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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 6, 2014

Gulf Leadership Needed in Egypt, Not Just Cash

By Richard LeBaron

Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates have been generous donors to Egypt over the last year, supporting the military efforts to neutralize the Muslim Brotherhood and allowing the Egyptian economy to limp along.

International Organizations North Africa

In the News

Jan 3, 2014

Mezran Quoted on Libyan Unrest

By Karim Mezran

Rafik Hariri Center Senior Fellow Karim Mezran is quoted by Voice of America on instability in Libya:

Libya

MENASource

Jan 3, 2014

Sisi for Egypt—in 2022?

By David Johnson

Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, according to most interpretations, faces a stark decision—run for President of Egypt and confirm both the fears and hopes of different parts of Egyptian society, or stand back, all shades-of-Cincinnatus, and allow someone else to take the helm. Amid calls from prominent Egyptian figures supporting a possible run (not to mention an initiative […]

North Africa

MENASource

Dec 23, 2013

The Quest for Minority Rights in Egypt

By Jayson Casper

Coptic Christians have reason to celebrate… alone. While they and many others rejoice at the removal of the overall Islamist tinge of the 2012 constitution, this largely liberal-produced draft leaves other religious minorities out in the cold. 

North Africa Political Reform

MENASource

Dec 23, 2013

Whatever Happened to the Forum for the Future?

By Michele Dunne and Amy Hawthorne

“Governments and Civil Society Hand in Hand for a Better Future” was the title of this year’s G8 Broader Middle East and North Africa (BMENA) Initiative “Forum for the Future,” held in Cairo December 16 to 17. The next day, while senior international diplomats attending the forum were still in town, Egyptian police raided the Egyptian Center […]

North Africa

MENASource

Dec 20, 2013

Student Protests: A Microcosm of Egypt’s Street Dynamics

By Rana Muhammad Taha

With several months passing since the ouster of former president Mohamed Morsi, Egypt’s universities have become a frontline in the fight between two polarized segments of Egyptian society. While the capital city’s universities – Cairo, Ain Shams and Al-Azhar – universities have witnessed constant protests and clashes for weeks, the struggle has extended into the […]

North Africa
2013122Constitution

MENASource

Dec 19, 2013

The New Draft Constitution Part II: The Committee’s Work from Within

By Yussef Auf

As Egypt’s constitution writing process has come to an end, and the country is once again gearing up to go to the polls in mid-January in a nationwide referendum, it is worth noting the process that resulted in the drafting of a new constitution, before considering the text itself. The Committee of 50’s performance, as […]

North Africa Political Reform

MENASource

Dec 19, 2013

Duncan Pickard on Tunisia’s Transitional Process

By MENASource

Tunisia’s transition to a democratic system has recently faced tremendous obstacles as political players negotiate for power. Commentators express worry that the longer the political impasse between Islamist and secular groups continues, the more likely that Tunisia’s process could be derailed.

North Africa

MENASource

Dec 18, 2013

EIPR Issues Statement on Egypt’s 2013 New Draft Constitution

By EgyptSource

On Wednesday, human rights organization, the Egyptian Initiative to Protect Rights (EIPR), issued a statement on the new draft constitution recently approved by interim president, Adly Mansour. As Egyptians prepare to take to the polls on January 14 and 15, to vote in a referendum on the constitution, EIPR’s statement, while describing the new constitution […]

North Africa Political Reform

MENASource

Dec 17, 2013

The Ongoing Struggle for Egyptian Civil Society

By Amy Hawthorne and Mohamed Elgohari

While most attention is on Egypt’s constitution and the crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood and revolutionary youth activists, the government may be moving ahead with a new NGO law.  Last Thursday, Minister of Social Solidarity Ahmed al-Borai announced that he intends to submit the law, prepared with civil society input, to the cabinet in two […]

North Africa

Experts