North Africa

Palestinians react as they watch a live broadcast of the World Cup semifinal soccer match between Morocco and France played in Qatar, in Gaza City, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022. 

As World Cup wraps, Morocco team inspires Arab unity around the world

Morocco’s Atlas Lions have a lot to celebrate at this year's World Cup in Qatar. They became both the first Arab and the first African team to reach the semifinals, inspiring Arab unity around the world.  

As World Cup wraps, Morocco team inspires Arab unity around the world
Sample portions of chicken and kale stew over rice

Maine’s largest school district serves up African-inspired dishes to get more students excited about school lunch

Maine’s largest school district serves up African-inspired dishes to get more students excited about school lunch
The shoreline of a village on the Greek island of Evia is shown with massive plumes of dark smoke rising in the distance.

Discussion: Climate change and a deepening global health crisis

Discussion: Climate change and a deepening global health crisis
A devil cartoon sits on shoulder of cartoon image of a president with Arabic script.

No joke! How two cartoonists spurred revolution during the Arab uprisings.

No joke! How two cartoonists spurred revolution during the Arab uprisings.
Tunisian protesters demonstrate beneath a poster of Mohamed Bouazizi near the prime minister's office in Tunis, Tunisia, Jan. 28, 2011.

Fruit seller Mohamed Bouazizi's protest inspired the Arab uprisings. A decade later, his sister still mourns.

Fruit seller Mohamed Bouazizi's protest inspired the Arab uprisings. A decade later, his sister still mourns.
A compiliation of images from the Arab uprisings across North Africa and the Middle East

Looking back at a historic time in the Middle East and North Africa

Dec. 17 is a historic day on the minds of many people in Tunisia, elsewhere in North Africa and the Middle East — and around the world. That's because exactly 10 years ago, a single event in Tunisia triggered a series of revolutions across the region.

Looking back at a historic time in the Middle East and North Africa
In this undated photo, trumpet player Will Magid performs at the Showbox Sodo venue in Seattle, Washington.

‘Osmanity': Ottoman Empire's founder inspires a new album

Trumpet player and ethnomusicologist Will Magid is the creative force behind the musical project Balkan Bump. He has a new album out Oct. 23 called "Osmanity."

‘Osmanity': Ottoman Empire's founder inspires a new album
Empty sun beds on an empty beach with blue sky

Tourism in Tunisia reopens — with precautions

The pandemic has been especially hard on Tunisia’s tourism and hospitality sectors, which were already struggling to recover from a spate of terrorist attacks in 2015.

Tourism in Tunisia reopens — with precautions
Older women hold a cartoon graphic depicting Donald Trump and a Turkish tank.

Does US withdrawal leave Syria open to Russia?

In a Twitter thread, US President Donald Trump said the US withdrawal from Syria would be a thorn in the side of Russia and China, who "love to see us bogged down, watching over a quagmire, & spending big dollars to do so." But analysts disagree.

Does US withdrawal leave Syria open to Russia?
Alfred Brownell

This Liberian lawyer risked his life to save West Africa's last remaining rainforest from palm oil developers

When a palm oil development project tried to cut down the last major swath of tropical rainforest in Liberia, lawyer Alfred Brownell jumped into action — and almost lost his life.

This Liberian lawyer risked his life to save West Africa's last remaining rainforest from palm oil developers
Man on a boat lifting a young child to hand to rescuers

A year after the Italy-Libya migrant deal: Fewer deaths at sea but persistent abuse on land

In February 2017, Italy and Libya signed an agreement to try to slow the arrival of migrants across the Mediterranean from Africa to Europe, with Italy giving logistical and financial support to Libya's coast guard. Since then, migrant sea arrivals in Europe have declined, and so have drownings, but many migrants returned to Libya face abusive detention.

A year after the Italy-Libya migrant deal: Fewer deaths at sea but persistent abuse on land
Visitors walk around pharaonic artefacts inside the Egyptian Museum

Tourists are returning to Egypt after years of staying away

Tourism in Egypt collapsed after the Arab Spring. It's finally showing signs of revival.

Tourists are returning to Egypt after years of staying away
US Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Joseph Dunford is stands at a podium during a press conference.

Pentagon looks at stepping up its role in Africa to counter ISIS

The United States is considering a stepped-up military presence in Africa to pursue ISIS jihadists looking for new havens after the fall of their "caliphate," American officials say.

Pentagon looks at stepping up its role in Africa to counter ISIS
Mohamed Zaree giving a talk with the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies in Egypt.

Meet the winner of the ‘Nobel for human rights’ that Egypt doesn’t want you to know about

Mohamed Zaree has won the Martin Ennals Award announced in Geneva, but Egypt wouldn't let him leave the country to receive it.

Meet the winner of the ‘Nobel for human rights’ that Egypt doesn’t want you to know about
A resident looks on from his traditional house at the Nubian Gharb Suheil village, near Aswan, southern Egypt.

Egypt detains Nubians during a peaceful, singing protest

Nubians are the descendants of an ancient African civilization and they were marching for the right to return to their ancestral homeland of Nubia.

Egypt detains Nubians during a peaceful, singing protest