Africa
Somalia and the Somaliland Card — The Recognition Struggle Penetrates Domestic Politics
The deeper story in the Somalia file does not begin this week. It begins on December 25th, when Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israel had become the first country in the world to formally recognize the Republic of…
China’s Geely Bets on Both Sides of the Maghreb Divide
What’s Happening Zhejiang Geely Holding Group — the Chinese automotive and technology conglomerate — is quietly building a dual-track presence in North Africa’s emerging space sector. Through its space arm, Time Space…
NORTH AFRICA & THE RED SEA: REDRAWING THE MAP OF INFLUENCE
What happened? Geopolitical competition over North Africa and the Red Sea is intensifying as traditional maritime corridors face disruption, with multiple regional and international powers racing to consolidate positions…
The Sahel: Where State Authority Erodes and Chaos Expands
What happened? Armed extremist groups continue to expand their geographic foothold across the Sahel — stretching from Mauritania to Sudan — exploiting the retreat of Western military presence and the failure of…
OIL MARKETS & THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ: WHEN THE WORLD’S ECONOMIC ARTERY BECOMES A HOSTAGE
What happened? Serious threats now hover over the Strait of Hormuz amid a partial freeze in tanker movement, while OPEC+ has approved only a limited production increase to absorb the shock. Oil prices are trending upward…
SOUTH SUDAN: A STATE AT THE EDGE OF COLLAPSE — AGAIN
What happened? Armed clashes and mass displacement have intensified in South Sudan as the political process stalls and international attention wanes, amid mounting pressure from the neighboring Sudanese war that has…
GLOBAL AVIATION DISRUPTION: WHEN THE SKY BECOMES A BATTLEFIELD
What happened? Widespread closure of airspace over Iran, Iraq, and parts of the Gulf triggered the cancellation of thousands of flights and paralyzed major transit hubs in Dubai, Doha, and Abu Dhabi. The impact spread…
Nigeria Intensifies Strikes Against “ISIS in West Africa”: Strategic Analysis
The Event The Nigerian military conducted precision airstrikes targeting positions of the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP), resulting in the killing of more than 40 militants. This operation comes as part of…
Trump and the Renaissance Dam: Washington’s Bet on Breaking the Deadlock in the Horn of Africa
What’s the News? In January 2026, President Donald Trump has made a high-stakes return to the center of the Nile dispute, positioning himself as the ultimate mediator to break the decade-long deadlock over the Grand…
Burkina Faso – Escalating Al-Qaeda Attacks and a Worsening Security Crisis
Burkina Faso: Escalating Al-Qaeda Attacks and a Deepening Security Crisis General Situation: Burkina Faso faces a worsening security crisis since 2015, with the country experiencing continuous attacks from jihadist…
A concise, analytical briefing on Africa & the Middle East
Update: January 5, 2026 Yemen: The Battle for Hadramawt Reshapes the Gulf Influence Map Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces have regained control of Mukalla, the strategic capital of Hadramawt province, following…
Egypt Affirms Support for Somalia’s Unity and Territorial Integrity
What’s the news? Egypt affirmed its full support for Somalia’s unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, rejecting any recognition of a separatist region that would compromise state sovereignty. Arab News Brief…