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.

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.

Libya

Content

In the News

Dec 11, 2020

Lipner quoted in CGTN on Morocco-Israel normalization

Israel Middle East

In the News

Dec 11, 2020

Charai in the National Interest: The blessings of the Moroccan-Israel agreement

By Atlantic Council

With the recent announcement of a normalization of relations between Morocco and Israel, critics have downplayed the importance of this new agreement for Morocco. However, Atlantic Council Board Director Ahmed Charai argues, the agreement was not inevitable, but rather a remarkable breakthrough, presenting lessons on the benefits of a regional diplomatic approach to future negotiators. […]

Israel Middle East

In the News

Nov 30, 2020

Badi quoted in Foreign Policy on UAE’s potential involvement with Russian Wagner Group mercenaries

North Africa Politics & Diplomacy

In-Depth Research & Reports

Nov 25, 2020

The temperature is rising, the fever white hot: The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam as flashpoint between Egypt and Ethiopia

By Christopher D. Booth

Once considered unlikely by regional experts, military confrontation along the Nile is a growing possibility, as a diplomatic solution to the Egyptian-Sudanese-Ethiopian stand-off recedes. Outside observers may not understand why Egypt considers the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) an “existential threat” to its existence, but, regardless, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and his advisors see it as such.

East Africa Energy & Environment

New Atlanticist

Nov 13, 2020

How a Biden presidency could change US relations with the rest of the world

By Atlantic Council

We asked experts from around the Atlantic Council to preview what the election of Joe Biden as US president will mean for countries, big and small, all across the world. Here’s a quick spin around the globe as we preview what lies ahead for US foreign policy under Joe Biden:

Africa East Asia

In the News

Nov 9, 2020

Badi in ECFR: Rethinking Governance: The case for European engagement with non-state armed groups

Libya Politics & Diplomacy

MENASource

Nov 5, 2020

Libyan ceasefire agreement faces hurdles due to foreign intervention

By Karim Mezran, Emadeddin Badi

There are virtually no coercion or accountability mechanisms that international stakeholders are committed to leveraging against domestic parties that are working to undermine the agreement with the support of foreign actors.

Libya Middle East

In the News

Nov 4, 2020

Ali in CRI Online: The pandemic? It’s for multilateralism

Coronavirus Middle East

MENASource

Oct 28, 2020

For Turkey, the Libyan conflict and the eastern Mediterranean are inextricably linked

By Ahmed Helal

The proxy confrontation playing out in Libya has intensified a regional competition for resources in the waters of the eastern Mediterranean, where several overlapping claims for maritime jurisdiction by Turkey, Egypt, Greece, and Cyprus have fueled escalating tensions.

Europe & Eurasia Libya

MENASource

Oct 19, 2020

Soccer for peace in the Middle East and North Africa

By Rabah Arezki

Although uniting around sport might be mainly symbolic, it could also be a confidence-building effort that could reduce tension and increase integration in a region that would mightily benefit from both.

Middle East North Africa

Experts