Programs

Middle East Programs

Working with our allies and partners in Europe and the wider Middle East to protect US interests, build peace and security, and unlock the human potential of the region.

Libya

Content

In the News

Dec 5, 2015

Pham on Tunisia’s Youth Unemployment

By J. Peter Pham

Business Insider quotes Africa Center Director J. Peter Pham on Tunisia possessing one of the highest youth unemployment rates in the world:

North Africa

MENASource

Dec 2, 2015

The Economic Fallout of the Metrojet Crash

By Brendan Meighan

Egypt’s tourism industry has been shaken to its core by the downing of a Russian airliner over Sinai in October, killing all 224 passengers and crew members onboard.  While tragic in its own right, the economic implications for the tourism sector, and indirectly the broader Egyptian economy, are massive and have the potential to reverse […]

North Africa

In the News

Dec 1, 2015

Mezran Reviews North Africa in Transition

By Karim Mezran

Rafik Hariri Center Resident Senior Fellow Karim Mezran reviews North Africa in Transition: The Struggle for Democracies and Institutions:

North Africa

MENASource

Dec 1, 2015

Sudanese Refugees on Egypt’s Border

By Tom Rollins

With 15 Sudanese refugees or migrants gunned down on Egypt’s border with Israel on November 15, and another five killed by Egyptian border guards a week later, Egypt is witnessing the worst case of violence against Sudanese refugees since 2005. At the time, police brutally dispersed a sit-in, where refugees were protesting UNHCR’s decision to […]

North Africa Sudan

In the News

Nov 30, 2015

Eljarh on ISIS in Libya

By Mohamed Eljarh

Rafik Hariri Center Nonresident Fellow Mohamed Eljarh joins CNN to discuss the tightening grip of ISIS militants in Sirte, Libya: 

Libya

In the News

Nov 28, 2015

Hellyer on Terrorism in Egypt

By H.A. Hellyer

The Daily Beast quotes Rafik Hariri Center Nonresident Senior Fellow H.A. Hellyer on the Egyption response to the bombing of a Russian jet over Sinai: 

North Africa

MENASource

Nov 25, 2015

Factbox: Egypt Completes First Round of Second Phase of Elections

By Elissa Miller and Brandan Martini

Egypt held the second phase of its parliamentary elections in November 22 and 23. Candidates competed for 282 seats in the second phase of the parliamentary elections, including 222 individual seats and sixty party-based seats. Voting took place at 12,946 polling stations in thirteen governorates: Cairo, Qalyubia, Daqahlia, Menoufia, Gharbia, Kafr al-Sheikh, Sharqiya, Damietta, Port […]

North Africa

MENASource

Nov 24, 2015

The Debate over Egypt’s Constitution

By Khaled Dawoud

On September 13, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi stated that while Egypt’s 2014 Constitution “was written with good intentions,” nations “cannot be built with good intentions alone.” This statement appears to have sparked a heated debate in Egypt over amendments to the 2014 constitution.

North Africa

MENASource

Nov 24, 2015

What Went Wrong With Leon’s Libya Agreement?

By Azza K. Maghur

After a long and difficult journey in the Libyan political minefield that deeply affected both his mission and reputation, UN Special Representative to Libya Bernardino Leon left his post and has been replaced by the newly appointed envoy Martin Kobler on November 17. Leon’s legacy leaves neither a signed agreement between Libyan participants to the […]

Libya

MENASource

Nov 24, 2015

The Libya Peace Talks are Dead, Long Live the Peace Talks

By Karim Mezran

The negotiated agreement crafted under the guidance of the United Nation’s Secretary Representative of the Secretary General (UN SRSG) Bernardino Leon, despite all of its flaws and the scandal recently unveiled regarding Leon’s dealings with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), remains the only game in town. This is the mantra repeated in foreign diplomatic and political […]

Libya

Experts