MENASource

Top News: After Classmate’s Death, Ain Shams Students Resign from Union in Protest

By EgyptSource

After an Ain Shams University student was allegedly killed by security forces on Tuesday, his classmates released a statement Wednesday announcing they would resign from their student union in protest.

EconSource: US Designates Tunisia Major Ally, Pledges to Double Aid

President Barack Obama designated Tunisia a major non-NATO ally and said that the United States will double aid to the North African country after meeting with Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi.

Top News: Presidents Obama and Essebsi to Meet; Countries Sign MOU, Agree to Boost Economic, Security Ties

By MENASource

President Barack Obama is showing support for Tunisia’s transition to democracy by welcoming the North African country’s newly elected president, Beji Caid Essebsi to the White House today.

Top News: Islamic State’s Egypt Affiliate Urges Attacks on Judges

By EgyptSource

Islamic State’s Egypt affiliate on Wednesday urged followers to attack judges, declaring a new front in an Islamist militant insurgency in the world’s most populous Arab state.

Egypt’s Sisi: Reformer or Strongman?

By Dwight Bashir

This past weekend’s mass death sentences handed down to former Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi and more than 100 others is another stark reminder of the government’s relentless assault on all forms of dissent in Egypt. By far the biggest targets have been supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood, but also opposition figures, critics, journalists, and rights […]

EconSource: Libya’s General National Congress Approves Subsidies Reforms

By EconSource

Libya’s General National Congress (GNC) has approved a potentially controversial decision to replace state subsidies for basic goods with direct cash payments, which it said would reduce smuggling.

Train-and-Equip Alone Will Not Help Tunisia

By Haykel Ben Mahfoudh

Tunisia has faced increasingly complex security problems since its uprising in 2011 and in the country’s post-revolution phase. Tunisia’s government has taken some steps towards addressing its security concerns by placing security logistics as a top priority and key political actors—including police unions—have debated security reforms within the public discourse.

Can Turkey Compete with Iran in Iraq?

By Faysal Itani and Jeppe Sorenson

The United States in March extended its support to the Iraqi forces in Tikrit from reconnaissance to airstrikes, wisely predicted by the Iraqi president, in an attempt to hit two birds with one stone: defeating the Islamic State (ISIS or ISIL) in Tikrit and to halt Iranian political influence and prevent “sectarian improprieties” in Iraq’s […]

Ramadi in Context: Insurgents Not Resurging

By Ramzy Mardini

In what was a major setback to a government offensive to retake control of Anbar province, Iraqi security forces fled Ramadi as militants of the Islamic State (ISIS or ISIL) took full control of the provincial capital city on May 17.

Top News: Egypt’s Judges Club Head Appointed New Justice Minister

By EgyptSource

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Wednesday named a controversial senior judge known for his deep hostility toward the now-outlawed Muslim Brotherhood as justice minister.