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

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Uncategorized

Jan 22, 2015

Top News: Egypt Court Orders Release of Mubarak’s Sons Pending Retrial

By EgyptSource

A lawyer for the sons of Egypt’s ousted president Hosni Mubarak said a court ordered their release on Thursday pending retrial in a corruption case, but judicial sources said they would not be freed until prosecutors review other legal cases against them. Their lawyer, Farid al-Deeb, however, said his defendants are expected to leave prison […]

North Africa Political Reform

MENASource

Jan 22, 2015

Anniversary of Egypt’s January 25 Revolution Overshadowed by War on Terror

By Khaled Dawoud

A few days ahead of the anniversary of the January 25, 2011 Revolution, all the well known, so-called “revolutionary youth groups” have yet to announce any major events marking the occasion. The Muslim Brotherhood, on the other hand, has repeated its regular, largely ignored, call to protest over the past nineteen months.

North Africa

MENASource

Jan 21, 2015

The Libya Conundrum

By Karim Mezran and Tarek Radwan

What is happening in Libya? And how will Egypt react? Libya today has devolved into a violent political struggle between two major blocs: the internationally recognized, Tobruk-based parliament versus Tripoli’s parliament and administration.

Libya North Africa

In the News

Jan 21, 2015

Eljarh: “In Libya There is a Legitimacy Crisis”

By Mohamed Eljarh

BBC quotes Rafik Hariri Center Nonresident Fellow Mohamed Eljarh on the legitimacy crisis in Libya:

Libya

MENASource

Jan 20, 2015

Student Unions and Politics in Post-Revolution Tunisia

By Mohamed Abdel Salam

Student unions in Tunisia lack dividing lines between political action and the unionist role inside universities, which has contributed to the outbreak of campus violence in the past year. Politicized union structures lost the ability to distinguish between their own activity and the stances of students from political parties affiliated with them.

North Africa

In the News

Jan 20, 2015

Mezran and Radwan: The Libya Conundrum

By Karim Mezran and Tarek Radwan

Rafik Hariri Center Senior Fellow Karim Mezran and Associate Director Tarek Radwan cowrite for The Cairo Review of Global Affairs on Egypt’s reaction to Libya’s political struggle:

Libya North Africa

MENASource

Jan 16, 2015

Factbox: Gearing up for Egypt’s Parliamentary Elections

By EgyptSource

Egyptians will head to the polls for the sixth time in the past four years, casting their ballots in the second parliamentary elections since the 2011 ouster of former president Hosni Mubarak. When will the vote take place? What kind of parliament can expect to be elected? What campaigning rules do candidates have to abide […]

Elections North Africa

MENASource

Jan 16, 2015

As Charlie Hebdo Ups Print Run, Egypt to Ban Foreign Publications Insulting Religion

By Joel Gulhane

Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab was handed the power to outlaw the distribution of foreign publications in Egypt, as per a decree issued by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Tuesday. The order allows Mahlab to ban publications deemed “offensive to religion or publications promoting erotica in a way that can disturb the public peace.” At the time […]

North Africa

MENASource

Jan 14, 2015

An Economic Rebound in Egypt

By MENASource

The past four years in Egypt have wreaked havoc on the country and the ouster of former president Mohamed Morsi by the military in July 2014 in addition to the subsequent crackdown on dissent left many feeling that the political process has all but fallen apart. Despite the Egyptian leadership’s heavy-handed approach in dealing with political […]

North Africa

MENASource

Jan 14, 2015

Abu Hasira: Between Religious Intolerance and Political Squabbles

By Sonia Farid

The Abu Hasira Festival, an annual celebration in Egypt commemorating the birth of a Moroccan Rabbi, was canceled permanently by court order in December 2014. The Alexandria Administrative Court, which issued the verdict, cited “moral offenses” as the main reason for cancelling the festival. It also ordered the removal of the shrine from Egypt’s list […]

North Africa

Experts