North Africa

Intel: UN to send cease-fire observers to Libya

Libya's interim government welcomed the step and echoed calls for foreign forces to leave.

Al-Monitor Staff | Libya | Apr 19, 2021

A delegate from Libya takes part in the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum hosted in Gammarth on the outskirts of Tunisia's capital, on Nov. 9, 2020. In October, the two main sides in the complex Libyan conflict signed a landmark cease-fire agreement.

Libya and Greece agree to resume talks on Mediterranean Sea border

Libya's new unity government has had warm relations with Greece so far, but there are remaining issues on energy drilling in the Eastern Mediterranean that also involve Turkey and Egypt.

Al-Monitor Staff | Libya | Apr 14, 2021

Libya's interim Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah (R) meets with Greece's Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Libya's capital, Tripoli, on April 6, 2021.

Algerian protesters keep up pressure as government targets activists abroad

Algeria's pro-democracy Hirak movement hits the streets, calling for a civil state.

Simon Speakman Cordall | North Africa | Apr 7, 2021

Algerians carry a large banner during an anti-government demonstration in the capital, Algiers, on April 2, 2021.

Can France’s decision to speed up declassification of Algeria war archives ease trauma in Algiers?

In light of France's attempt to reconcile with its former colony Algeria, it has announced the easing of security restrictions on the French archives of the Algerian war.

Simon Speakman Cordall | Algeria | Mar 18, 2021

French President Emmanuel Macron meets Algerian Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia at the Elysee presidential palace before the opening of an international congress on Libya, Paris, France, May 29, 2018.

Western Sahara media, activists criticize US decision to recognize Moroccan sovereignty

US President Donald Trump announced Thursday that the United States had accepted Morocco's claim to disputed Western Sahara and that Morocco and Israel were establishing full relations.

Adam Lucente | North Africa | Dec 11, 2020

Libya is only small part of Turkey’s ambitious Africa overture

Although Turkey’s moves in Libya capture a lot of headlines these days, Ankara has been busy on other fronts in Africa.

Barin Kayaoglu | Egypt | Jan 24, 2020

Algeria strives to regain prominence as world powers debate Libya's future

Despite Algeria's best efforts, nine years of conflict in neighboring Libya have essentially brought an international proxy war to Algiers' doorstep.

Simon Speakman Cordall | United Arab Emirates | Jan 20, 2020

Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi (L) and Algerian president Abdelmadjid Tebboune talk before posing for a family picture during a Peace summit on Libya at the Chancellery in Berlin, on January 19, 2020. - World leaders gather in Berlin on January 19, 2020 to make a fresh push for peace in Libya, in a desperate bid to stop the conflict-wracked nation from turning into a "second Syria". Chancellor Angela Merkel will be joined by the presidents of Russia, Turkey and France and other world leaders for ta

Geopolitics delay action while climate change threatens to parch Mideast

The Middle East and North Africa region faces serious water risks, but experts say the collective action needed to address the problem is still far off.

Sam Brennan | Oman | Aug 12, 2019

A girl drinks water from a tap inside a refugee camp in Baghdad September 27, 2007. About 70 families lived in a refugee camp after they were displaced from their homes because of the sectarian violence, the Red Crescent organization said. REUTERS/Mahmoud Raouf Mahmoud (IRAQ) - GM1DWGBBQSAA

Army failure to prepare training could impact North Africa efforts

The Pentagon failed to properly prepare US Army troops in Africa to train foreign partner forces, a declassified inspector general investigation has found.

Jack Detsch | North Africa | Aug 9, 2019

A Tunisian soldier holds his position during an exercise along the frontier with Libya in Sabkeht Alyun, Tunisia February 6, 2016. Tunisia has completed a 200-km (125 mile) barrier along its frontier with Libya to try to keep out Islamist militants, and will soon install electronic monitoring systems, Defence Minister Farhat Hachani said on Saturday. REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY - GF10000298826

Human rights the elephant in the room at Arab-EU summit

The first summit of European Union and Arab League leaders exposed existing rifts between the Middle East and Europe, in particular on the human rights front.

Shahira Amin | Gulf | Feb 28, 2019

European Council President Donald Tusk and Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, President of Egypt, attend a news conference during a summit between Arab league and European Union member states, in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, February 25, 2019. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany - RC1E39420620

Top Russian security officials tour Egypt, Gulf to discuss Syria, Libya

Over the space of a week, top officials in the Russian security apparatus toured Saudia Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt with some intriguing proposals on Syria and Libya.

Kirill Semenov | Saudi Arabia | Feb 4, 2019

Nikolai Patrushev (R), Secretary of the Security Council of Russia (R) listens during the first meeting of national security secretaries of Afghanistan, China, Iran, India and Russia, in the Iranian capital Tehran on September 26, 2018. (Photo by ATTA KENARE / AFP) (Photo credit should read ATTA KENARE/AFP/Getty Images)

Congress’ Middle East panels brace for new partisan era

The newest members of the key foreign policy committees disagree on everything from Israel to Saudi Arabia.

Bryant Harris | Gulf | Jan 28, 2019

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 24: U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) (L) and Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) (R) speak to members of the media after a news conference January 24, 2019 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. The Democratic Congresswomen held a news conference on legislation providing childcare for workers affected by the ongoing government shutdown. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Russia keeps plugging away at cooperation with North Africa

During his tour around the Maghreb, Foreign Minister Lavrov showed Russia has a genuine interest in developing stronger ties with regional states, but the number of roadblocks in the way raise questions about Moscow's ability to go past "strategic declarations" anytime soon.

Marianna Belenkaya | Egypt | Jan 28, 2019

Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita meets Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Morocco's capital Rabat, January 25, 2019. REUTERS/Stringer - RC121B4F3DC0

Is Tunisia’s 92-year-old president mulling second term?

Nidaa Tounes recently announced its support for President Beiji Caid Essebsi to pursue a second term, a move that stirred controversy given his advanced age.

Amel al-Hilali | North Africa | Jan 28, 2019

House spending bill repudiates Morocco on Western Sahara

The political wrangling over President Donald Trump’s border wall has dealt Morocco an unwelcome setback.

Bryant Harris | North Africa | Jan 7, 2019

North Africa

Intel: UN to send cease-fire observers to Libya

Libya's interim government welcomed the step and echoed calls for foreign forces to leave.

Libya and Greece agree to resume talks on Mediterranean Sea border

Algerian protesters keep up pressure as government targets activists abroad

Can France’s decision to speed up declassification of Algeria war archives ease trauma in Algiers?

Western Sahara media, activists criticize US decision to recognize Moroccan sovereignty

Libya is only small part of Turkey’s ambitious Africa overture

Algeria strives to regain prominence as world powers debate Libya's future

Geopolitics delay action while climate change threatens to parch Mideast

Army failure to prepare training could impact North Africa efforts

Human rights the elephant in the room at Arab-EU summit

Top Russian security officials tour Egypt, Gulf to discuss Syria, Libya

Congress’ Middle East panels brace for new partisan era

Russia keeps plugging away at cooperation with North Africa

Is Tunisia’s 92-year-old president mulling second term?

House spending bill repudiates Morocco on Western Sahara

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