North Africa

France sees permanent force for Mali

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius announced a “permanent” military mission in Mali, and said Tuareg rebels must disarm and accept “confinement.”

North Africa

Whither the ‘Topless Jihad’?

Rival online campaigns are waged by the "Topless Jihad" and Muslim Women Against Femen. Is the Topless Jihad a defense of women's freedom, or imperialist propaganda?

North Africa

Mali: jihadists attack Timbuktu —again

Malian troops swept Timbuktu for remaining Islamist fighters after a battle that left seven dead and prompted France to send reinforcements and fighter jets.

North Africa

World Social Forum meets Arab Spring

As thousands of activists from around the world converge on Tunisia for the World Social Forum, the country faces austerity measures as the condition of a $1.78 billion IMF loan.

North Africa

Strike at Chinese uranium mine in Niger

Workers went on a 72-hour strike at the Chinese-owned Somina uranium mine in northern Niger, demanding better wages and the release of unpaid bonuses.

North Africa

Moammar Qaddafi’s cousin arrested in Egypt

Ahmed Qaddaf al-Dam, cousin of Moammar Qaddafi, was arrested in Cairo by Libyan forces. The raid came on the second anniversary of the opening of NATO's Libya campaign.

North Africa

Renegade AQIM commander killed in Mali?

Chad’s military announced that its forces in Mali killed renegade AQIM commander Mokhtar Belmokhtar in an assault on a “terrorist base” in the Adrar de Ifhogas mountains.

North Africa

Playing the ‘slavery card’ against Tuaregs

Specious charges that the Tuareg still practice slavery are being used by Mali’s regime—and echoed by the Western media—to justify the mounting wave of ethnic attacks.

North Africa

Tunisia: new protest amid political crisis

More than 3,000 Tunisians, led by the father of assassinated opposition figure Chokri Belaid, marched through the capital in a protest against the government’s “slow” investigation.