For the first time in 35 years, there are no United Nations peacekeepers watching over Western Sahara. That one change shaped much of the continent's news between 31 October and 7 November. It gave Morocco a moment to celebrate, Algeria a reason to protest, and analysts across North Africa and the Sahel a new map to read. Further south, Washington cut two African countries out of a major trade deal. Courts and police in Tanzania and Nigeria handed down rulings and made arrests with real political weight. In Dakar, the Youth Olympic Games kept Senegal in the spotlight for reasons that were mostly happy.
The end of MINURSO
The week opened with Algeria voicing regret at the Security Council vote on MINURSO's mandate, as reported by Yabiladi.com. By 1 November, France 24 was reporting that the mission had formally ended. On the same day, Al Jazeera noted UN warnings about the security risks left behind.
Commentators sympathetic to Rabat called it a turning point. The Times of Israel described a Moroccan "masterstroke" that had changed the rules of a frozen conflict. Atalayar praised the kingdom's "sovereign decision-making" on the Sahara. By midweek, neighbouring states were already adjusting. Morocco World News reported that Mauritania had sent a military delegation to Morocco as the drawdown went ahead.
The anniversary of the Green March on 6 November showed how far apart the two sides remain. AP News wrote that the day reflected enduring divisions. Africanews called Western Sahara Africa's longest-running territorial conflict, now entering a new diplomatic phase. On the last day of the week, Atalayar reported on how King Mohammed VI was setting out Morocco's course now that MINURSO is gone.
Algeria looks south to Niger
Algeria's response to the shift in the region was the week's second big story, and it grew quickly. On 3 November, energynews.pro reported that Niger was bringing in Algerian fuel by tanker truck to ease a gasoline shortage. The bigger news was that Algerian troops were going too. The Middle East Forum presented the deployment as a warning to Morocco and Israel. RANE Worldview asked whether Algiers was breaking with its long tradition of not intervening abroad. By 6 November, the European Union had asked Algeria to explain the deployment, according to HESPRESS English. A day later, Morocco World News cited Le Monde's view that Algeria's return to Niger is driven by fear of a Morocco, UAE and Libya axis.
Libya kept coming up. Egypt reopened its embassy in Tripoli after 12 years, as reported by Latest news from Azerbaijan. Le Monde diplomatique, in a piece titled "Neighbours, but still not friends", summed up the mood in the region. Further east, Somalia Today reported Mogadishu's warning that unrest in Ethiopia could weaken the African Union mission in Somalia. In eastern DRC, Africanews reported that the head of MONUSCO had met former president Joseph Kabila and other leaders of his new rebel coalition.
Washington's trade axe
The biggest economic shock came from abroad. On 2 November, The New York Times reported that President Trump was removing South Africa from the African Growth and Opportunity Act. The paper called it the latest step against a country his administration accuses of discriminating against white people. Al Jazeera added that Rwanda would also lose duty-free access. For South Africa, about $1.7bn of exports a year are affected, including cars and farm products.
The decision was a reminder of how exposed African economies remain to outside choices, and leaders at home were pushing the same point. Africa50's Alain Ebobissé told Business in Cameroon that Africa must fund Africa first. Afreximbank urged businesses to move beyond symbolism and sign real supply contracts, as reported by the Herald. Angola's ANGOSAT-2 satellite signed a memorandum of understanding with Tanzania that widens an African-owned network, according to Tech Times. In Ghana, the central bank governor argued that virtual assets could make diaspora remittances faster and cheaper, as reported by CitiNewsroom.
Budget season showed governments under strain. Senegal's parliament asked for the 2027 budget bill to be withdrawn, CNBC Africa reported. Tunisia plans to fund a 32% bigger deficit next year by borrowing more at home, which EnterpriseAM said would crowd out small businesses. Zambia is aiming for 4.9% growth and a deficit of 3% of GDP in 2027, according to CNBC Africa, even though El Niño threatens the country's farms, as 巴士的報 reported. Mining provided some good news. Fortuna received an admissibility notice for its Senegal gold project, according to StreetInsider, and Shera Energy sold its first batch of copper cathode from Zambia, as reported by Multibagg AI.
Courts, crackdowns and contested politics
In Tanzania, the opposition leader was cleared of treason but sentenced for incitement, Daily Monitor reported. The verdict avoided the most serious charge, but it still put a leading critic behind bars. In Nigeria, police arrested a suspect over the attack on Peter Obi's convoy in Calabar, according to TheCable. The incident is an early sign that campaigning for 2027 is already turning rough.
Egypt drew criticism on several fronts. The Washington Post reported that US lawmakers called a media crackdown "extreme even by Egypt's standards." Democracy for the Arab World Now asked whether President Sisi's departure would bring a democratic opening or tighter military control. Africanews reported that the army had arrested hundreds of illegal gold miners near the Sudanese border, where a rights group has accused the air force of strikes that killed at least 72 miners last October. The Next Century Foundation asked how "voluntary" the return of Sudanese refugees from Egypt really is. In Cameroon, Genocide Watch asked whether President Paul Biya, now back in the country, can still govern. Ms. Magazine reported anti-femicide protests in the country.
Dakar's games and football's politics
Senegal's hosting of the Youth Olympic Games produced some of the week's warmest stories. Marème Niang scored four goals as Senegal's women opened their futsal campaign in style, according to Olympics. Argentina's men had to overcome a loud home crowd to beat Senegal, as olympics.com reported. On the final day of the period, Diatta won beach wrestling gold for the hosts, according to olympics.com. The games also had a political edge. Senegal arrested an activist who protested against Israel's participation, as reported by Middle East Eye.
Off the pitch, football had its own politics. Fouzi Lekjaa is reportedly preparing to step down from his CAF position, according to Morocco World News. The same outlet reported that Spanish opposition leader Alberto Feijóo is considering pulling Spain out of the 2030 World Cup if Morocco hosts the final. Tunisia named its squad for its Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Libya, according to YSscores. The squad came out under a cloud, because former coach Al-Tarabulsi had described "shocking interference" in the national team, as Goal.com reported. Uganda, meanwhile, are drawing confidence from their draw with Tunisia ahead of their own Libya fixture, according to Pulse Uganda. The week ended in Luanda, where Anna Blinkova and Sofya Lansere met in the final of the Angola Ladies Open, as tennismajors.com reported.
The story that runs through all of this is the end of MINURSO, which drew a fast response from Morocco's neighbours and from Algeria. The UN mission is gone, Algerian troops are in Niger, and Europe is asking questions. All of this points to a North Africa where old disputes are being fought in new ways.
