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

Algeria, Morocco, Tanzania, Western Sahara
Western Sahara question looms large over Morocco-Tanzania relations

Having long backed the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, Tanzania has in recent months been courted on multiple fronts by Morocco. Algeria, meanwhile, is not sitting on its hands.

Algeria
President Tebboune rejigs foreign ministry after Lamamra departure

Almost two months after Ramtane Lamamra stepped down as Algeria's foreign minister, his replacement, Ahmed Attaf, and President Adbelmadjid Tebboune are rejigging the foreign ministry.

Algeria
Six special envoys have their missions cancelled

President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has put an end to the work of the seven special envoys in charge of leading the international action of Algerian diplomacy, under the direct authority of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Algeria
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.

The New Guard
Congo, Algeria, Namibia and Nigeria

Every Wednesday, Africa Intelligence spotlights a new generation of movers and shakers in business and politics.

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

Sahel
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.

Algeria
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.

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

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

Morocco
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.

West Africa
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.

Algeria, Sahel
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.

Algeria
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.

Comoros islands, Morocco
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.

Algeria
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.

Algeria
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.

Algeria, European Union
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.

Algeria
Tebboune gets rid of Bouteflika appointees at the foreign ministry

President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has ousted two senior foreign ministry officials [...]