North Africa

A Tunisian court has sentenced opposition party leader Lotfi Mraihi to eight months in prison on a charge of vote buying, his lawyer said on Friday. The court also banned Mraihi, leader of the Republican Union Party and one of the most prominent critics of President Kais Saied, from running …

In Tunisia, the lack of water is a major development problem, and access to this essential element is becoming a chore. According to the Tunisian Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources and Fisheries, global warming is causing water to evaporate. Despite the presence of numerous dams to conserve water, the situation …

Arab diplomats announced on Tuesday, June 18 that at least 550 pilgrims had died during the hajj, the great Muslim pilgrimage in western Saudi Arabia, the majority Egyptians due to the heat. This annual pilgrimage, from Friday to Sunday, took place this year again in the middle of summer in …

Six people were killed on Thursday in Algeria following flooding caused by heavy rains in the country’s western governorates. This is according to a press release from Algeria’s Civil Protection Services (Défense Civile), after receiving calls on Wednesday evening reporting missing people swept away by the floods. “Five bodies of …

Algeria on Tuesday proposed a draft U.N. Security Council resolution that demands a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, the release of all hostages held by Hamas and essentially orders Israel to “immediately halt its military offensive” in Rafah. Algeria’s U.N. Ambassador Amar Bendjama said earlier on Tuesday – after a …

An Egyptian soldier has been killed in an incident involving Egyptian and Israeli troops in the border area near Rafah, local media reported. The Egyptian and Israeli militaries are investigating what happened. Israeli media say there was an exchange of fire, but there are few other details and no reports …

Re-elected in December with 89.6% of the vote, Egypt’s President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi is due to be sworn in for a third consecutive six-year term as the country’s leader. The swearing-in ceremony will be held on Tuesday at the new parliament buildings near the capital, Cairo, partly state-owned newspaper Al-Ahram …

The presidential election will take place a few months earlier than planned in Algeria. The election which was supposed to be held in December 2024 has been brought forward to September 7, the presidency of the republic announced in a press release. This press release was published at the end …

Authorities in Rwanda have received 91 refugees and asylum seekers from Libya under a programme backed by the UN’s refugee agency, African Union and European Union. The arrivals include 38 Sudanese people, 33 Eritreans, 11 Somalis, seven Ethiopians and two people from South Sudan. The refugees and asylum seekers were …

The European Union and Egypt have signed a €7.4bn ($8bn) agreement aimed at boosting co-operation in trade and security, as well as trying to stem the flow of migrants into Europe. The deal upgrades the EU’s relationship with Egypt to a strategic partnership. Grants, loans and other funds are due …