Mali's army has come under scrutiny once again amid allegations that they killed seven civilians near the border area with Mauritania and Senegal, according to RFI and agencies on March 11th. The incident occurred on February 26th when the Malian Armed Forces (FAMa) arrested five dual Malian-Mauritanian nationals in Aïté, before travelling towards a mining site where they arrested two traders and burned their belongings and merchandise.

Libya joined an emergency Arab diplomatic effort in Paris aimed at building a coordinated response to escalating regional tensions and attacks on the sovereignty of several Arab states, as reported by The Libya Observer and agencies on march 12th.  Libya’s chargé d’affaires in France took part in the meeting of the Council of Arab Ambassadors held in Paris at the headquarters of the…

Democratic lawmakers in the US Congress have proposed legislation called the Justice for Hind Rajab Act, which aims to increase oversight of US military aid to Israel and possibly hold the government accountable for violence against Palestinian civilians, according to Middle East Eye on March 12th. The proposed act comes as the US is witnessing an increase in the debate regarding the extent of support the US government provides to the government of Israel and the humanitarian crisis caused by the war in the…

A drone strike triggered massive explosions at a market in Sudan’s Darfur region near the Chad border on March 12th, killing four people and injuring more than two dozen civilians, according to a medical organisation, reported by the Associated Press on March 12th. Doctors Without Borders (known as MSF) said the drone struck fuel storage at the Adikong border market in West Darfur and blamed the attack on the Sudanese army.

Trying to wrap your head around the statements of US President Donald Trump and members of his administration leaves you dizzy. Contradictory statements about the causes of the war, its objectives, and how it might end have made it impossible to understand Washington’s thinking. On two separate occasions last Monday, Trump announced that the war was “almost finished” and that most of the military objectives had been achieved, signaling that military operations were about to end.

Libya’s political landscape shifted as Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah announced a 13 minister reshuffle aimed at strengthening the western Government of National Unity (GNU), as reported by The Libya Observer and agencies on March 12th. The announcement signals one of the most substantial personnel changes undertaken by the Libyan administration in recent months, and comes at a politically delicate moment for the country’s troubled executive landscape.

According to an article published by The National on March 11th, several Muslim-majority nations have condemned Israel’s decision to close the Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem during the holy month of Ramadan. The criticism was expressed in a joint statement issued by the foreign ministers of eight countries: Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Turkey, …

At least 50 people have died, and 125 others are missing after landslides struck three districts in southern Ethiopia following heavy rains, the Associated Press reported on 12 March. The landslides hit the Gacho Baba, Kamba and Bonke districts in the Gamo Zone after a week of rainfall. One person was rescued alive during rescue operations, but most victims were found buried in the mud.

Conservation groups have warned that a planned green hydrogen project in southern Namibia could threaten biodiversity in a protected coastal park, as reported by BBC News and agencies on March 12th. The project is led by the Hyphen consortium, a joint venture backed by the German renewable energy company Enertrag. It plans to build solar and wind facilities in Tsau ǁKhaeb National Park near the port town of Lüderitz.

The UN Security Council has condemned Iran’s missile and drone attacks on Gulf states and Jordan, Middle East Eye reported on March 12th. The measure was passed with 13 votes in favour, and none against; Russia and China abstained. The resolution, introduced by Bahrain, condemned the attacks and called on Iran to halt strikes on neighbouring states. It also criticised threats against shipping and attempts to…

An Egyptian political activist launched a petition calling for the expulsion of the US and Israeli ambassadors from Cairo over the war on Iran, as reported by The New Arab and agencies on March 12th. Mamdouh Hamza, a critic of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, posted the petition on Facebook, urging public figures and ordinary citizens to sign it. The campaign calls on Egyptian authorities to expel the diplomats of both countries.

South Sudan’s army said it had recaptured the town of Akobo from opposition forces, as reported by Africa News via AFP on March 12th. The South Sudan People’s Defence Forces said Akobo was “safe” after the operation. In recent years, the town has become a flashpoint in fighting between rival forces: those aligned with President Salva Kiir and those loyal to the arrested opposition leader…

A Moroccan civic network has launched a programme to train young candidates ahead of the country’s 2026 legislative elections, the Moroccan government-friendly Yabiladi reported on 12 March. The Tariq Ibnou Ziyad Initiative network (TIZI Morocco) announced the AMAL 2026 project, in partnership with the Moroccan Leadership Institute and with support from the Heinrich Böll Foundation. The programme aims to prepare 100 Moroccans under the age of 35 for the…

Libya’s political divisions appear to be deepening as tensions grow within the country’s eastern-based parliament, as reported by the Libya Herald on March 11th. On March 10th, around 40 members of the House of Representatives (HoR) held an unofficial meeting at the parliament’s headquarters in Benghazi. Following the meeting, the lawmakers released a video statement on social media announcing a new roadmap to reform the HoR's operations.

A Chinese national has been arrested in Kenya after authorities discovered more than 2,000 live queen garden ants hidden in his luggage at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, reported BBC News Africa and agencies on March 12th. The suspect, identified as Zhang Kequn, was intercepted during a security inspection while preparing to board a flight to China. Officials say the ants were carefully concealed inside his luggage in what investigators believe may be part of a wider…

The global arms race looks set to escalate amid reports that Morocco has become the largest arms importer on the African continent, according to RFI and agencies on March 11th. Data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) found that Morocco's arms imports have increased by 12% between 2021 and 2025, compared to the 2016 to 2020 period.

Nigeria's fight against jihadist terrorism appears increasingly futile amid reports that military bases were targeted in the northeast, according to Africa News via AP on March 10th. Between March 7th and 9th, Islamist militants launched at least six attacks against military bases in Borno and Yobe States, along with the broader Lake Chad region; at least two officers and several soldiers were killed.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot met with his Moroccan counterpart, Nasser Bourita, on the sidelines of the World Nuclear Energy Summit outside Paris, as reported by the Moroccan government-friendly Atalayar on March 11th. The meeting focused on bilateral relations between France and Morocco and also included discussions of the ongoing Western Sahara negotiations led by the Trump administration, as well as the current US-Israeli…

Benin’s army claims to have killed 17 militants after foiling a planned terrorist attack in the country’s north on March 7th, as reported by the Algerian state broadcaster AL24 News and agencies on March 11th. According to a statement from the Beninese military, the attack targeted a “strategic” military position in Pendjari National Park, near the Burkina Faso border. …

Senegal’s parliament passed a law increasing the maximum prison sentence for homosexuality to 10 years during a vote in Dakar on March 11th, according to France 24 and agencies on March 12th. The measure doubles the previous maximum penalty of five years under Senegal’s penal code. The legislation amends Article 319, which criminalises what the law describes as “acts against nature” between people of the same sex.

Iran has entered a new political phase following the appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei as the country’s new Supreme Leader, according to BBC News and agencies on March 9th.  Khamenei, the 56-year-old cleric, succeeds his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed on March 1st following US-Israeli strikes against Iran, which began on February 28th. The decision was made by the Assembly of Experts, the powerful body responsible for selecting the nation's top leader.

A new artificial intelligence (AI) model designed for Swahili speakers was unveiled at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, one of the world’s largest technology gatherings, as reported by Maghrebi Week on March 9th. Developed through collaboration between African telecom actors and international partners, the project aims to address the limited presence of African languages in major AI systems. Supporters say expanding AI tools in widely spoken regional languages could improve digital access and encourage broader technology adoption across Africa. Maghrebi Week

According to a report by BBC Sport on March 8th, Ugandan runner Jacob Kiplimo reclaimed the world record in the half-marathon after winning the race in Lisbon, Portugal, on the same day.  The 25-year-old distance runner completed the race in 57 minutes and 20 seconds, setting a new world record and improving the previous record by ten seconds. That earlier mark had been set by…

Morocco’s inflation was projected at a low 1.8%, and Bank Al-Maghrib, the central bank of Morocco, maintained its policy rate at 2.25%, with the rate expected to remain unchanged for the first half of 2026, according to the Moroccan government-friendly North Africa Post and agencies on March 9th. However, conflict in the region, namely the US-Israel war on Iran, threatens these favourable conditions, as Bank Al-Maghrib is scheduled to hold its first monetary‑policy meeting of the year on March 17th.

The United Nations’ cultural agency has raised alarm over damage to several heritage sites in Iran, as reported by Al-Monitor on March 11th. This comes following the outbreak of the US–Israeli war against Iran, warning that some of the country’s most significant historical landmarks have already been affected. UNESCO said four of Iran’s 29 World Heritage sites have been damaged since hostilities began, including Tehran’s historic Golestan Palace, a 19th-century royal complex often compared to Palace of Versailles.

Gabon has asked the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a new financial arrangement aimed at stabilising public finances, Africanews reported on 11 March. The request follows discussions between Gabonese authorities and an IMF mission that visited the country to assess economic conditions and policy priorities, including fiscal reforms and measures to strengthen financial management. The Fund has urged Gabon to continue reforms to improve governance, the business climate and anti-corruption efforts. An IMF programme could help support economic stability in the country. Africanews, Maghrebi.org

Rising food prices are affecting Ramadan shopping in Libya, with residents reporting higher costs for basic produce, France 24 reported on 11 March. At a fruit and vegetable market in Benghazi, authorities carried out checks to prevent price speculation. The increase in prices has been worsened by the depreciation of the Libyan dinar against the US dollar. Charitable groups are distributing hundreds of food baskets during Ramadan to support vulnerable households. One association said it assists about 500 families, including widows and orphans of the 2011 uprising that toppled former leader Muammar Gaddafi. France24, Maghrebi.org

Madagascar’s military leader, Colonel Michael Randrianirina, shocked the nation on March 9th by dissolving the government and removing all cabinet members including the prime minister, according to the BBC. In a brief statement, the military ruler turned president said “the government has ceased its functions” and that a new prime minister would be named in line with the constitution. Until then, permanent secretaries will oversee the daily operations of ministries.

New details have emerged about Pope Leo XIV’s planned visit to Algeria in April, including its theme, meetings with Algerian officials and religious events, The New Arab reported on 11 March. The Vatican has chosen the phrase “As-salamu alaykum” (Peace Be Upon You) as the central theme of the visit, which will take place from 13 to 15 April. The Bishop of Algiers, Jean-Paul Vesco, said the programme will begin with a meeting between the…

Morocco will be subject to a new round of international scrutiny over detention conditions, police methods and wider civil liberties concerns as the UN Special Rapporteur on torture prepares to visit Rabat and Laayoune from March 23rd to April 2nd, 2026, as reported by Moroccan government-friendly Yabiladi and agencies on March 11th.  In Rabat on March 27th, Alice Jill Edwards is scheduled to meet representatives of…

Morocco has reaffirmed its commitment to reinforcing nuclear and radiological safety cooperation among developing countries during a meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Board of Governors in Vienna, according to Maghrebi Week on March 9th. The meeting highlighted the need for a strong regulatory infrastructure and international cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear technology. Rabat has also indicated its readiness to cooperate with Africa on nuclear issues under South-South cooperation. Maghrebi Week

The M23 rebel group accused the Democratic Republic of Congo government of carrying out a drone strike that killed several people in its own eastern city of Goma on 11 March, Africanews reported. The attack occurred around 04:00 local time in the city of Goma, which is controlled by the M23 rebel group. According to the rebels, the drone hit a residential building in a neighbourhood near Lake Kivu.

Tunisia stated that it is moving toward new agreements with Libya and Algeria to increase security and investments along their shared border regions, as reported by The Libya Observer and agencies on March 11th. Tunisian Interior Minister, Khaled Nouri, claimed the proposed arrangements would resolve the disputed matters seen in earlier agreements concluded between Tunisia, Algeria, and Libya, indicating that Tunis wants to settle the border question not only through a necessary security coordination, but also through regional development and state investment.  

Niger revoked grants on three gold mining companies and discontinued the contract of a UK oil firm, as reported by AfricaNews with AFP on 6th March. The concessions of Comini, Afrior and Economie to mine the terrain had been permitted between 2017 and 2020. Niger's officials announced that these companies had not 'honoured' their commitments, notably to pay taxes, provide annual technical and financial reports, and respect environmental regulations.

On the 10th of March, Iran vowed that no oil would be exported from the Gulf whilst the war continues, contrary to President Trump’s statements that the war would be “ended soon”, reports Al-Monitor. Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) seemed to mock President Trump's attempt to alleviate the economic impact of the war, threatening: "The Iranian armed forces... will not allow the export of a single litre of oil from the region to the hostile side and its partners until further notice.", and that they would be the ones to determine when the war would end.

A company formerly linked to Israeli billionaire Dan Gertler will pay $30 million to settle a corruption investigation into mining deals in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Dutch prosecutors said on 11 March, according to The New Arab and agencies. The case examined transactions linked to copper and cobalt mining licences in the Democratic Republic of Congo, including whether companies connected to Gertler paid Congolese officials and obtained…

Sudan urged the United States to designate the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) as a terrorist organisation on 11 March, Asharq Al Awsat reported. The request came a day after Washington announced it would designate Sudan’s Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organisation, a decision expected to take effect next week. In a statement, Sudan’s foreign ministry said all armed groups responsible for war crimes and violations of international humanitarian law should be classified as terrorist organisations.

Africa’s critical mineral wealth is feeding global dreams of a cleaner planetary future, yet the dominant narratives still track familiar patterns. Commentators often focus on how lithium, cobalt, and rare earths from across the continent can accelerate global decarbonization, while far fewer ask how these same resources can lift African economies. The asymmetry betrays a long-standing habit of viewing African underground wealth as external inputs rather than internal engines of the continent’s transformation.

On March 9, an agreement for the printing and supply of textbooks for the 2026–2027 academic year was signed at the Libyan Prime Minister’s office under the supervision of the newly appointed Minister of Education Mohamed Al-Grew, as reported by Libya Herald. The agreement was signed between the Educational Curricula and Research Centre and the Italian company Rotolito as part of early preparations to ensure the availability of textbooks before the start of the new academic year, according to authorities in Tripoli.

Mali's fight against jihadist violence has been undermined once again as an ambush on a Malian military and Russian Africa Corps convoy kills around 10 people, according to RFI and agencies on March 10th. The attack occurred on March 9th near the village of Louguel, southwest of Nampala in the Segou region, situated not far from the Mauritanian border.

Egypt has increased domestic fuel prices by up to 30 percent, citing “exceptional” global energy pressures linked to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Officials say the war has disrupted oil supplies and key shipping routes, driving up global costs, according to Africa News  via AFP on March 10th. The price hikes were announced by the petroleum ministry and affect gasoline, diesel and natural gas used for vehicles.

Algeria’s parliament has approved a revised law condemning French colonial rule, removing earlier provisions that demanded a formal apology and financial reparations from France, as reported by The New Arab staff and agencies on March 10th. The legislation, adopted on March 9th, still declares France’s colonisation of Algeria between 1830 and 1962 a crime, but was amended after Algeria’s Senate called for changes to better reflect the government’s official position.

As reports of human rights abuses in South Sudan continue to mount, the spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has raised alarm, as reported by Africa News on March 10th. According to Seif Magango, “in the past 17 days, more than 160 civilians have been killed, at least 139 of them by fighters from the Bul Nuer ethnic group in Abiemnom locality, in the Ruweng Administrative Area, on 1 March.

According to a report published by Africanews on March 10th, leaders at the United Nations have renewed calls for stronger international action to tackle persistent gender inequality around the world. Speaking during discussions linked to International Women’s Day, UN officials highlighted the continuing barriers faced by women and girls in many countries. Despite decades of advocacy and policy initiatives, significant gaps remain in access to rights, opportunities and justice.

Mali's internal strife has escalated further as seven people were killed by the Malian army and the Russian Africa Corps near the Mauritanian border, according to RFI and agencies on March 9th. The incident occurred in the Nampala district's Ahl El Kory area on March 6th, when two vehicles left the Mauritanian border post at Fassala and were stopped by a patrol of Malian and Russian forces.

More than a week into the ongoing US-Israeli air strikes on Iran, the war has no clear endgame in sight. In an increasingly complex situation, the US does not appear to have a settled and coherent strategy, with the Trump administration voicing wide-ranging and shifting goals and justifications.  Amid this uncertainty, US President Donald Trump appeared to encourage the Kurdish groups in Iran to rise up against the Iranian regime, before appearing to reverse his position.

Nearly 700,000 people have been displaced across Lebanon and at least 84 children killed in just seven days of Israeli strikes, as evacuation orders, urban bombardment and mounting pressure on hospitals deepen the country’s humanitarian crisis, as reported by Arab World and agencies on March 10th. The figures demonstrate how quickly the conflict has spread from a military confrontation into a nationwide…

Morocco is exploring the possibility of developing nuclear energy to produce electricity as part of its long-term energy strategy, Moroccan government-friendly Yabiladi reported on 10 March. Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch, speaking at the Second World Nuclear Energy Summit in Paris, said the responsible and gradual integration of civil nuclear energy into Morocco’s energy sector would represent a natural extension of the country’s…

Algeria and Morocco have both sided with Gulf countries targeted by Iranian strikes in the ongoing war, issuing statements of support, reports Maghrebi Week on 9th March. Moroccan King Mohammed VI called Gulf leaders to express his "strong condemnation", while Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf received their ambassadors and called for restraint. Both countries denounced the violation of these states' sovereignty, but stopped short of condemning attacks on Iran.

The United States has designated Sudan’s Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organisation, The Arab Weekly and agencies reported on 10 March. The measure targets the Sudanese branch of the Islamist movement, which Washington said had supported extremist activity and undermined stability in the country. The State Department said the decision allows the United States to impose sanctions and restrict financial dealings with the group.