The Maghreb didn't exactly have a year to be joyful about. Economic turmoil, climate disasters, and unshakable political disarray dominated 2024, leaving much of the region in limbo.
Even the few moments of collective joy were overshadowed by the genocide unfolding just across the Mediterranean, where Gaza's beaches—once dreamt of and sung about by Maghrebians (Maghrebis)—became a scene of devastation.
However, as the calendar turns, Maghrebians are cautiously pinning hopes on 2025. From unity to end of normalisation, here's a glimpse at what might shape the year ahead.
Libya's long-awaited breakthrough?
Libya remains locked in a political deadlock that has persisted since 2014, with rival governments entrenched in the east and west. Over the years, every attempt at unification has crumbled under the weight of militia-backed rivalries.
This December, the United Nations launched a fresh initiative aimed at breaking the stalemate. The plan includes forming an advisory committee of Libyan experts to tackle electoral hurdles and map out a roadmap for national elections.
Observers agree that the current status quo—two governments propped up by increasingly corrupt militias—is simply unsustainable.
Yet, there's reason for cautious optimism.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) projects an economic revival in Libya, spurred by rising oil production and structural reforms.
Even regional heavyweights Morocco and Algeria, rarely aligned on much, are jointly advocating for stability in Libya—though likely with an eye on outmanoeuvring each other diplomatically.
Libya's future in 2025 could be one of economic growth and infrastructural strides, but all depends on whether political stability finally takes hold.
Algeria's second chance at reconciliation
President Abdelmadjid Tebboune enters 2025 with a promise of reconciliation after securing a sweeping–and contested–victory in September's early elections.
The polls were marked by low voter turnout and simmering public dissatisfaction, suppressed in the streets by protest bans but alive and well in Algeria's cafés and on social media.
Tebboune has called for a national dialogue, presenting his plan as a step towards "true democracy."
Critics, however, argue that democracy begins with lifting bans on public protests and freeing over 250 people imprisoned on politically motivated charges.
Whether Tebboune's promises translate into action will shape Algeria's political climate in the coming year.
Tunisia's economic tightrope
Tunisia heads into 2025 on a precarious financial footing. The country is grappling with soaring debt, limited access to international funding, and a stalled deal with the International Monetary Fund.
Prime Minister Kamel Madouri has set a growth target of 3.2 percent for 2025, calling it "ambitious yet achievable." Planned tax hikes on businesses and middle-to-high-income earners are meant to address fiscal shortfalls, while tax breaks for low-income Tunisians aim to soften the blow.
However, the Tunisian government has yet to articulate concrete plans for managing food shortages or tackling its ballooning debt—a silence that leaves many citizens bracing for another tough year.
Adding to the strain, the European Union (EU) has hinted at reconsidering its financial support amid ongoing human rights abuses, particularly against Black migrants. With mounting challenges, Tunisia's path in 2025 remains fraught.
Football fever, unity: AFCON 2025 in Morocco
The African Cup of Nations (AFCON), hosted by Morocco, promises a rare moment of joy and solidarity—not just in the Maghreb but across Africa.
Though any handshake between Moroccan and Algerian officials seems unlikely, football has a way of fostering camaraderie, if only temporarily.
From Congolese ultras to Sudanese fans, the tournament is set to unite the continent in chants for a "joyful, united Africa"–and a free Palestine–from the heart of Casablanca.
A slow undoing of normalisation?
In December, Morocco and Israel quietly marked another year without celebrating their normalisation agreement—a notable shift for a relationship once flaunted through extravagant ceremonies and military deals.
Since Israel's war on Gaza, normalisation has become politically toxic, with protests erupting weekly to demand Rabat sever all ties with Tel Aviv. While the Moroccan government has stopped short of cutting relations, it has noticeably dialled down public displays of cooperation.
For pro-Palestine advocates, this retreat is not enough. They are calling for a definitive end to the accords, a move Morocco made once before in the early 2000s under similar public and political pressure.
The year ahead will test whether Rabat bows to these demands.