The Riyadh Agreement signed 5 November 2019 was supposed to merge Yemeni government and Southern Transitional Council (STC) security forces in Yemen under the auspices of Saudi Arabia but thus far little progress has been made.
Author: William Law
The EU and Palestine: statehood and rights
Posted onEU foreign ministers discuss the Israeli-Palestinian conflict but apparently without any serious consideration of the recognition of Palestine as a state. The EU has been sporadically assertive in the West Bank (including East Jerusalem.)
Lebanon’s crisis turns violent
Posted onPopular protest in Lebanon turns violent as anger grows with the failure of the government and the financial sector to resolve a worsening crisis.
MbS, Masayoshi Son and Saudi efforts to solve a housing crisis
Posted onSummary: An American startup with a troubled track record has been selected to help meet Saudi Arabia’s pressing need for affordable homes.
The Nile: Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan Reach an Understanding
Posted onEgypt and Ethiopia have reached an understanding on the filling of the reservoir behind the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. A final agreement could be signed by the end of this month.
MBZ builds an empire of ports
Posted onThe United Arab Emirates already has a string of ports in the Horn of Africa running along the Red Sea; it aspires to add another in Sudan.
Justice in Bahrain
Posted onA decision by a Bahraini court to reimpose the death penalty on two men whose convictions for the murder of a police officer are highly suspect raises questions about the UK’s role in efforts to reform Bahrain’s judiciary.
Death of an Honest Broker
Posted onAt a crucial moment, with tensions between Iran and the US running dangerously high, the region loses the voice of an independent honest broker.
Hamas and Israel: has the assassination of Suleimani killed an incipient deal?
Posted onA week ago Hamas and Israel appeared to be close to a deal. The Suleimani assassination may, for the foreseeable future, have just scuppered it.
The proxy war in Libya gathers pace
Posted onThe proxy war in Libya is heating up as Turkish president Erdogan makes good on a promise to commit Turkish troops to the defence of the Tripoli-based GNA.