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MENASource

Aug 17, 2016

Yemeni Parliamentarians Vote to Form a New Government

By Jillian Schwedler

As the Yemen peace talks went on hiatus on August 6, the Houthi-Saleh alliance moved to convene a newly formed governing council in the capital Sanaa. As they did so, forces loyal to internationally recognized President Abd Rabbou Mansour al-Hadi tried again to take Sanaa militarily. The Houthi and Saleh camps experienced tense moments during […]

Yemen

MENASource

Aug 15, 2016

Libyan Matryoshka

By Fadel Lamen and Karim Mezran

Analyzing the situation in Libya and trying to define the root causes of the crisis is akin to unboxing a traditional Russian nesting doll—identical matryoshka dolls of decreasing size placed one inside the other ad infinitum. An initial reading may reveal the main cause of the Libyan crisis to be ideological divisions between Islamists and […]

Libya

MENASource

Aug 10, 2016

Turkey’s Outreach to Russia

By Aaron Stein

As President Recep Tayyip Erdogan makes his first international visit in the wake of an attempted coup against his government, Turkey’s recent outreach to Russia comes as part of a broader effort to recalibrate Turkish foreign policy, following years of political isolation.

Russia Turkey

MENASource

Aug 10, 2016

Can Riyadh Make the Case for Stronger Partnership?

By Frederic C. Hof

The leaders of the Saudi Kingdom worry that the foundation undergirding a 70-year partnership with the United States is eroding. A pro-Iran narrative assigning the fatherhood of jihadist extremism to Saudi Arabia picks up steam, while White House denizens make no secret of their displeasure with the Kingdom. Even the President of the United States […]

Iran Saudi Arabia

MENASource

Aug 9, 2016

Calculating the Cost of Egypt’s IMF Deal

By H.A. Hellyer

In the past five years, Cairo’s rulers have been involved in discussions with the IMF for a program three times. It has never been closer than it is now to signing off on one – but that does not mean that the challenges have suddenly disappeared. On the contrary – they are potentially larger than […]

Economy & Business North Africa

MENASource

Aug 8, 2016

Another Crucial Moment for Tunisia

By Karim Mezran and Elissa Miller

Tunisia is often described as the single success story of the 2011 Arab uprisings, a fledgling democracy in a region marred by chaos and turmoil. In the first week of August, the world witnessed the democratic process in action in Tunisia when Prime Minister Habib Essid, following a no-confidence vote in parliament, stepped down and […]

North Africa

MENASource

Aug 4, 2016

US Airstrikes in Libya and their Aftermath

By Karim Mezran and Elissa Miller

Following a formal request from the internationally recognized Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA), the United States air force conducted strikes against militants of the so-called Islamic State (ISIS or ISIL) in the city of Sirte on August 1. It is possible that military commanders of militias from Misrata—directly involved in the fight to liberate […]

Libya

MENASource

Aug 4, 2016

Jordan Experiment Spurs Jobs for Refugees

By Bethan Staton

There is little beyond some roads, power lines and a handful of sand-blown warehouses to suggest that this patch of barren land in Jordan is the center of one of the most important economic experiments in the world today. Most of the 8 square miles (21 sq km) of the King Hussein Bin Talal Development […]

Syria

MENASource

Aug 1, 2016

An IMF Program for Egypt – Third Time Lucky?

By Mohsin Khan and Elissa Miller

Egyptian and IMF officials are starting negotiations this week in Cairo to finalize a 3-year program worth $12 billion. These negotiations will last about two weeks, after which the IMF will return to Washington with a “Letter-of-Intent” specifying the policies that the government of Egypt will undertake over the course of the program. If the […]

Economy & Business North Africa

MENASource

Aug 1, 2016

Why Did Tunisia’s Parliament Oust Prime Minister Habib Essid?

By Fatim-Zohra El Malki

In what was an anticipated result, Tunisia’s parliament voted overwhelmingly to oust Prime Minister Habib Essid on July 30. The vote came in the midst of intra-party divisions and questions over Essid’s capacity to lead the country successfully just 17 months after his nomination to the post. Although expected, the result and the uncertainty over […]

North Africa