North Africa

The North Africa region, sometimes called the Maghreb, holds strategic and political importance for the United States and Europe with its geographic crossroad between Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. Destabilized by the tumultuous uprisings of the Arab Spring, the developments in these countries are reasons for concern as well as hope, as different political, security, and economic conditions take shape in each country.

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

MENASource

Jun 8, 2015

One Year On: Foreign Policy Under Sisi

By EgyptSource

The Egyptian presidency issued a report Sunday detailing President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s achievements over the past year, listing twenty-four ‘nontraditional’ achievements including Egypt’s Economic Development Summit held in March as his only economic achievement. Other achievements, according to the report, include donating half his salary to the Long Live Egypt fund, taking part in a bike marathon […]

North Africa

In the News

Jun 7, 2015

Hawthorne on the Egypt Report

By Amy Hawthorne

The New York Times quotes Rafik Hariri Center Resident Senior Fellow Amy Hawthorne on a report recently presented to Congress, which criticizes the abuses and failings of the Egyptian government:

North Africa

In the News

Jun 7, 2015

Gramer on Naval Migrant Interdiction

By Robert Gramer

Defense News quotes Transatlantic Security Initiative Assistant Director Robbie Gramer on the challenges facing European navies as they scramble to address a growing migration crisis:

European Union International Organizations

In the News

Jun 4, 2015

Hawthorne on US Aid to Egypt

By Amy Hawthorne

Al Monitor quotes Rafik Hariri Center Resident Senior Fellow Amy Hawthorne on the foreign aid bill that provides for a gradual weakening of human rights restrictions on aid to Egypt: 

North Africa

MENASource

Jun 3, 2015

Factbox: Sisi in Germany

By EgyptSource

Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi flew to Germany Tuesday for a four-day visit in Europe. During his stay, Sisi is scheduled to meet with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, President Joachim Gauck, and speak at the Egyptian-German Economic forum on Wednesday.  

North Africa

MENASource

Jun 3, 2015

A Ruling to Deport Gay Foreigners: The View from Egypt

By Sonia Farid

The Egyptian Ministry of Interior now has the right to deport homosexual foreigners and ban them from entering Egypt according to a ruling issued by the Administrative Court in April. This is the final ending to a story that began in 2008 when a Libyan graduate student was deported from Egypt and banned from re-entering […]

North Africa

MENASource

May 28, 2015

Rare Acquittal Renews Protest Law Debate

By Khaled Dawoud

The dozens of lawyers crammed in a small room at Abdin’s Courthouse on May 23 were unable to contain their shock when the judge ruled to acquit all seventeen defendants charged with holding an illegal protest on January 24. The defendants, accused of breaking Egypt’s restrictive protest law, were facing up to five years in […]

North Africa

Event Recap

May 27, 2015

Crisis in Libya: European and Libyan Views

By Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East

On Wednesday, May 20, the Atlantic Council hosted Dr. Mattia Toaldo, Policy Fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, and Abdul Rahman Al Ageli, Cofounder of the Libyan Youth Forum, for a roundtable discussion about the current crisis in Libya. The speakers shared their insights of the nuanced dynamics on-the-ground and Europe’s perspective and […]

Libya

MENASource

May 27, 2015

The New Old Wafd

By Nervana Mahmoud

Egypt’s oldest nationalist party, the Wafd Party, is facing a deep and challenging internal conflict. Despite intervention by Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, a new internal election, and a formal announcement that the crisis is over, the party’s internal problems are unlikely to heal soon. 

North Africa

In the News

May 22, 2015

Hawthorne on Hillary Clinton’s Legacy in Tunisia

By Amy Hawthorne

Newsweek quotes Rafik Hariri Center Resident Senior Fellow Amy Hawthorne on Hillary Clinton’s legacy of progress in Tunisia:

North Africa

Experts