Rising tensions between Morocco and the Polisario Front come at the worst time for parties to the Western Sahara conflict.
If Joe Biden wins the U.S. presidential election, the Maghreb would be a perfect venue for greater engagement.
Many countries in the Middle East and North Africa still struggle to manage the coronavirus, but Morocco’s response suggests an important evolution in civil-military relations.
Having lost the cushion of Gulf support, many Arab states are looking for external financing from international financial institutions and other donors such as China (particularly in North Africa) and the United States.
While countries worldwide have announced lockdowns to block the coronavirus, North African governments are using the opportunity to further quell freedom of expression and advance their agendas. Will civil society stand their ground?
To contain the coronavirus, Arab governments are mobilizing official Islamic institutions. The most pressing goal is to shut down sites of potential contagion as Ramadan approaches.
Covid-19 may have given North African governments a respite from protests, but this is unlikely to last long.
The most obvious reason for the delayed release of Trump’s promised Middle East peace plan is Israel’s unsettled electoral politics. But Palestinian opposition and Arab apathy also limit its prospects.
Internet shutdowns are not new, but they have become increasingly popular instruments among dictators and autocrats who want to control their citizenry and preempt political threats.
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