In The News

The Jihadist Eruption

Shiraz Maher January 18, 2013
The Arab Spring has triggered unrest among competing ethnic groups in Northern Africa, the latest manifestation of which is the taking of 40 gas-plant employees taken hostages in eastern Algeria. The captors blamed French military intervention in nearby Mali. But Shiraz Maher, writing for the Wall Street Journal, explains animosity in the region lingers after NATO forces assisted Libyan rebels in...

Is Mali Another Loss for Counterinsurgency?

Max Fisher January 16, 2013
The world’s most powerful nations continue to struggle over how to defeat extremists, often a minority faction that can destabilize entire nations – from Afghanistan in Central Asia to Mali in Africa. The strategies range from those small in scale, including intelligence collection, deployment of special forces, use of drones and working with local forces, to a heavy military presence, including...

Tunisian Revolution Is Work in Progress

Lindsay J. Benstead, Ellen Lust, Dhafer Malouche December 19, 2012
The surge of uprisings across North Africa began in Tunisia with the self-immolation of a desperate college graduate turned street vendor in December 2010. The pace for democracy since then has been slow, along with economic reforms, as is the case in Egypt and Libya. Economic challenges dog the government, with the unemployment rate near 20 percent. Protests and violence throughout the region,...

Sudan Blames Israel for Khartoum Arms Factory Blast

October 26, 2012
Factions in the Middle East may be waging shadow wars in neighboring countries. The BBC News reports that Sudan officials are blaming Israel for blasting an arms factory in Khartoum and notes that “a bitter secret war has been going on for a number of years between Israel and Hamas, with Sudan apparently very much one of the battlegrounds.” Sudan officials said the factory made traditional arms....

Egypt's Islamist Surprise

Mohamed El Dahshan August 21, 2012
Concerns emerged after the Muslim Brotherhood candidate, Mohamed Morsi, prevailed in Egypt’s presidential election – about rigid Islamist ways, rejection of the peace treaty with Israel, distancing with the US and inadequate leadership in general. In less than two months, he has surprised many with a moderate stance while neutralizing the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, which has controlled...

US Law’s Positive Impact on Africa

Humphrey Hawksley July 10, 2012
With the sentencing of a Congolese warlord at the International Criminal Court, whose charges included employing child soldiers, the wheels of justice turn in Africa. Another unexpected source, too, is helping Africa. The Dodd-Frank Act was designed to reform the US financial system after the 2008 credit crisis, explains Humphrey Hawksley, BBC News correspondent, and Section 1502 addresses so-...

Mali: Refugee Flows and Increased Hunger Point to Need for Mali Federation

Rene Wadlow July 1, 2012
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees drew attention to the increased number of refugees and internally-displaced people in Mali – a crisis deteriorating a society and economy already in disarray. Analysts point to political conflict as a root cause. The UNHCR is experienced in assisting refugees, but has not addressed the underlying political issues. Two rival Tuareg groups, the Mouvement...