North Africa

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.

Featured commentary & analysis

Hellyer Quoted by Quartz Africa on Religious Reformation in Egypt

MENASource
May 7, 2026

Egypt’s bet on land monetization

By
Amir Asmar

There’s little doubt that Egypt’s land development efforts will have measurable economic benefits, but they are unlikely, by themselves, to put the country’s economy on a solid footing.

North & West Africa

Hellyer Quoted by Quartz Africa on Religious Reformation in Egypt

MENASource
Apr 9, 2026

Egypt’s foreign minister: One cannot secure waterways ‘while ignoring the political order of the states’ along the shore

By
Maisoon H. Kafafy

Maisoon H. Kafafy reached out to Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty for his thoughts on this turbulent moment and the instability in the Horn of Africa.

East Africa
Ethiopia

Hellyer Quoted by Quartz Africa on Religious Reformation in Egypt

MENASource
Mar 31, 2026

Can France and Algeria get their relationship back on track?

By
Karim Mezran

There are signs of a thaw between Algeria and France; however, there appears to be no real political strategy for redefining the relationship.

France
North Africa

Programs

Perspectives on North Africa

The North Africa Initiative at the Atlantic Council’s Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East analyzes the strategic, political, and economic importance of the region for the United States and its allies. Since the 2011 Arab Spring uprisings, North Africa has undergone political and economic transformations that have impacted stability and security in the region. With its geographic crossroad between Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, North Africa continues to be an integral partner in addressing shared interests and concerns.

Learn more about the Middle East 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

Content

In the News

Mar 8, 2016

Hellyer Quoted by Quartz Africa on Religious Reformation in Egypt

By H.A. Hellyer

Read the full article here.

North Africa

MENASource

Mar 8, 2016

Libya at Another Crossroads

By Mohamed Eljarh

The UN Security Council (UNSC) held a session on March 2 to discuss the situation in Libya, where the UN special envoy to Libya Martin Kobler briefed the Council on the latest political, security, and humanitarian developments in Libya. The session comes as the prospects for success of the UN-led peace continue to diminish due to […]

Libya

In the News

Mar 7, 2016

Gold in Al Jazeera English on Egypt’s Economic Development and Military Operations

By Zack Gold

Read the full article here.

North Africa

In the News

Mar 6, 2016

Mezran Quoted by IBT on the Exaggerated Number of Jihadists in Libya

By Karim Mezran

Read the full article here.

Libya

In the News

Mar 5, 2016

Mezran Quoted by Affaritaliani on Intervention in Libya

By Karim Mezran

Read the full article here.

Libya

In the News

Mar 5, 2016

Mezran Quoted by Corriere della Sera on the Dangers of Armed Intervention in Libya

By Karim Mezran

Read the full article here.

Libya

In the News

Mar 5, 2016

Al-Ghwell Quoted by IBT on the Consequences of a Potential Intervention of Western Nations in Libya

By Hafed al-Ghwell

Read the full article here.

Libya

In the News

Mar 5, 2016

Mezran Quoted by The Telegraph on the Number of Jihadists in Libya

By Karim Mezran

Read the full article here.

Libya

MENASource

Mar 3, 2016

Libya’s Draft Constitution: Compromise or Compromised?

By Ronald Bruce St John

The Constitutional Drafting Assembly (CDA) was elected in February 2014 with a mandate to draft a constitution to replace the Draft Constitutional Charter for the Transitional Stage, released in August 2011. It took the CDA eight months to produce a first draft and another four months to produce a second, with the latter containing important […]

Libya

MENASource

Mar 1, 2016

Shocking Ruling for Coptic Teenagers Renews Contempt of Religion Debate

By Khaled Dawoud

A ruling against four Coptic Christian teenagers in which they received maximum sentences on charges of contempt of religion has renewed calls for amendments to Egypt’s blasphemy laws. On February 25, the Beni Mazar Juvenile Misdemeanor Court sentenced Muller Atef, Bassem Amgad, and Albert Shafik to five years in prison on charges of insulting Islam. […]

North Africa
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Experts

Fellow

Alhussain Abdalla

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Africa Center

Africa Arabic

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
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