migrants before they reach European territory. Policy decisions are closely linked to migration pressures, security concerns, and diplomatic relationships between countries. Continue below.

https://north-africa.com/spain-faces-scrutiny-over-migrant-centers-in-mauritania/

Political debate in Spain is increasing over the country’s funding of migrant centers in Mauritania, as critics claim these sites lack adequate legal safeguards and human rights protections.

10/11/2025

-Algeria: 25 Executives Charged in Alleged Metals Fraud

A high-profile corruption trial involving Algeria’s state-owned metals conglomerate Imetal is set to begin on November 24 before the economic and financial crimes court in Algiers. The case brings to court 25 current and former executives, business intermediaries, and public officials, making it one of the largest corruption cases to emerge in the country’s industrial sector in recent years.

Algerian prosecutors allege the accused—including leaders from Imetal, its steel-producing subsidiary Sider El Hadjar in Annaba, and the National Recovery Company (ENR)—were involved in a scheme to divert public funds, launder money, and grant illicit advantages in public contracts. The investigation, based on a detailed report to the public prosecutor, found evidence of widespread mismanagement and collusion. The accused allegedly manipulated tenders, arranged illegal contracts benefiting select companies, and misused public resources, severely impacting production capacity and causing repeated failures across several major industrial sites.

https://north-africa.com/algeria-25-executives-charged-in-alleged-metals-fraud/

The trial of 25 senior figures from Algeria’s state-run metals group Imetal, including former executives and public officials, is set to begin on November 24 in Algiers. The case involves allegations of large-scale corruption, public fund diversion, and favoritism in public contracts, exposing dee...

10/11/2025

- Sahel: Foreign Workers Targeted in New Mali Kidnappings:

A series of recent kidnappings in western and northern Mali have reinforced growing concerns for foreign workers and business interests operating in the region, amid ongoing insecurity, targeted attacks, and evolving hostage negotiations.

On November 6, five Indian technicians working on a rural electrification project were abducted in the Kobri area, about 50 kilometers from Kayes. The group’s vehicle was intercepted on a secondary road leading to Bafoulabé, an increasingly risky corridor for technical teams. In response, the company behind the project consolidated remaining staff and transferred them to Bamako using emergency protocols. Local authorities have so far declined to share details about the search, but initial assessments point to groups affiliated with the JNIM network, known for operating in wooded areas and along the tracks between Diéma, Kayes, and Kita. This incident follows a similar kidnapping in July, when three Indian nationals employed by Diamond Cement Mali were taken near Bafoulabé—a situation that prompted production stoppages and stricter security for technical staff on site.

https://north-africa.com/sahel-foreign-workers-targeted-in-new-mali-kidnappings/

A string of recent kidnappings in western and northern Mali—including the abduction of five Indian technicians and an Emirati businessman—highlights the increasing risks for foreign workers engaged in energy, mining, and infrastructure projects. The evolving tactics of armed groups and complex n...

08/11/2025

Crisis in Sudan: Meet the Ruthless Warlord Hemedti:

Libya has Khalifa Haftar, Sudan has its own ruthless warlord, Mohamed Hamdan Dagolo—better known as Hemedti. Like Haftar, Hemedti rose to power through brutal tactics, commanding paramilitary forces responsible for atrocities and exerting fierce control over territory, resources, and political processes. Both men run their operations like personal militias, often acting outside conventional state structures and regularly shaping national events through violence and intimidation.

Operating in similar ways, Haftar and Hemedti (H&H) each rely on support from powerful foreign backers, notably the United Arab Emirates and other regional allies. These connections have given them access to money, weapons, and diplomatic leverage, enabling their rise and their ability to challenge or destabilize national governments. Their reliance on mercenary networks, transactional alliances, and external funding has made them central figures in North Africa’s ongoing crises, with their influence fueled by shared methods and mutual patrons. Below is a profile of Hemedti written by Leslie Varenne for MondAfrique.

https://north-africa.com/crisis-in-sudan-meet-the-ruthless-warlord-hemedti/

Libya has Khalifa Haftar, Sudan has its own ruthless warlord, Mohamed Hamdan Dagolo—better known as Hemedti. Both men have risen to power through armed force and human rights abuses, commanding personal militias that operate outside legal state structures. They secure their authority through viole...

19/09/2024

Meet the possible next foreign minister of France

has a new Prime Minister, Michel Barnier, who is now tasked with forming a government. One of the most important posts is that of Foreign Minister. Our colleagues at MondAfrique tell us that Rachida Dati, the former Minister of Culture in Gabriel Attal’s government, is being considered for that job.

Her name has been circulating alongside others, such as Manuel Valls, as potential candidates for this key diplomatic role. Dati has been a top official in the French government for a long time, including Justice Minister in 2007.

If becomes Foreign Minister, it would be worth watching how she would deal with France’s North Africa policy and how she would navigate the thorny relations between and . This is because while her allegiance will first be for France, Dati’s father is Moroccan and her mother Algerian, seemingly putting her in a tough position.

However, it is clear that Dati’s positions on various issues dealing with the Maghreb, generally favor Morocco. She has been a staunch supporter of Morocco’s Western Sahara claim and on Morocco’s fight with Algeria over cultural appropriation claims, such as the dress, the , etc.

While PM Barnier is still looking for a Foreign Minister, he will have to figure out how Dati could be a positive or negative force on the country’s diplomatic front. Will she be working to ease tensions or add more fuel to the fire?

19/09/2024

Morocco: First case reported in Marrakech, health authorities activate emergency protocols:

With dense ties to , now has its first Mpox case, identified in the tourism city of . This marks the first case in North Africa, prompting an immediate activation of emergency protocols and a damage-control communication strategy coming from that seeks to appease concerns and calls for calm. Among the actions taken by Morocco’s public health authorities has been to speed up contact tracing to prevent contagion, and ironically, the cancelling of a conference on public health. More here:

With dense ties to West Africa, Morocco now has its first Mpox case, identified in the tourism city of Marrakech.

19/09/2024

Mali: Wagner and Junta leaders in tough spot with series of embarrassing defeats and decisions to make:

This week’s attacks on the capital of highlight the junta’s difficulty in providing basic security for the country and its inability to degrade terror groups. They also signal further challenges the junta may face in the coming weeks and months. The attacks can be seen as a message to the junta, showing they are no longer out of reach, despite being protected by Russian mercenaries, many of whom were killed in these attacks.

JNIM, which has been increasing its activities both within and beyond Mali’s borders, sent a clear signal to junta chief Assimi Goita and his allies, including Wagner Group mercenaries. While the junta has largely focused on waging war against the Tuaregs in the central and northern regions, terror groups have intensified their campaign of death and destruction. Their main aim now appears to be targeting the Malian regime within its own capital.

While Russia has been steady in its support of the Malian junta, the killing in Bamako of many Russians this week, combined with the disastrous outcome of the Tinzouaten clash that saw dozens of Russian casualties, have reportedly raised concerns in Moscow. The situation in Mali is beginning to look unwinnable for Russia, echoing its experience in northern Mozambique, where Wagner Group suffered an embarrassing defeat and was forced to withdraw. A similar scenario may now be unfolding in Mali. More on what's happening in Mali is here:

This week’s attacks on the Malian capital of Bamako highlight the junta's difficulty in providing basic security for the country and its inability to degrade terror groups. They also signal further challenges the junta may face in the coming weeks and months. The attacks can be seen as a message t...

07/08/2024

Sahel: Lost Men in , but Russia Sees Real ROI in the Sahel. It May Now Make a Move on Nigeria

is seeing a good “return on its investment” in the Sahel. Both and have cut their ties with after Kyiv’s intelligence agency GUR said it was involved in the clash at the end of July that claimed the lives of dozens of Russian mercenaries and Malian soldiers in northern Mali. It is expected that will also take a similar decision in the days to come, as this country is part of the coalition of the three Sahelian nations that seek to coordinate defense policy and diplomacy. is also not happy with Ukraine. As this is happening in the Sahel, something concerning is taking place inside , which suggests 's growing interest in one of Africa's biggest country. Continue here:

Russia is seeing a good "return on its investment" in the Sahel. Both Mali and Niger have cut their ties with Ukraine, and Burkina Faso may follow suit.