Law and Institutions
102 articles
Algeria's Lower House Votes to Expand Death Penalty to Arson and Child Abduction
On 1 October, Algeria's lower house approved changes that would make deliberate forest and field arson, and child abduction in specified circumstances, punishable by death. The bill still has further legal steps to clear, and the vote does not end the execution moratorium in place since 1993.
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.
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.
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.
British arms broker gets 16 years for illegal missile and jet deals to embargoed states
A London court has sentenced British arms broker David Greenhalgh and his Greek partner Christos Farmakis to 16 years in prison for running illegal deals that sent missiles, fighter jets, and other weapons to embargoed countries like Libya and Sudan. The case lays bare how arms traffickers work around global controls.
Libyan monarchists gather in Misrata to push for a constitutional monarchy
More than 500 delegates from Libya's monarchist movement met in Misrata, hoping to build a political base and revive the 1951 constitution as a way to reach national elections and stability.
Libya launches unified system to coordinate international support
Libya is moving to centralize and track all international support with a new electronic system and national database. The Central Bank governor has joined a high-level committee to ensure aid aligns with Libya's priorities and development plans.
Tunisia faces scrutiny over prison deaths during extreme heat
Tunisia's parliament and top rights groups are demanding answers after 23 prisoners died during a brutal heatwave. Overcrowded cells, poor ventilation, and blocked oversight have sparked warnings of a human rights crisis in the country's jails.
Libyan court halts intelligence chief shakeup as power struggle deepens
A Libyan appeals court has stopped the Presidential Council from replacing the head of the General Intelligence Service. The decision throws the country's security leadership into deeper crisis and highlights the sharp divides inside Libya's political system.
Libyan factions meet in Tunisia to push election plan forward
Delegates from Libya's rival authorities met in Tunisia to move ahead with a UN-backed agreement aimed at holding nationwide elections within two years, as both sides look to end years of division and unify state institutions.
Tunisian authorities extend detention of Gaza flotilla activists amid protests
Tunisian courts have prolonged the pre-trial detention of four Global Sumud Flotilla activists, intensifying public demonstrations and raising fears over the use of financial crime laws to suppress pro-Palestinian solidarity and independent civic action.
Libya seeks ICC help after sabotage hits Tripoli and Zawiya power sites
Libya has formally asked the International Criminal Court for technical and legal support to investigate recent attacks on key electrical facilities in Tripoli and Zawiya, citing risks to national stability and the possibility of crimes against humanity.
Morocco's PJD seeks political revival after historic electoral collapse
Morocco's Justice and Development Party is attempting a comeback after losing 112 parliamentary seats in 2021. With Abdelilah Benkirane back at the helm, the PJD is betting on practical reforms and youth engagement but faces entrenched constraints.
New report exposes environmental footprint of resource extraction in Western Sahara
A new report from the Sahrawi Observatory for Natural Resources and Environmental Protection challenges the narrow focus on economic value by mapping the full environmental footprint of resource exploitation in Western Sahara, raising questions about data transparency and long-term ecological risk.
Tunisian protests escalate as social and political demands converge
Tunisia faces a new wave of protests as unemployed graduates and residents join forces, demanding jobs, development and dignity. The growing mobilisation signals a potential turning point as social and political grievances increasingly overlap.
Kurdish migrants held by armed groups in Libya face ransom threats
Ten Kurdish migrants from Iraq are being held by armed groups in Libya, with families receiving ransom demands and no official confirmation of their whereabouts. The case exposes the limits of diplomatic intervention and the dangers facing migrants on the Central Mediterranean route.
Morocco calls for global rules to secure key maritime straits
Morocco has called for an international code of conduct for countries bordering major maritime straits, warning that shipping routes like the Strait of Gibraltar face growing security threats and need coordinated management.
Zenith Energy disputes Tunisia arbitration, citing tribunal conflict
Zenith Energy is taking its $130 million dispute with Tunisia to the European Court of Human Rights, alleging the arbitration process was compromised by undisclosed ties between the tribunal president and Tunisia's legal counsel.
Libya Customs Authority moves to revive stalled border inspection projects
Libya's Customs Authority is working to restart long-delayed contracts with international companies for automated inspection and maritime monitoring, aiming to improve border security and tackle smuggling after years of little progress.
Morocco unveils draft law to police carbon trading and enforce penalties
Morocco has released Draft Bill 62.25 for public consultation, proposing strict oversight of domestic carbon trading and international emission transfers. The bill introduces a national registry, independent verification, and heavy fines for non-compliance.
Tunisia targets drug trafficking networks with overhaul of narcotics law
Tunisia is preparing a sweeping revision of its 1992 narcotics law to counter the rapid evolution of drug trafficking networks, as seizures of cocaine and synthetic tablets reach record highs and cross-border smuggling routes adapt to new technologies.
Nigerian Diaspora Warns of Election Security Crisis
A Nigerian-American security expert warns that Nigeria could face a deeper crisis than Libya if the US and international partners do not ensure credible elections in 2027. Diaspora groups are calling for real oversight as violence and kidnappings increase.
Zenith Energy takes Tunisia arbitration fight to Swiss and European courts
Zenith Energy's subsidiary is challenging a $130 million arbitration loss to Tunisia, alleging tribunal bias and undisclosed contacts. The company is now appealing to Switzerland's top court and the European Court of Human Rights, raising the stakes for energy arbitration in the region.
Sudanese Arrivals Push Morocco's Asylum System to Its Limits
A sharp rise in Sudanese refugees has brought Morocco's asylum system to a breaking point, with more than 23,000 people registered by mid-2026. UNHCR and Moroccan authorities are struggling to keep up as instability in the region drives new arrivals, including many unaccompanied children.
Libyan authorities seize ecstasy pills stamped with Gaddafi's face
Libyan security forces have confiscated about 100,000 ecstasy tablets shaped like Muammar Gaddafi, highlighting how criminal groups are using Libya as a transit point for synthetic drugs moving from Europe into North Africa.
Moroccan regime intensifies crackdown on GenZ 212 movement
Morocco's authorities have escalated their response to the GenZ 212 movement with over 6,000 detentions and harsh sentences, marking the most severe judicial crackdown of King Mohammed VI's reign and exposing the regime's evolving tactics to suppress opposition.
Tunisia's prison deaths rise as heatwave exposes crisis behind bars
At least 23 prisoners have died in Tunisia during a severe heatwave, with rights groups blaming overcrowded, poorly ventilated cells and demanding independent investigations. The government has yet to release official figures or allow external monitoring.
Libya's election deal exposes oil sector to renewed risk
Libya's rival factions have signed a UN-backed election roadmap promising national polls within two years. But persistent divisions and fragile security leave the country's oil sector vulnerable to fresh disruption.
Gaza flotilla activists begin hunger strike in Tunisian prison
Four Gaza flotilla activists held in Tunisia have started a hunger strike, raising the stakes as a court considers whether to extend their pre-trial detention. The case has drawn criticism of Tunisia's growing pressure on international NGOs.
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