We have to talk about Boko Haram.

Next month, this newsletter is officially turning 10 years old. I have something prepared for you :)

This issue is looking at Africa a bit more closely, specifically Algeria and Nigeria. In Algeria, an old man has just been re-elected president in a country full of frustrated, young people and in Nigeria, the "deadliest attack by Boko Haram" made the headlines; you can imagine how gruesome the details are. In the recommendations section, I shift my focus to more positive stories like Senegal's three female hip-hop beat makers, a Brazilian music legend, a must-see museum in Mexico City, and an Indian producer/singer whose latest album makes up for the fact that Kanye West doesn't produce good music anymore. And so much more!

Algeria's president has just been re-elected

What happened:
Abdul-Majid Tebboune has just been re-elected as president of Algeria with a whopping 94.65% of the vote.

Why this matters:
Algeria is Africa's largest country by area and, with almost 45 million people, is the continent's second-most populous nation, right after South Africa.

Tell me more:
Over 5 million people cast their ballots, and Tebboune easily defeated his challengers, a conservative and a socialist, who each got around 5% of the vote. This is Tebboune's second time around. While he has gained popularity thanks to increased public spending, such as raising wages and pensions, Algeria's deeper issues haven't changed. The country's economy is heavily dependent on oil and gas, making it vulnerable to market changes. Efforts to diversify the economy haven't been very successful, and there's still a lot of red tape holding back foreign investments, writes Dalia Ghanem for Middle East Council on Global Affairs.

Who is Tebboune?
Tebboune, who first came into power in 2019, is closely aligned with the military, and this backing has historically been crucial for political success in Algeria. Ghanem calls them "the true power brokers".

What was the voter turnout?
Tebboune's campaign was marked by low enthusiasm, especially among young voters, leading to a turnout of 48%. The election was also characterized by a repressive atmosphere, with opposition parties, media, and civil society groups facing harassment. Amnesty International and other organizations have raised concerns about this.

What now?
Algeria will likely continue on its current path, with Tebboune's government focusing on large-scale social spending thanks to a boost in energy profits. He's promised to raise unemployment benefits, pensions, and public housing programs, just as he did in his first term. However, the country remains in a political crisis, with many people disillusioned with elections, seeing them as offering little real change. Plus, "Algeria still has more than 200 prisoners of conscience, including journalists and activists. Many whistleblowers, such as Zaki Hannache, a young activist that posted daily judicial news about prisoners of conscience on social media, are now in exile," writes the Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy. Algeria also faces other big challenges, like high costs of living, water shortages due to drought, and growing poverty, especially among the youth.

While things are "stable" for now, Ghanem writes there's always a chance that Algerians will once again demand real change, just as they did during the Hirak protests in 2019 which toppled then-president Bouteflika.

Boko Haram killed at least 170 people in one day in northeastern Nigeria

What happened:
At least 170 people were killed in Mafa village, northeastern Nigeria, when several members of ISWAP, a splinter group of Boko Haram, attacked a local market, worshippers, and homes, according to residents last week as per AP.

Why this matters:
The attack is one of the deadliest in that part of the country (Yobe state) in the past year. Yobe is one of three states on the front line of a 15-year conflict waged by Boko Haram and other armed groups, which has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced more than 2 million.

Tell me more:
Around 50 armed men, riding motorcycles, stormed the village in Yobe state on Sunday evening, shooting and setting buildings on fire. Local media reported that Boko Haram claimed responsibility, stating it was in revenge for villagers informing security forces about their activities. The militants said a number of their members had been killed because of these tips. "This is the first time our community has faced such a devastating attack," said Buba Adamu, a local chief. Many parts of the region are outside the Nigerian army's control, and villagers live in fear of such acts of retaliation. Security forces operate in these areas but lack the resources necessary to stay 24/7. This is also why, in recent years, civilians in the region have formed self-defense groups to fight Boko Haram; Mafa's civilians did the same thing, reports The New York Times.

What does Boko Haram do in Nigeria?
Since 2009, Boko Haram has been fighting to establish its version of Islamic law (Sharia) in the region. The group, now divided...