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The Maghreb is defined by Libya's volatile security transition following the assassination of Saif al-Islam Gaddafi and Algeria's assertive energy diplomacy, while regional powers Morocco and Egypt pursue independent foreign and economic agendas.
February 2026
Week of Feb 23, compared to 12-week average
Energy and infrastructure projects drive state-led economic activity, but Libya's oil sector faces setbacks. Algeria is advancing major gas and water projects, including the Trans-Saharan pipeline and a desalination plant. Libya's attempt to revive its oil sector through a licensing round failed, though it awarded fuel supply deals to Western firms to reduce Russian imports.
Foreign policy alignments are fracturing, with Morocco endorsing a U.S.-backed Gaza plan while Algeria and Egypt emphasize bilateral ties. The Western Sahara dispute remains a persistent diplomatic issue with ongoing UN-mediated talks. Domestically, Tunisia faces political repression as the Salvation Front rejects prison sentences for Ennahda leaders.
Security is dominated by the assassination of Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, which has destabilized Libya's political landscape. In response, Libya is conducting joint border operations with Chad and engaging in talks with Egyptian intelligence. The U.S. maintains a naval presence in the Mediterranean and has extradited a suspect in the 2012 Benghazi attack.
Public discontent over economic hardship is rising, manifesting in protests in western Libya over price hikes. The dominant tension is between state authority and popular grievance, exacerbated by climate-induced disasters like deadly floods in Morocco and a migrant boat tragedy off Libya's coast.