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.

Ali in Formiche: From the darkest hour to the hour of redemption…Ali explains the US chaos

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
Ali in Formiche: From the darkest hour to the hour of redemption…Ali explains the US chaos

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
Ali in Formiche: From the darkest hour to the hour of redemption…Ali explains the US chaos

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

Ali in Formiche: From the darkest hour to the hour of redemption…Ali explains the US chaos

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
Ali in Formiche: From the darkest hour to the hour of redemption…Ali explains the US chaos

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
Ali in Formiche: From the darkest hour to the hour of redemption…Ali explains the US chaos

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

In the News

Jan 7, 2021

Ali in Formiche: From the darkest hour to the hour of redemption…Ali explains the US chaos
Middle East North Africa

MENASource

Jan 6, 2021

MENA’s post-COVID resilience depends on using the talent pool of women

By Nadereh Chamlou

In the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), where gender-based inequalities are many and deep-rooted, the concern for women’s setbacks could be more serious due to the pandemic.

Economy & Business Middle East

In the News

Jan 1, 2021

Mezran and Badi in the Arab Center DC: “Biden and The Middle East: A Challenging Road Ahead”
Elections Middle East

In the News

Dec 24, 2020

Charai in the National Interest: Why Israel and Morocco are ushering in a new era of peace

By Atlantic Council

During a recent visit to Morocco, Israeli national security advisor Meir Ben-Shabbat did something highly symbolic: he expressed his allegiance to King Mohammed VI in Moroccan Arabic, demonstrating his own ties to the country as well as the greater history between the two nations. This is a historical moment, says Atlantic Council Board Director Ahmed Charai, which will mark a turn towards greater peace between Morocco and Israel and a return to the tolerance reflected in Morocco's history.

Israel Middle East

MENASource

Dec 24, 2020

How Moroccans reacted to normalization with Israel

By Zineb Riboua

Moroccans were not surprised to see their country became the fourth Arab nation to normalize relations with Israel—it was the US’s recognition of Western Sahara that astonished them since Morocco’s identity is intertwined with that of Western Sahara.

Middle East North Africa

Arab Spring

Dec 17, 2020

Tunisia’s political landscape a decade after the Jasmine revolution

By Dario Cristiani

As Tunisia approaches the tenth anniversary of its revolution, it faces a pandemic that has induced a historical economic crisis with significant social and political ramifications in the years to come.

Middle East North Africa

In the News

Dec 14, 2020

Khoury quoted in the Washington Post on Israel-Morocco normalization
Israel Middle East

In the News

Dec 13, 2020

Mezran quoted in The Hill on Israel-Morocco normalization
Israel Middle East

Report

Dec 11, 2020

The politics of pandemics: Evolving regime-opposition dynamics in the MENA region

By Frederick Kempe, Giampiero Massolo, Karim Mezran, Annalisa Perteghella, Emadeddin Badi, Yahia Mohamed Lamine Mestek, Hafsa Halawa, Abbas Kadhim, Gawdat Bahgat, Nadereh Chamlou

The politics of pandemics: Evolving regime-opposition dynamics in the MENA region.

Coronavirus Iran

In the News

Dec 11, 2020

Arbit quoted in TRT World on Israel-Morocco normalization
Israel Middle East
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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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