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

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

MENASource

Dec 19, 2014

Last Call for Tunisia’s Presidential Elections [Video/Audio Presentation]

By MENASource

Tunisians will cast their ballots in the runoff presidential election between interim-President Moncef Marzouki and Nidaa Tounes leader Beji Caid Essebsi this weekend on December 21. The landmark vote will close the first chapter of a delicate political transition, but perhaps more importantly, will mark the beginning of real governance challenges.

North Africa

Article

Dec 19, 2014

Libya: A Failed State Threatens the Region

By Africa Center

Bottom Line Up Front:•  Nearly three years after the collapse of Muammar Qadhafi’s regime, Libya has become a failed state, reaching levels of instability never before experienced in North Africa and the Sahel •  More than 1,700 competing clans, regional and Islamist militias are vying over control of what remains of the state; some radical […]

Africa Libya

MENASource

Dec 19, 2014

Tunisia: Next President, Hard Choices

By Naim Ameur

With no candidate having won a majority in the first round of presidential elections held last month, Tunisia will hold a run-off on December 21 between frontrunners Beji Caid Essebsi, leader of Nidaa Tounes, and interim President Mohamed Moncef Marzouki.

North Africa

MENASource

Dec 19, 2014

The Recent Drop in Crude Prices Means Big Savings for Egypt

By Alfred Jasins and Brendan Meighan

The government’s budget may see some much needed relief in the near future as oil prices on the international market have fallen precipitously. The decline coincides with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s attempts to unwind crippling energy subsidies that have driven up government deficits and debt, drained foreign currency reserves, and strained relationships with international oil […]

North Africa

MENASource

Dec 18, 2014

International Actors Undermine Libya’s Hopes for Peace

By MENASource

In an interview with the New Atlanticist, senior fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East Karim Mezran, argues that international actors are undermining UN efforts to broker peace in Libya. “If all these external forces support troops on the ground, then the push for war is much stronger than the […]

Libya

New Atlanticist

Dec 17, 2014

In Libya, Push for War Is Stronger Than Push for Peace

By New Atlanticist

Atlantic Council Analyst Karim Mezran on Libya’s Escalated Warfare Meddling by international actors in Libya has undermined a United Nations effort to broker peace in the North African nation, according to Karim Mezran, resident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East. Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Qatar, and […]

Libya

Experts