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.

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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

Article

May 22, 2015

Tunisia Looks to US to Secure Fragile Democracy

By Barbara Slavin

President Barack Obama hosted Tunisian President Béji Caïd Essebsi at the White House, where they held talks. Ahead of their May 21 meeting, The Washington Post published an opinion editorial, jointly written by the two leaders. Excerpts follow. Helping Tunisia Realize its Democratic Promise Amid the turmoil that so often dominates the headlines, it can […]

North Africa

MENASource

May 22, 2015

Reem Maged versus the Government

By Khaled Dawoud

After a two year hiatus, outspoken television host Reem Maged returned to Egypt’s TV screens, hosting a new program in which she interviews inspirational Egyptian women. Her return was short-lived, with the show suspended after the airing of just two episodes. On May 15, Maged said that ONtv’s director informed her that the third episode […]

North Africa

MENASource

May 21, 2015

Egypt’s Sisi: Reformer or Strongman?

By Dwight Bashir

This past weekend’s mass death sentences handed down to former Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi and more than 100 others is another stark reminder of the government’s relentless assault on all forms of dissent in Egypt. By far the biggest targets have been supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood, but also opposition figures, critics, journalists, and rights […]

North Africa

MENASource

May 21, 2015

Train-and-Equip Alone Will Not Help Tunisia

By Haykel Ben Mahfoudh

Tunisia has faced increasingly complex security problems since its uprising in 2011 and in the country’s post-revolution phase. Tunisia’s government has taken some steps towards addressing its security concerns by placing security logistics as a top priority and key political actors—including police unions—have debated security reforms within the public discourse.

North Africa

New Atlanticist

May 20, 2015

How Do You Solve a Problem Like Libya?

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Analysts discuss the humanitarian, security, and political crises emanating from a country in chaos  The chaos in Libya that has prevailed since the ouster of Moammar Gadhafi in 2011 has placed both a humanitarian as well as a security crisis on Europe’s doorstep. Libya today has two governments—one in Tripoli and the other in Tobruk. […]

European Union International Organizations

MENASource

May 20, 2015

US Support for Tunisia Needed Now

By Karim Mezran and Lara Talverdian

Tunisia has provided a glimmer of hope in a region that continues to be roiled by the aftermath of the Arab Spring. That hope risks being extinguished as the North African nation now grapples with the daunting challenges of governance.

North Africa

MENASource

May 20, 2015

Q&A: Everything You Need to Know About the Morsi Verdict

By EgyptSource

On May 16, Judge Shaaban al-Shami sentenced 122 defendants, including former president Mohamed Morsi, to death in two cases. Morsi was sentenced to death on prison break charges, and will be sentenced on espionage charges on June 2.

North Africa

MENASource

May 20, 2015

Libya: Is there Really an Alternative to Dialogue?

By Mohamed Eljarh

Libya continues to suffer the consequences from the ongoing political and armed struggle between various Libyan factions. The rise of the Islamic State (ISIS or ISIL) has further complicated matters—as has the reluctance of the international community to act assertively against other spoilers of the democratic process, contributing to Libya’s downward spiral into civil war […]

Libya
French Mistral warship, Nov. 25, 2006

NATOSource

May 19, 2015

France’s Orphaned Mistrals Can Solve a Sea of Troubles

By Blake Franko and Nicholas Varangis

As the European Union struggles to remain a unified and influential force for the 21st century, geopolitical developments have only made this goal more elusive.

European Union France

In the News

May 18, 2015

Mezran and Talverdian: Why America Needs to Support Tunisia Now

By Mezran and Talverdian

Rafik Hariri Center Senior Fellow Karim Mezran and Rafik Hariri Center Associate Director for Research Lara Talverdian write for The National Interest on why US-Tunisian cooperation should extend beyond the security realm:

North Africa

Experts