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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

Press Release

Jan 22, 2014

New Constitution Would Signal Progress toward a Democratic Nation-State in Libya

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASECONTACT:Samia Yakub202.769.0724, press@AtlanticCouncil.org Libya’s future as a democracy hinges on the constitution-drafting process and the ability of the constituent assembly to consider and adequately address major political and security challenges. A new Atlantic Council issue brief, “Negotiating Libya’s Constitution,” examines the political and security context of Libya’s constitution-making process, concerns related to the […]

Libya

Event Recap

Jan 22, 2014

Negotiating Libya’s Constitution

As Libya embarks on drafting a new constitution and convening a national dialogue, the country faces significant security obstacles which threaten progress on these important milestones. On Wednesday, January 22, 2014, the Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East launched a new issue brief, “Negotiating Libya’s Constitution,” coauthored by senior fellow Karim Mezran and nonresident […]

Libya
RAF Typhoon

NATOSource

Jan 22, 2014

NATO Project May Provide Allied Air Forces with ‘Plug and Play’ Precision Munitions

By Julan Hale, Defense News

Development of a NATO standard allowing aircraft from different nations to use precision-guided munitions (PGMs) from various sources and countries could reach a draft memorandum of understanding this year.

Libya NATO

MENASource

Jan 21, 2014

The Simple Legislative Solution: Presidential Elections First

By Hafsa Halawa

On Sunday evening, interim President Adly Mansour formally ratified Egypt’s second constitution in the transitional period that has followed the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak in February 2011. Debate is now rife over which elections the interim president will determine should be held first. However, the answer seems simple: presidential elections will come first. Why? Because […]

Elections North Africa
French commandos

NATOSource

Jan 21, 2014

Europe’s Sole Military Force: Giving France Respect Where it is Due

By Gregor Peter Schmitz, Spiegel

In Damascus, Tehran, Tripoli and even Washington, Paris is taken very seriously indeed.

Africa Europe & Eurasia

MENASource

Jan 21, 2014

Reflections on a Referendum

By Tarek Radwan and Lara Talverdian

As Egyptians took to the polls for their third constitutional referendum in three years, many observers have questioned the legitimacy and inclusiveness in the repressive context gripping Egypt’s politics today. The atmosphere in Egypt during this period was nothing short of passive intimidation. Soldiers, police, and in some instances intelligence personnel patrolled the polling centers. […]

North Africa Political Reform

External

Jan 21, 2014

J. Peter Pham on Resolving the Western Sahara Conflict

By J. Peter Pham

Atlantic Council Africa Center Director J. Peter Pham contributed the concluding chapter to a just-released book on Perspectives on Western Sahara: Myths, Nationalisms, and Geopolitics. Pham wrote on “A Realistic Solution to the Western Sahara Conflict” for the volume edited by Anouar Boukhars, senior fellow in the Middle East Program at the Carnegie Endowment for […]

North Africa

MENASource

Jan 18, 2014

Official Results: 98.1 Percent Vote in Favor of Egypt’s New Constitution with 38.6 Percent Voter Turnout

By EgyptSource

Several days after polling stations closed on January 15, the High Elections Commission announced the results of the 2014 constitutional referendum, which took place over a period of two days. On January 18, Nabil Salib, head of the High Elections Commission announced voter turnout, and the number of votes in favor and against the constitution. 

North Africa Political Reform

MENASource

Jan 17, 2014

Known Unknown: Why the Egyptian Referendum is a Black Box

By Matthew Hall

Voting for the Egyptian Constitutional referendum concluded Wednesday but it will be impossible to learn the actual outcome. Yes, on Saturday the High Electoral Commission will announce the official results, but the severely limited state of domestic and international electoral observation precludes independent verification of government assertions. This is a serious concern for an election […]

North Africa Political Reform
REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany

New Atlanticist

Jan 17, 2014

Egypt’s Constitutional Vote: Not a Free Pass for Army Rule

By New Atlanticist

Last week’s constitutional referendum in Egypt yielded a lop-sided result that recalls the non-democratic elections of the decades before the Arab Spring of 2011. Election officials say 98 percent of voters approved the constitution proposed by the military-backed government. Egyptian lawyer Hafsa Halawa cautions against a conventional wisdom that sees this result as a success […]

North Africa Political Reform

Experts