Amal Obeidi, Libya Politics and Governance Contributor at Maghreb Insider
Amal Obeidi
30 articlesEditor
Libya politics and governance contributor
Amal Obeidi covers Libya’s political institutions, governance, state-building, reconciliation and regional security for Maghreb Insider. Her work examines how formal government structures, local power networks and competing centres of authority shape political outcomes inside Libya and across North Africa.
30 latest articles by Amal Obeidi
Libya Claim Puts Italy and Turkey in the Spotlight
A commentary says remarks attributed to Donald Trump could point to a Turkish gain in Libya after an alleged Italian policy shift. Turkey has longstanding ties and influence, but no verified agreement or transfer shows it is taking Italy's place. Energy disruption and a nationwide teachers' strike reveal pressure at home.
Libya weighs US border-screening technology
Libya has discussed inspection technology and staff training with two US suppliers. No purchase or deployment has been confirmed, and the talks sit within a broader agenda on security coordination and migration management.
Tunisia's Ennahda condemns media curbs on political prisoners
Ennahda says prison authorities have restricted political prisoners' access to independent media as Ahmed Nejib Chebbi begins an open-ended hunger strike. The protest renews calls for prisoners' release and an end to political trials, amid wider debate over press freedom and the 2022 cybercrime decree.
Nafoora Review Centers on Falling Reservoir Pressure
AGOCO, Libya's National Oil Corporation and Austria's OMV met in Benghazi on October 1 to discuss falling pressure at the Nafoora field. They have not publicly announced an engineering solution, development timetable or output target.
African Union Reopens Tripoli Office to Deepen Libya Engagement
The African Union has returned to Tripoli after an 11-year closure, reopening a direct channel for cooperation. Libya remains politically divided, with its institutions still facing major challenges.
Tunis Talks Connect Italian and Tunisian AI Startups with Energy Efficiency
At the third Innovation Talks in Tunis, Italian and Tunisian startup founders discussed how AI and other technologies could improve industrial monitoring and energy efficiency. The event took place as energy and innovation ties between the two countries continue to grow.
Libya's Teachers Keep Public Schools Shut Over Pay
A teachers' strike has delayed the start of public classes for about 1.6 million students across Libya. Educators want pay aligned with state salary scales, overdue wages, overtime compensation and health coverage.
Italy Challenges Libya's Mediterranean Maritime Claims
Italy has updated its maritime baselines at the UN and separately protested Libya's continental-shelf claims. The dispute reaches beyond maps, with gas infrastructure and submarine cables crossing a crowded Mediterranean.
Tunisia replaces jail terms with fines for first false-news offences
A September 2026 amendment to Tunisia's cybercrime law sets fines of 10,000 to 20,000 dinars for a first covered offence. Repeat violations can still bring prison time and a much higher fine.
Saddam Haftar and Bahrain Back Libya's UN-Led Election Track
At a Benghazi meeting, Saddam Haftar and a Bahraini delegation backed UN-led efforts to unify Libya's institutions. The August framework sets up to 24 months for work on electoral and institutional questions, but sets no voting date and does not settle the legal dispute.
Tripoli Construction Exhibition Expects About 150 Companies
Around 150 local and international companies are expected at Tripoli's 8 to 11 November 2026 construction exhibition. An architecture forum, an ODAC-backed schools initiative and current public tenders could bring suppliers into contact with Libyan agencies, but attendance alone does not guarantee contracts.
Tunisia seeks a bigger role in the global halal economy
Tunisia has about 40 halal-certified companies, and halal-sector export operations are estimated at TND 1.3 billion, led by food products. At a September forum, officials and businesses outlined plans to widen certification, improve logistics and financing, and build a larger regional role.
US transfers nearly $1m in security equipment to Tunisia
On 30 September, US Ambassador Bill Bazzi handed equipment to two Tunisian security directorates. The embassy says it will help train and certify officers in crisis response and specialised security skills.
Sudan army adviser warns US truce plan risks Libya-style split
Amjad Farid says Sudan has sent changes to the US 90-day truce proposal, including a demand for an internationally monitored RSF withdrawal from urban areas. He warns the plan could entrench the force and push Sudan toward a Libya-style split.
Libya Adopts National Rules to Curb Medical Supply Waste
Libya's Medical Supply Organisation says its new guidance will address expired medicines, stagnant stock and spoilage. It also sets out plans for surplus redistribution and early warnings, but the full rules and any quantified savings have not been independently published.
Egypt Backs UN Push for Simultaneous Libya Elections
At a Cairo meeting, Badr Abdelatty backed the UN roadmap and simultaneous presidential and parliamentary elections. Its first steps include work on election laws and a new elections commission board, but disputes over legal approval and Libya's divided institutions remain unresolved.
Tunisia's shortages expose the limits of its recovery
Tunisia's economy grew 2.4% in the first half of the year, but shortages of staple foods and bottled water persist. Import and distribution delays, tight public finances, and recurring water and power disruptions continue to strain household supplies.
Libya Sets Out National Early Warning Roadmap
Workshops in Tripoli have produced a roadmap to link risk data, hazard monitoring, public alerts and emergency response across Libya. Recent deadly floods and nationwide weather alerts show the challenge of turning that plan into coordinated action by 2027.
Tunisia targets phosphate output nearly triple its decade average
CPG and GCT are preparing a 2.7 billion-dinar plan to raise commercial phosphate output to 9.4 million tons by 2035. Production has been depressed for years, and transport problems, water shortages and company finances remain major constraints.
Gulf Investors Put More Money into Libya and Algeria
Qatar's $1 billion Libyan oil deal and Gulf-backed projects in Algeria are drawing capital to North Africa's energy sector. Libya's new licensing round offers fresh openings, but political divisions and infrastructure needs remain central to the investment risks.
Two dead, at least six missing after boat sinks off Tunisia
Sea-Watch says its vessel Aurora rescued 28 people after a rubber dinghy sank off Tunisia and recovered two bodies, including a child. At least six people remain missing. Lower arrivals in Italy have not meant fewer reported deaths and disappearances in the Mediterranean.
Tunisia Risks Shortages With New Import Curbs
Kais Saied's order to curb imports comes as Tunisia's trade and energy deficits deepen. Without stronger domestic production, restrictions could push scarcity into informal markets instead of easing the country's dependence on imports.
Saddam Haftar Reportedly Met Netanyahu in the UAE
Il Foglio reported that Saddam Haftar met Benjamin Netanyahu in Abu Dhabi, but the meeting has not been independently verified. Netanyahu's UAE visit and meeting with President Mohamed bin Zayed were confirmed; no official account confirms a meeting with Haftar.
Netanyahu's UAE visit confirmed; alleged Haftar meeting remains unverified
Israeli officials and the UAE state news agency WAM confirmed Netanyahu's visit to Abu Dhabi and his meeting with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed. A separate report by Il Foglio that he met Saddam Haftar remains unverified.
Nigeria's Ambassadors Present Credentials in Three Capitals
Nigerian envoys presented credentials in Greece, Tunisia and Belgium in September 2026. Talks in Tunis covered trade, investment and cooperation across several sectors, while a proposed drone facility in Bauchi State remained an idea, not an agreed project.
Israel Monitors Turkey-Libya Maritime Corridor
Israeli security reporting has focused on the possible effects of the Turkey-Libya maritime agreement on shipping and planned energy links. The dispute remains unresolved: Ankara relies on the 2019 memoranda, while Greece rejects the maritime arrangement.
Libya and Oman Continue Energy Talks, but No Deal Is Public
Libya's Government of National Unity says talks with OQEP covered investment portfolios and possible cooperation under a June memorandum with the Libyan Investment Authority. No new project, funding commitment or final agreement has been publicly confirmed.
Sharara output tops 300,000 barrels per day, NOC chairman says
The National Oil Corporation chairman says Sharara has resumed output above 300,000 barrels per day. Libya is exempt from OPEC production quotas, but pipeline flows and terminal loadings will be needed to confirm that the restart is sustained.
Tunisia's tax burden is more than twice Africa's average
World Bank figures put Tunisia's tax revenue at 26.1% of GDP in 2025, while Lotfi Ben Aïssa estimates the tax burden at 35.5%. He says reform should ease the load without abandoning social commitments, but the two figures measure different things.
Tunisia's gender gap persists despite gains in education and health
Tunisia scored 65% and ranked 125th among 145 economies in the World Economic Forum's 2026 Global Gender Gap Index. Near-parity in education and health sits alongside persistent gaps in employment, income and political representation.
