North Africa Commentary & Analysis

Egypt-Turkey normalization: Ankara’s perspective 

By Ali Bakir

While Turkey would prefer to speed up the normalization process, Cairo might prefer to wait until the next elections before expediting it.

To counter the Wagner Group’s presence in Africa, the US will need to prioritize stabilizing Libya

By Emadeddin Badi

Quelling the Wagner Group’s influence in Libya will be challenging, as the US must address Libyan realities and unite Europe and regional powers to support its foreign policy endeavor.

From Twitter spats to island disputes, Egypt and Saudi Arabia have a bone to pick with each other

By Shahira Amin

Cairo’s relationship with its Gulf ally has become increasingly fractious in recent weeks after a Saudi official made clear that any future Gulf assistance ”will come with strings attached.”

Fatma Said: Meet the soprano bridging the West and Arab world with her voice

By Holly Dagres

Egyptian opera singer Fatma Said was awarded the Rafik Hariri Artistic Excellence Award on February 14, 2023. The soprano was interviewed by our MENASource editor about her life and achievements.

If well managed, Italy and Algeria could build a strong and viable geo-economic bridge between both shores of the Med

By Abdelkader Abderrahmane

Surfing on special ties and the war in Ukraine, Italy and Algeria have undoubtedly spotted an opportunity to further strengthen their economic and geopolitical relationship. 

Egypt just seized part of Libya’s maritime zone. What’s the story behind the Egyptian decree no one is talking about?

By Ali Bakir

On December 13, 2022, Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi issued a presidential decree demarcating the country’s maritime borders with Libya.

Libya’s political impasse and the $6 billion question

By Alia Brahimi

On January 5, after months of talks brokered in Egypt, Libya’s rival legislative bodies finally agreed to begin discussions to develop the constitutional basis for elections.

Rising inflation is hurting Egypt’s economy. Will the country’s powerful military cede economic power to salvage it?

By Shahira Amin

The prices of food and other basic commodities including housing and medical services have soared over the past few months as the country faces rising inflation.

Governing the Ungovernable. Consolidating the Libyan State Amidst Emerging Criminal Networks

Libya has endured ten years of turmoil, lack of stability, foreign interference, and internal strife. The presence and proliferation of local armed groups have further eroded state-building processes. Read this event recap to know more about Libya’s future.

2022: A year in the Middle East

By Nour Alhajjeh and Madeline Hart 

2022 was a year full of unprecedented protests, groundbreaking state visits, historical elections, and new challenges for the Middle East and North Africa.