North Africa Round-up

  • Protests have continued in Tunis, in the midst of political tensions between Prime Minister Mechichi and President Saïed and reports of a poisoning attempt on the President

Read more on jordantimes jeuneafrique lapresse

  • Meherzia Laabidi, current Assembly member for the Ennahdha Movement, and first Deputy Speaker of the Tunisian Constituent Assembly, passed away on 22 January. In addition to her role in Tunisian politics, she was also an active member and leader of international organisations including Religions for Peace and the Global Women of Faith Network.

Read more on leconomistemaghrebin and more information on her work here

  • The Algerian press is reporting renewed tensions between Polisario and Morocco since the US’s unilateral move to recognise Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara in December.

Read more on elwatan

  • In what has been described as a “Franco-French affair” but has obviously also received coverage in the French-language Algerian press, Benjamin Stora delivered his commissioned report on Les questions mémorielles portant sur la colonisation et la Guerre d’Algérie to President Macron. The report is available here

Read more on middleeasteye lexpressiondz liberte-algerie elwatan

Weekly update and resources

  • France will not apologise for colonising Algeria although President Macron believes it was a crime against humanity.

Read more on The Times

  • French President Emmanuel Macron has signalled intention to reduce the 5,100-strong French military force fighting jihadis in the Sahel & sub-Saharan Africa.

Read more on The Financial Times

  • Algerian soldiers fired high-calibre rounds as part of an operation against the persistent threat of Islamist militants

Read more on Africanews.com

  • 300 British troops begin missions in Mali, as part of UN peacekeeping force MINUSMA

Read more on The Independent