North Africa and the Sahel

The European Commission has published its long-awaited strategy for taking forward its relationship with its southern neighbours. It proposes "a new, ambitious and innovative Agenda for the Mediterranean, drawing for the first time on the full EU toolbox and the ground-breaking opportunities of the twin green and digital transitions, in order to relaunch our cooperation and realise the untapped potential of our shared region".

The  prime minister of Tunisia Hichem El Mechichi has reshuffled his cabinet amid street protests and a growing political crisis.

Last week, French President Emmanuel Macron appeared to be positive to the idea of withdrawing some troops from Africa’s Sahel region, suggesting that France could “adjust” its operations after successes against militants and the arrival of the joint European backed Takuba force.

Clashes were reported in Western Sahara over the weekend, between the Polisario Front and Moroccan forces near the same border location of El Guerguerat that witnessed tensions last November. The Polisario front says it's ready for dialogue but will continue the armed struggle.

France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States welcomed, in a joint statement, the vote of the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF) in favour of the selection mechanism for a new interim executive authority, which will guide Libya towards national elections on December 24, 2021.

Libyan delegations at UN-backed talks in Hurghada, Egypt agreed to hold a constitutional referendum later this year. The referendum will be followed by elections which will hopefully pave a path for peace and stability in the war-torn country.

Tunisia's capital, Tunis, witnessed a fourth straight night of street protests, in what doesn't seem to be a short-lived moment of unrest. Youth, in mostly working-class neighbourhoods, clashed with riot police as protestors took to the streets in about 15 locations. There are calls for further protests on social media as more than than 600 had been arrested. 

NATO's Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, said on Thursday that NATO is ready to contribute to security building in Libya once conditions allow. On the diplomatic level, UN Secretary-General is reportedly planning to appoint veteran diplomat Jan Kubis as his envoy in Libya nearly a year after the last mediator stepped down.