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

Jan 13, 2015

Signs of Investor Optimism in Egypt

By Alfred Jasins

Despite the political and economic issues that continue to plague Egypt, the country’s benchmark stock market index, the EGX 30, was up 32 percent (or 28 percent in USD-terms) in 2014. This led not only regional markets but outperformed nearly all major markets globally, lagging only behind exchanges in Argentina and China.

North Africa

MENASource

Jan 12, 2015

Stalled Reform in Egyptian Journalist Syndicate: A Sign of Larger Media Malaise

By Miriam Berger

When the 2011 revolution broke out, the Egyptian Journalist Syndicate (EJS) stayed silent and kept its doors shut. The only constitutionally-allowed professional body for journalists did not condemn attacks on media or intervene to help those reporting in the street. In the euphoric and chaotic months that followed, many journalists rallied behind long-standing calls for […]

North Africa

In the News

Jan 11, 2015

Slavin: Novelist Chronicles Egypt’s Rough Revolutionary Road

By Barbara Slavin

South Asia Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Barbara Slavin writes for Al-Monitor on a new book by Egyptian author Alaa Al Aswany: 

North Africa

In the News

Jan 11, 2015

Eljarh: In War-Torn Libya, It’s Life on the Edge

By Mohamed Eljarh

Rafik Hariri Center Nonresident Fellow Mohamed Eljarh writes for Foreign Policy on ongoing developments in Libya:

Libya

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

Experts