North Africa

Egyptians Who Missed the Celebration

By Alaa Al Aswany

1. “The burden will be off your shoulder when you realize that you won’t be burnt to death in one of the trucks of the Egyptian police that carry prisoners to where they’re going to be jailed. But watching a rape attempt will reveal the truth about the situation you live in. After one day […]

Sisi’s Spin Man

By Gilad Wenig

Sometime before the July 2013 coup that put Egypt’s military in de facto command of the country, top officers gathered with Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, then the defense minister, to discuss their concerns about the military’s image. The sixteen months of direct military rule following Hosni Mubarak’s ouster damaged the military’s reputation, and the officers hoped […]

Acknowledging the Corn in Libya’s Wild West

Known for its crime, smuggling, and a rise in Islamic militant activity, Libya’s southwestern border region of Fezzan evokes images of a dry, lawless, and uncontrollable desert with a tribal flare.

Libya’s Southwest: Important to Understanding Country’s Security Crisis

As Libya’s political crisis deepens and violent clashes mount, attention to the transitioning country has largely focused on the weak government in Tripoli and the tumultuous eastern region. The largely ignored southwestern party of the country known as the Fezzan, however, presents another set of challenges, with porous borders, ethnic and tribal tensions, and a […]

The Week in Egypt [June 30, 2014]

By Elissa Miller

Catch up on the latest out of Egypt every week, with analysis, news updates, photos, videos, and more.

A Moment of Self Criticism

By Amr Hamzawy

In the medium- to long-term, the fierce attack currently targeting the democratic hopes and aspirations of many groups of Egyptians, including Egypt’s youth, will only serve to cause these groups to step back momentarily and conduct some self-criticism, ultimately leading to changes in the methods by which these groups carry out their work.

Egypt’s Parliamentary Elections Law: A Setback for Democracy

By Khaled Dawoud

Former Egyptian Interim President Adly Mansour had already delivered an emotional farewell speech on June 4, ending nearly one year in office in which he played a largely ceremonial role as he prepared to hand power to the newly elected, former defense minister, President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi on June 8. However, the next day, Mansour issued […]

Libya: Never Give Up

By Karim Mezran

Libyans woke up on Thursday to the dramatic news of the brutal murder of Salwa Bugaighis. A political activist, lawyer, and human rights defender, Bugaighis was known for her passionate involvement since the 2011 revolution in fighting to protect Libya’s fragile transition to democracy.