Protesters carried placards highlighting rising living costs, poverty and restrictions on civil liberties , while others chanted, “Government of Failure, System of Failure.”

Opposition politician Hamma Hammami accused the authorities of failing to address Tunisia's economic and social challenges while suppressing political dissent.

“We are standing against a regime that has achieved nothing but throwing people in prison,” Hammami said. He called for demonstrations to spread across the country, urging Tunisians to maintain pressure on the authorities to restore democratic freedoms and national dignity.

The march was organised by a coalition of national organisations, including the Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT), with political parties and civil society groups participating.

Tunisia has witnessed similar demonstrations in recent months, as protesters continue to voice frustration over economic hardship and demand greater respect for political rights and freedoms.

The leaders of Egypt, Eritrea, Sudan and Somalia have agreed to deepen coordination on Red Sea security , state sovereignty and regional disputes after a four-country summit hosted by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in New Alamein on October 4. El-Sisi was joined by Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Sudan's Transitional Sovereignty Council Chairman General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan. The talks covered the Horn of Africa, the Red Sea and wider regional security and economic cooperation. In their El Alamein Joint Declaration, the four leaders reaffirmed respect for the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of states and rejected interference in their internal affairs. They also agreed that disputes should be settled peacefully and in accordance with international law. A major focus was the Red Sea. The declaration stressed the importance of protecting freedom of navigation and international trade through the waterway and said responsibility for its governance and security rests with its coastal states.

El-Sisi tells African leaders cross-border disputes need 'dialogue, not confrontation'

President El-Sisi has urged African governments to resolve disputes over borders , natural resources and transboundary rivers through cooperation and international law rather than confrontation. Speaking at the 8th African Union Mid-Year Coordination Meeting in New Alamein on October 4, El-Sisi said cross-border challenges “require cooperation, not competition, and dialogue, not confrontation.” His remarks came against a tense regional backdrop involving Ethiopia and several of its neighbours. Egypt remains locked in its long-running Nile dispute with Ethiopia, while Addis Ababa's push for greater Red Sea access has also caused friction in the Horn of Africa. El-Sisi told the summit that sovereignty, territorial integrity, good-neighbourly relations and mutual respect should remain fundamental principles governing relations between African states. Differences over borders and shared natural resources, he said, should be settled through consultation, cooperation and international law. The Egyptian president also linked political stability with economic integration, arguing that stronger trade and investment ties could make African countries more prosperous while reducing sources of instability.

Egypt hosts eighth AU coordination meeting as leaders push continental integration

Egypt hosted the 8th African Union Mid-Year Coordination Meeting in New Alamein on October 4, brin ging together African leaders , the African Union Commission and representatives of the continent's Regional Economic Communities and Regional Mechanisms. The meeting was hosted by El-Sisi and included Burundian President Évariste Ndayishimiye, the current AU chairperson, and AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf. The Mid-Year Coordination Meeting was established as the principal forum for aligning the work of the African Union with Africa's regional blocs. Its responsibilities include assessing progress towards continental integration, clarifying the division of responsibilities between the AU and regional organisations and coordinating implementation of major African programmes. This year's discussions covered progress on the AU's 2026 theme, “Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems,” alongside institutional reforms and efforts to implement the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). El-Sisi told participants that coordination should produce practical results rather than remain a diplomatic exercise. He called for Africa to move from fragmented initiatives towards greater integration and from common ambitions towards projects that produce tangible benefits for Africans.

Egypt signs $88 million offshore exploration deal with Chevron

Egypt’s state gas company EGAS and Chevron have signed an agreement involving at least $88 million to explore for oil and gas in the Mediterranean’s offshore Lotus block. Signed by EGAS Managing Director Sayed Selim and Chevron exploration manager Andrew Deegan, the deal includes drilling two exploration wells and reprocessing 3D seismic data. The block lies about 200 kilometres off the coast, in waters between 2,000 and 2,800 metres deep, and has not previously undergone deep exploration drilling. Petroleum Minister Karim Badawi said the agreement supports Egypt’s efforts to increase domestic oil and gas production. He added that payments of outstanding debts to energy companies have helped restore investor confidence and encouraged firms to resume exploration. Chevron currently invests in six Mediterranean exploration blocks, while Egypt plans to offer further opportunities across its offshore and onshore regions.

Journalist charged after six newsroom staff detained

Egyptian journalist Mohamed Ashraf was charged on Sunday, October 4, with joining a terrorist group and spreading false news , days after authorities detained all six journalists at the independent fact-checking and investigative platform Matsadaash. Authorities accused the outlet of operating without a licence and publishing false news on behalf of the banned Muslim Brotherhood. According to the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights, Ashraf underwent a 10-hour overnight interrogation focused entirely on the outlet’s published work. He was ordered held for 15 days pending investigation, while the whereabouts of his five colleagues remained unknown at the time of reporting. Matsadaash co-founder Abdelrahman Mansour denied any links to the Brotherhood, saying the journalists were arrested for investigating issues affecting people’s lives. Rights groups condemned the detentions as a crackdown on press freedom. Egypt’s State Information Service did not respond to the Guardian’s request for comment before publication.

“The Government of Spain is going to deploy all the necessary resources to restore normalcy to that autonomous city,” Sanchez said, adding that Ceuta would move forward with the government's “unwavering commitment”.

More than 70,000 migrants entered Ceuta from Morocco on July 30 and 31, according to Spanish government figures, although most later returned to Morocco.

Thousands remain in the enclave, with more than 1,000 minors reportedly without accommodation and around 3,000 other migrants camped on beaches.

A temporary reception centre at Ceuta's port, with capacity for about 1,700 people , filled shortly after opening on Friday. Spain's National Court has admitted a legal challenge over the use of the site but has allowed it to remain open while proceedings continue.

The Spanish government approved a €309 million emergency package on September 1, covering humanitarian reception, security , support for businesses and workers, and essential services.

Mauritania has signed a comprehensive agreement with CWP Global to advance the Aman green hydrogen project, one of the country's largest planned renewable-energy developments. The agreement was signed in Nouakchott on September 16 by Energy and Petroleum Minister Mohamed Ould Khaled and CWP Global Chairman Mark Crandall. It establishes a long-term contractual framework for the project's next stages and sets out its fiscal, economic and development terms. Mauritania's Energy Ministry described it as the country's first Global Convention of its kind for a green hydrogen project. The scale is significant. Aman aims to eventually produce around 1.2 million tonnes of green hydrogen and 6.6 million tonnes of green ammonia annually, with potential uses in fertiliser production, food security and clean fuels. Authorities also see opportunities for green steel production and local processing of Mauritania's iron ore. The project dates to 2020, followed by a memorandum of understanding in 2021 and a framework agreement in 2022. It has now reached the Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) stage, with CWP targeting a final investment decision before 2030.

Government reviews school readiness as new academic year approaches

Prime Minister El Moctar Ould Djay chaired a ministerial committee meeting on September 16 to assess preparations for the 2026–27 school year , focusing on classrooms, equipment, school furniture and teaching staff. The committee reviewed how far authorities had implemented decisions from its previous meeting and assessed whether schools had the infrastructure and human resources required for the new term. Officials reported notable progress in preparing classrooms, equipment and desks and in ensuring sufficient teaching staff. However, the review identified limited shortages in some specialities, which the government said it was addressing through measures already underway. The preparations form part of President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani's education agenda under his “My Ambition for the Homeland” programme. The government says improving learning conditions and education quality is a central priority. Staffing is particularly important because Mauritania is simultaneously recruiting more than 1,100 education workers to reinforce schools across the country's regions.

Training begins for 1,132 newly recruited contract teachers

Mauritania's Ministry of Education and Reform of the Education System has announced compulsory training for 1,132 successful candidates recruited as education service providers. The group consists of 891 primary-school teachers and 241 lower-secondary teachers. Their training is scheduled to run from September 21 to October 2, beginning at 8 a.m. each day. Primary teachers will train at Boys' High School No. 1, while secondary teachers will attend the Arabic High School. The ministry has made attendance compulsory and warned that absence will result in final exclusion. The recruitment process began earlier. The ministry announced the district-based competition in August, with applications open from August 20 to 25. The examination itself began on September 3. Ministry Secretary-General Sadafi Sidi Mohamed inspected several examination centres on the opening day and said he was satisfied with the organisation. He urged candidates to recognise the responsibility attached to teaching, describing the profession as a national mission requiring competence and dedication to pupils and the country.

Aoukar programme targets around 100,000 livestock in animal-health drive

Mauritania has launched the 2026 animal-health component of its Aoukar integrated livestock development programme , targeting around 100,000 head of livestock in the country's east. The programme was formally launched in the Dhar district on September 15 under the supervision of Hodh Charghi Governor Isselmou Ould Sidi. It forms part of the first phase of the integrated livestock-development programme for the Aoukar areas. The programme combines preventive and curative veterinary care for small and large ruminants. Veterinary agents will be trained and equipped with medicines, equipment and transport, while the programme will also support Mauritania's annual national vaccination campaign. The regional veterinary delegation in Hodh Charghi is coordinating implementation. Ould Sidi said the programme reflected the importance authorities place on livestock development and support for herders. Livestock is particularly important in rural Mauritania, making animal disease prevention directly relevant to household livelihoods and food security. The initiative is also intended to strengthen veterinary coverage in areas where herders may have limited access to animal-health services.

Cabinet moves on digital harms and plans forum for Mauritanians abroad

Mauritania's Cabinet has approved two government statements dealing with protection from harms in the digital space and preparations for a forum bringing together Mauritanians living abroad. The decisions were taken at a Cabinet meeting chaired by President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani on September 16. The digital-protection initiative comes as the government gives greater attention to the risks associated with increased internet and social-media use. The Cabinet statement frames the issue around protecting people from harmful practices and content in the digital environment. The second statement concerns the organisation of a forum for Mauritanian communities abroad, providing a platform for the diaspora to engage with government institutions and discuss its role in the country's development. The Cabinet meeting also considered a series of appointments, including positions in the Higher Council for Education, Olympic Complex Authority, Higher Institute of Youth and Sports and National Higher Institute of Technical Education.

Vienna State Police spokesperson Philipp Haslinger said a national and international manhunt was under way. Surveillance footage showed one of the suspects carrying what appeared to be a real firearm, although it was not used during the robbery.

Investigators have recovered evidence from the museum and are examining DNA and other leads. Police have also appealed to the public for information, with Haslinger saying numerous tips had already been received.

The platinum necklace was created by French jewellery house Van Cleef & Arpels in 1939 and features more than 200 carats of diamonds in a sunburst design. Queen Nazli, mother of Egypt's King Farouk, wore it at the 1939 wedding of her daughter Princess Fawzia to Iran ian Crown Prince Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who later became Shah of Iran.

The necklace sold at Sotheby's in New York for about $4.3 million in 2015 before later joining the Van Cleef & Arpels collection. It was on display in Vienna as part of the MAK's "GLANZSTUCKE" exhibition dedicated to the French jewellery house.

This marked the first time an Arab dictator was ousted by a popular uprising, rather than a coup, sparking the Arab Spring's transformative wave across the Middle East and North Africa .

The Arab Spring, which began in Tunisia in 2010, was a pro-democracy movement that shook the foundations of authoritarian rule, toppling several long-standing leaders.

Key leaders ousted include:

- Egypt's Hosni Mubarak: Stepped down in February 2011 after nearly 30 years in power, following mass protests .

- Libya's Muammar Gaddafi: Suffered a violent downfall in October 2011, after ruling since 1969.

- Yemen's Ali Abdullah Saleh: Resigned under pressure in February 2012, after leading the country for over three decades.

-Bashar al-Assad: Served as the President of Syria from 2000 until December 2024. Assad's presidency was characterized by a highly centralized and authoritarian regime, with numerous reports of human rights violations and severe repression.

The Arab Spring's impact was profound, reshaping the regional landscape and inspiring hopes for democratic reform. However, the aftermath has been complex, with ongoing challenges and uncertainties in many countries.