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

MENASource

May 20, 2016

A Swift Response to Egypt’s April 25 Dissent

By Khaled Dawoud

Egypt’s opposition was dealt a heavy blow early this week after several courts sentenced 152 protesters, arrested on April 25, to two to five years in prison. They were detained for demonstrating against the maritime border agreement signed by Egypt and Saudi Arabia in early April, ceding Cairo’s sovereignty over the two strategic Red Sea […]

North Africa

New Atlanticist

May 19, 2016

A ‘Shortsighted’ US Embrace

By Ashish Kumar Sen

For Obama administration, anti-terrorism agenda comes at the cost of human rights when picking partners, says Human Rights Watch’s Kenneth Roth The Obama administration has, in the conduct of its war against terrorism, embraced a “shortsighted” approach that sets aside a democratic agenda and overlooks human rights abuses committed by some of its closest allies […]

North Africa Saudi Arabia

MENASource

May 19, 2016

The Fragility of Tunisia’s Success Story

By Karim Mezran

Tunisia has been considered by most observers as the success story of the Arab Spring. If compared with the disastrous situations in Libya, Yemen, and Syria, and with the increasingly complicated situation in Egypt, Tunisia’s success seems an apparent truth.

North Africa

In the News

May 19, 2016

Hellyer Joins NPR to Discuss EgyptAir Plane Disappearance

By HA Hellyer

Listen to the full interview here.

North Africa

In the News

May 19, 2016

Mezran in The Cipher Brief: Avoid Repeating Mistakes

By Karim Mezran

Read the full article here.

Libya

In the News

May 17, 2016

Pham Joins CCTV America to Discuss US Special Operations Outposts in Libya

By J. Peter Pham

Libya

New Atlanticist

May 16, 2016

Libya Gets a Helping Hand in Anti-ISIS Fight

By Ashish Kumar Sen

A decision by the United States and twenty other nations to provide weapons and training to help Libya’s UN-backed government fight the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) will put pressure on opponents—particularly a popular former General in Benghazi—to rally behind the new administration, said the Atlantic Council’s Karim Mezran. The communique of support, […]

Libya

In the News

May 16, 2016

Pham Quoted by US News on Arms Imports for Libya

By J. Peter Pham

Read the full article here.

Libya

MENASource

May 11, 2016

Everything You Need to Know about the Raid on Egypt’s Press Syndicate

By Margaret Suter

On May 1, police raided the headquarters of Egypt’s Press Syndicate in downtown Cairo and arrested journalists Mahmoud al-Sakka and Amr Badr. The incident is the latest development in a period of mounting tensions between journalists and the government in the wake of the April 25 public protests against the state. The protests, which were […]

North Africa

In the News

May 11, 2016

Hellyer in Vox: Why Egypt’s Media Has Turned on President Sisi

By HA Hellyer

Read the full article here.

North Africa

Experts