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.

Deputy assistant secretary of state for North Africa: The best way to counter corruption is to strengthen democracy

MENASource May 27, 2025

Beyond ceasefires: Reimagining stability and engagement in Libya

By Karim Mezran and Roberta Maggi

With all major political institutions mired in crisis, a renewed approach to peace enforcement is pivotal to building stability.
Libya Middle East
Deputy assistant secretary of state for North Africa: The best way to counter corruption is to strengthen democracy

MENASource May 14, 2025

Choppy waters: Egypt’s waning patience with President Trump

By Shahira Amin

The US president’s Suez Canal demands signal “a shift in US-Egyptian relations” which experts describe as “at their lowest ebb in decades.”
Middle East North Africa
Deputy assistant secretary of state for North Africa: The best way to counter corruption is to strengthen democracy

EnergySource Mar 11, 2025

The Mediterranean must work collectively to harness the power of renewables

By Karim Elgendy

The EU Commission’s recent release of its Clean Industrial Deal underscored regional commitment to decarbonization. To capitalize on this momentum, the Mediterranean must engage in cross-border collaboration to overcome geopolitical tension and limited finance to achieve its renewables goals.
Energy & Environment Energy Markets & Governance

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.

EXPLORE THE ATLANTIC COUNCIL’S MIDDLE EAST PROGRAMS

Libya

Deputy assistant secretary of state for North Africa: The best way to counter corruption is to strengthen democracy

MENASource May 16, 2025

The killing of Abdul Ghani al-Kikli may be a turning point for Libya

By Karim Mezran and Dario Cristiani

The killing is considered to be part of a push to eliminate influential militia leaders and consolidate GNU loyalist control over Tripoli.
Libya Middle East
Deputy assistant secretary of state for North Africa: The best way to counter corruption is to strengthen democracy

MENASource Apr 30, 2025

From Tripoli to Tehran: Lessons from Libya in US-Iran nuclear talks

By Yaseen Rashed

Twenty-one years later, the nuclear disarmament of Libya serves as a model for the United States in current nuclear negotiations with Iran.
Iran Libya
Deputy assistant secretary of state for North Africa: The best way to counter corruption is to strengthen democracy

MENASource Apr 16, 2025

Solving Libya’s economic collapse will require confrontation—not consensus

By Emadeddin Badi

If the status quo continues, the next phase of Libya’s crisis will not be quiet erosion. It will be public revolt.
Africa Economy & Business
Read More on Libya

Content

Event Recap

Nov 19, 2021

Deputy assistant secretary of state for North Africa: The best way to counter corruption is to strengthen democracy

By Yaseen Rashed

On October 27, the Atlantic Council’s North Africa Initiative hosted an event with the Italian Institute for International Political Studies (ISPI), discussing the implications of current political, socio-economic conditions and future challenges North Africa faces.

Libya Middle East

In the News

Nov 17, 2021

Grieco in Parameters: “The US military no longer dominates the skies”

By Atlantic Council

On November 17, Grieco was featured in the US Army War College’s Quarterly, Parameters, in which she coauthored an article with Max Bremer on the concept of verticality when assessing threats to control of the air littoral. “This new and unprecedented littoral challenge to US air superiority calls for more than technological solutions. It requires […]

English Iraq

In the News

Nov 16, 2021

Badi in The Washington Post: Many Libyans already dismiss next month’s elections as illegitimate

By Atlantic Council

Elections Libya

In the News

Nov 15, 2021

Farrand in Books Network: The Algerian Dream

By Atlantic Council

Corruption Democratic Transitions

In the News

Nov 13, 2021

Melcangi quoted in Formiche on the necessity to hold Libyan elections on time

By Atlantic Council

Elections Italian

MENASource

Nov 4, 2021

What will the US-Egypt Strategic Dialogue look like? Here’s a preview.

By Allison Nour

The US-Egypt Strategic Dialogue is one of the longest-standing in the region. Though primarily symbolic, the dialogue serves as an opportunity for senior-level engagement across a broad swath of bilateral priorities.

Middle East North Africa

Report

Oct 26, 2021

North Africa 2030: What the future holds for the region

By Frederick Kempe, Giampiero Massolo, Yahia Zoubir, Abdelkader Abderrahmane, Pietro Gagliardi, Guillaume Biganzoli, Aldo Liga, Nader Kabbani, Nejla Ben Mimoune, Hannah Abdullah, Karim Elgendy, Shlomo Roiter Jesner, Jay Mens, Armando Sanguini, Karim Mezran, and Alissa Pavia

In the last decade, several events redefined North Africa’s heterogeneous character and identity. This year marks the tenth anniversary of the beginning of the Arab spring, but most of the root causes fueling the unrest remain unaddressed.

Middle East North Africa

In the News

Oct 24, 2021

Mezran quoted in NIUS on the threat armed militias pose to Libya’s fragile peace process

By Atlantic Council

Conflict Defense Policy

In the News

Oct 22, 2021

Melcangi quoted in The New York Times on challenges Libya faces heading into December elections

By Atlantic Council

Corruption Democratic Transitions

In the News

Oct 21, 2021

Badi quoted in The Arab Weekly on Libya’s upcoming election

By Atlantic Council

Democratic Transitions Elections
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Experts

Millennium fellow

Ramzi Abunemreh

Architectural Manager, Consolidated Contractors Company

Millennium Leadership Program

Central Asia Economy & Business

Fellow

Perrihan Al-Riffai

Nonresident Senior Fellow

empowerME Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic Economy & Business

Millennium fellow

Kirk Allen

Digital Communications Lead, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems

Millennium Leadership Program

Middle East NATO Partnerships

Fellow

Shahira Amin

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Arabic Economy & Business

Fellow

Alia Brahimi

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Arabic Civil Society

Fellow

Giangiacomo Calovini

Nonresident Senior Fellow, North Africa Program

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

English Europe & Eurasia
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