Judge Faiq Zaidan, a figure close to Iran, has recently emerged in the open amid infighting within the Shiite camp, particularly over objections to Nouri al-Maliki’s bid to return as prime minister.

In a surprising move that sparked widespread debate in Morocco, Aziz Akhannouch, head of the RNI and prime minister, announced he would step down from leading the party ahead of the 2026 elections.

A wave of anger swept Tunisian politicians and human rights advocates after Algeria’s president, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, and his government handed opposition MP and lawyer Seifeddine Makhlouf over to the regime of President Kais Saied.

The Algerian presidency has launched a scathing verbal attack on the country’s leading Islamist party, sparking questions about the motives behind the criticism and its ties to the municipal and parliamentary elections set for mid-2026.

Amid doubts over its “controlling” motives, the Algerian government has submitted its party law to parliament for discussion and approval, framing the move as a purely reformist step.