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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

MENASource

Jan 9, 2015

Sisi’s Visit to Coptic Cathedral Cements Alliance with Egypt’s Christian Minority

By Khaled Dawoud

Without any prior announcement, and only a few hours after his return from an official two-day visit to Kuwait, President Abdel-Fatah al-Sisi further won the hearts and minds of the country’s Coptic Christian minority when he became the first Egyptian president to attend the mass celebrating Eastern Orthodox Christmas on January 6.

North Africa

MENASource

Jan 7, 2015

Jailing Democracy Activists Increases Anger Ahead of Parliamentary Elections

By Khaled Dawoud

A two-year prison term issued by a Cairo Appeals Court on December 28 against twenty-three activists is likely to have a negative impact among youth on the upcoming parliament elections. Convicted with organizing an illegal protest in front of the Ittihadeya Presidential Palace in Heliopolis six months ago, the activists were sentenced on the basis […]

North Africa

In the News

Dec 28, 2014

Eljarh on Libya: “This is an Escalation in Violence”

By Mohamed Eljarh

The Financial Times quotes Rafik Hariri Center Nonresident Fellow Mohamed Eljarh on the recent air attacks on Libya’s third largest city of Misurata: 

Libya

MENASource

Dec 24, 2014

Assured Dysfunction: Egypt’s Parliamentary Constituencies Law

By Ryan J. Suto

Earlier this week Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi approved a law to govern the upcoming parliamentary elections, presently scheduled to occur “before the end of March 2015.” The law creates an electoral system which is overly complex, marginalizes political parties, and allows for easy government manipulation.

North Africa

MENASource

Dec 24, 2014

Atlantic Council Interview with Libyan Foreign Minister Mohammed al-Dairi

By MENASource

Libya is becoming increasingly polarized, as rival blocs engage in a violent political struggle for power and the country’s resources. The United Nations is attempting to broker negotiations between the elected, internationally-recognized assembly and government in Tobruk and the self-declared authorities in Tripoli. Prospects for a political solution, however, appear dim, especially as regional states […]

Libya

Issue Brief

Dec 23, 2014

The case for a new federalism in Libya

By Karim Mezran and Mohamed Eljarh

Following Muammar Qaddafi’s ouster more than three years ago, Libya fragmented, and the absence of a capable central government opened up the space for a violent political struggle over the country’s key resources and state institutions that continues today. Given Libya’s troubled history with centralization, there is a need for a rethink about a post-revolutionary […]

Libya

MENASource

Dec 23, 2014

Egypt Turns to Youth to Augment Security Forces

By Joel Gulhane

Egypt’s police force is to be bolstered by a new round of young recruits as per a decree issued by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. In amending the Police Authority Act, he has also granted this new rank the power of arrest. 

North Africa

MENASource

Dec 23, 2014

Tunisia’s New Beginning

By Lara Talverdian

2014 has been a big year for Tunisia. Tunisians embarked upon a national dialogue process, drafted and approved a progressive new constitution, and have successfully held three elections in as many months. With the presidential runoff held Sunday, December 21, the country has voted in a full, post-revolutionary government. The historic day marked the technical […]

North Africa

MENASource

Dec 22, 2014

Sinai and The Marginalization of Egyptian Society

By Amr Hamzawy

States enjoy stability when they ensure justice, when they respect the principles of the rule of law, the transfer of power, and equal citizenship, and when they uphold guarantees for human rights and individual and collective freedoms.  Societies experience progress when they are peaceful and tolerant and when they unleash the energy and potential of […]

North Africa

MENASource

Dec 19, 2014

The Students: The Untold Details of the Al-Jazeera Trial

By Mohannad Sabry

On the first day of the Al-Jazeera trial, the prosecutor read the names of twenty defendants. It included three journalists, Mohamed Fahmy, Peter Greste and Baher Mohamed, as well as three college students, Khaled Abdelraouf, Suhaib Saad, and Shadi Abdelhamid. According to all six defendants, the first time they met was behind the bars of […]

North Africa

Experts