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Top News: Egyptian Army Steps in to Demand Political Truce

Egypt’s army stepped in to a deepening political crisis on Sunday to demand that the Islamist government and its opponents settle their differences and warned that it would act to stop violence spinning out of control.

Top News: Army Ready To Save Nation From ‘Dark Tunnel,’ Defense Minister

Egypt’s army issued a sharp warning to rival political factions on Sunday that it would not stand by if opposition rallies next weekend descend into conflict and it urged politicians to forge consensus. In a statement, the head of the armed forces, Defense Minister Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said he would not allow an "attack on the will of […]

Security in Libya Becomes a Political Bargaining Chip

By Mohamed Eljarh

After nearly two years since the fall of Muammar Qaddafi’s regime in 2011, the unstable security situation has become a political bargaining chip in a wider struggle for power in post-revolution Libya.  Libya’s Army Chief Youssef al-Mangoush resigned a day after deadly clashes between anti-militia protesters and a government-sanctioned militia, one that nominally fell under […]

This Week in Egypt – June 21, 2013

By Amira Mikhail

Catch up on the latest out of Egypt every week, with analysis, news updates, photos, videos, and more. Quotes of the Week "The new NGO draft law will close the door to Europeans and Americans who want to spread immorality in Egyptian society. NGOs that aim to play in politics or that want to promote […]

Tamarod: A First Hand Account

By Amira Mikhail

It was the first time on the streets that I was not met with aggression as I roamed around gathering signatures for Tamarod. I usually experienced distrustful glares or comments, angry remarks expressing how I was destroying the country or vows that I was not Egyptian and had no right to be on the streets […]

Top News: Thousands Rally for ‘Legitimate’ Morsi in ‘No to Violence’ Rally in Cairo

 Thousands of Islamist supporters of Egypt’s President Mohamed Morsi gathered in Cairo after Friday prayers to show support for the elected head of state ahead of protests his opponents hope can force him from office. The pro-Morsi rallies, which were organized under the banner of ‘denouncing violence,’ come ahead of planned anti-Morsi protests on June 30. […]

Where is the Egyptian Pound Headed?

By Mohsin Khan

On June 19, the Egyptian Pound fell to a low of 7.03 to the US dollar at the official foreign exchange auction. The Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) sold $38.9 million at the auction but that did not prevent the rate from crossing the CBE’s implicit threshold level of EGP 7 against the US dollar. […]

Egypt’s Countdown to June 30

By Tarek Radwan

What began as a humble attempt to translate countrywide discontent with the way President Mohamed Morsi has governed Egypt, the Tamarod–or "Rebel" campaign–has mobilized millions of Egyptians for a protest that promises to be epic on the anniversary of Morsi’s inauguration. Although opposition forces initially kept the signature drive that demands Morsi’s removal from office and early […]

Rouhani Win Could Bring Dividends in Syria

By Barbara Slavin

Since the surprise election of Hassan Rouhani as Iran’s next president, most expert commentary has focused on the potential to improve US-Iran relations and resolve the long-running dispute over Iran’s nuclear program. However, the replacement of the abrasive Mahmoud Ahmadinejad by a veteran negotiator nicknamed the ‘diplomat sheikh’ could also provide an opportunity to ease […]