Stay Updated


Content

MENASource

Apr 24, 2013

Egypt’s Economic Dilemma Requires a Combination of Economic and Political Reforms

By Amr Abd El-Atty

Since the January 25th Revolution, Egypt has suffered from a major economic crisis, in which the pace of economic growth during the past two years has fallen from the high rates achieved by the Mubarak regime (and confirmed by a number of international financial and economic organizations).  The average citizen, however, did not benefit from […]

MENASource

Apr 24, 2013

Tunisia: Turning Around Finally

By Mohsin Khan and Svetlana Milbert

The announcement on April 19 by Managing Director Christine Lagarde of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), that the Tunisian government and the IMF had reached agreement on a two-year Stand-By Arrangement (SBA) amounting to $1.78 billion could well prove to be a watershed in Tunisia’s economic recovery. What the announcement means precisely is that the […]

North Africa

MENASource

Apr 24, 2013

Top News: PM to Stay in Egypt Reshuffle; Sources Claim Top Prosecutor May Join Next Cabinet

By Egypt Source

Egyptian Prime Minister Hisham Qandil, widely criticised as colorless and ineffectual, will keep his job in a limited cabinet reshuffle to be announced within days, a presidential spokesman said on Wednesday. Spokesman Ehab Fahmy told a news conference: "It is a limited reshuffle and the prime minister is not included."

MENASource

Apr 23, 2013

A New Deal: Reforming US Defense Cooperation with Egypt, Libya, and Tunisia

By Egypt Source

In “A New Deal: Reforming US Defense Cooperation with Egypt, Libya, and Tunisia” former US Army Chief George Casey and Congressman Jim Kolbe argue that the transitions in Egypt, Libya, and Tunisia will be reversible unless and until their security agencies are better equipped to carry out their functions without abusing citizen rights or interfering in politics.

United States and Canada

MENASource

Apr 23, 2013

Doublespeak Beyond Boston: Revealing the Brotherhood’s Arabic Rhetoric

By Jayson Casper

As the world community condemned the recent bombings in Boston, the Muslim Brotherhood’s political arm joined the chorus. “The Freedom and Justice Party categorically rejects as intolerable the bombings committed in the US city of Boston,” reported Ikhwanweb, the official English website of the Muslim Brotherhood. “The FJP offers heartfelt sympathies and solemn condolences to the American people […]

MENASource

Apr 23, 2013

Top News: Morsi Vows to Respect Judicial Independence; Mekki to Reconsider Resignation

By Egypt Source

 Minister of Justice Ahmed Mekki said he would reconsider his resignation if he were to receive an official written decree promising no one would interfere in the affairs of the judiciary. Prior to Mekki’s comments, President Mohamed Morsi’s office issued a statement late Monday night regarding his meeting with members of the Supreme Judicial Council. Morsi expressed his concern to protect […]

MENASource

Apr 23, 2013

Reform of Energy Subsidies in the Arab Countries

By Svetlana Milbert

Energy subsidies have been an integral part of domestic pricing policies in most Arab countries for decades, but are increasingly unsustainable because of their economic, social, and environmental impact. Out of twenty Middle East and North African (MENA) countries, twelve have energy subsidies amounting to at least 5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP). A […]

Energy & Environment Middle East

MENASource

Apr 22, 2013

Syria: Defending the Indefensible

By Frederic C. Hof

Recent testimony by US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Martin Dempsey illustrated quite nicely one outcome of a troubled interagency national security system: US senators seemed to be more perplexed about American policy toward Syria after the hearing than they were before.

Syria United States and Canada

MENASource

Apr 22, 2013

Despite Criminalization, FGM Persists in Egypt

By Mai El Sadany

In what was considered by many to be a legal and at least superficial victory, on February 3, 2013, Egypt’s Supreme Constitutional Court rejected a lawsuit challenging the illegality of female genital mutilation (FGM). The lawsuit was filed in 2008 to challenge a decision by the Ministry of Health in 2007 to criminalize the practice, claiming […]

MENASource

Apr 22, 2013

Top News: Justice Minister Ahmed Mekki Resigns

By Egypt Source

 Egypt’s Justice Minister Ahmed Mekki has resigned in a letter protesting "an assault" on the judiciary by President Mohamed Morsi’s Islamist backers, a spokesman said on Sunday, underlining mounting tensions between the judiciary and the executive.