North Africa

At least 34 people, including ten soldiers, died in violent fires that occurred in northeastern Algeria overnight from Sunday to Monday and are still ongoing, according to a new report published by the Ministry of the Interior on Monday evening. A previous report reported 15 dead and 26 injured following …

Egypt’s president Abdel Fattah al-Sissi has pardoned jailed rights activist Patrick Zaki and lawyer Mohammed al-Baqer, state media reported. The news comes a day after an emergency court found Mr Zaki guilty of “spreading false news” and sentenced him to three years in prison. The judgement, based on an article …

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused Tunisian security agents of committing “serious abuses” against black African migrants attempting to get to Europe. The campaign group said it had interviewed more than 20 migrants and asylum seekers since March. Seven were among more than 1,000 black Africans expelled or forcibly transferred …

Tunisian President Kais Saied has signed an agreement with the European Union aimed at combating human trafficking, local media reported. Tunisia has become the main departure point for migrants trying to cross the Mediterranean to Europe. Announcing the deal in Tunis, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen promised increased …

Ten prison guards at a correctional facility in Reggio Emilia, a city in northern Italy, were charged with torturing and beating a detainee of Tunisian origin in April, local justice said on Thursday. “The guards were relieved of their duties after being charged with torture, bodily harm to a detainee, …

A court in Libya has jailed 37 people convicted of human trafficking – following the deaths of 11 migrants who drowned in the Mediterranean Sea, local media reported. Five members of the criminal gang were sentenced to life in prison – others received between one and 15 years. All had …

Authorities in Morocco have recalled the country’s ambassador to Sweden following the burning of a Koran at a demonstration in Stockholm. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Rabat called the action offensive and irresponsible at a time when Muslims were celebrating one of the holiest days in their calendar. The …

Thousands of Egyptian migrants have been deported on foot back to Egypt, Libyan media reported. A Libyan security source says that 4,000 migrants have been found during raids on people traffickers in the east of Libya. An Egyptian security source has said that only about half of those rounded up …

A court in Libya sentenced 23 people to death and another 14 to life in prison on Monday for their role in a deadly Islamic State militant campaign that included beheading a group of Egyptian Christians and seizing the city of Sirte in 2015, Reuters reported. The Attorney General’s office …

A Tunisian court has sentenced opponent Rached Ghannouchi, leader of Ennahda party, to a year in prison, local media reported. The Ennahda party leader, who is a fierce critic of President Said Kaies, has been detained since last month after being arrested for allegedly plotting against state security and incitement. …