Lamamra's robust diplomacy aims to regain initiative on Sahel, Libya, Sahara

Foreign minister Lamamra comes under renewed pressure 

Ramtane Lamamra has in recent months faced a backlash from the president's inner circle, a situation that has become worse since the appointment of a new secretary-general at the ministry.

• CONGO - Baptism of fire for country's youngest MP, Antoine Obam'Ondon

• ALGERIA - Yacine Oualid, the face of 'new Algeria' 

• NAMIBIA - Sharonice Busch tackles youth unemployment

• NIGERIA - Chinny Ogunro, The Africa Center's well-connected new COO

Western capitals uneasy about delayed Issoufou report 

Former Nigerien president Mahamadou Issoufou's report on the international response to the Sahel security crisis will not be ready in time for the AU summit in February as initially planned, with publication still several months away.

Media outlets up in arms against slow pace of reform 

Parliament won't debate a new media bill until December, but Algeria's politically and financially stifled press is already eager to see the text.

New 'Mr Africa' for Algeria's Foreign Affairs Ministry 

The Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has had a new Africa director since May.

Spain and EU to supply border surveillance equipment to Morocco 

Amid warming relations between Rabat and Madrid, Spain's development agency plans to use European funds to supply 98 thermal surveillance cameras to monitor approaches to the enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, where Morocco allowed several thousand migrants to cross last year.

Obiang plans his AU summit in Malabo 

Equatorial Guinean President Teodoro Obiang Nguema is scheduled to hold an African Union (AU) summit on humanitarian issues from 25 to 27 May in Malabo.

Foreign minister Lamamra already reshuffling his Sahel team 

The head of Algerian diplomacy, Ramtane Lamamra, is shortly due to appoint a new special envoy for the Sahel. Since this summer the post has been occupied by Boudjemaa Delmi, a very close friend of the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

French military still banned from Algerian air space despite diplomatic outreach 

Paris hopes Algeria will soon lift its ban on the use of its airspace to resupply military operations in the Sahel, namely Barkhane. The army is currently using private foreign sub-contractors, not part of the ban, to fly equipment over Algeria.

Why wary Rabat kept Moroni's first ambassador waiting for accreditation 

Morocco pored over Yahaya Mohamed Illias' background, especially his time as a student in Pakistan, before giving his appointment its seal of approval.

Madrid overplays concern over gas supplies to keep in with Sonatrach 

Although Spain has a plentiful gas supply thanks largely to LNG imported from the US, Russia and Qatar, it is keen to stay in the good books of its closest geographical supplier, Algeria's state-run Sonatrach.

Spain's OHL excluded from Annaba-Ramdane Djamel rail works 

Obrascon Huarte Lain (OHL), the Spanish firm selected to modernise the 77-km railway between Annaba and Ramdane Djamel has been removed from the project and replaced by three state-owned Algerian companies.

New EU envoy's tasks span free trade, Libya, and Morocco 

Thomas Eckert, Europe's new man in Algiers, starts the job with a lot on his plate. He is tasked with free trade agreements, trying to ease tensions with Morocco, and sounding out Algeria's renewed interest in Libya.

Tebboune gets rid of Bouteflika appointees at the foreign ministry 

President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has ousted two senior foreign ministry officials