MENA: Twenty years on
Summary: when set against today’s reality a snapshot of MENA in July 2000 proves a grim comparison. So are there any grounds for hope and optimism?
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IS
Covid-19 provides good cover for ISIS
Summary: While the world is focussed on the Covid-19 pandemic ISIS is quietly reassembling infrastructure, financial and otherwise, that will enable it to rebuild its global terror campaign.
Syria – cards reshuffled
Syria – US permits and then opposes Turkish assault on the Kurdish north. Fears that IS may rise from the ashes.
The Libyan blind alley
Haftar’s military operation to take Tripoli seems to have failed. His foreign supporters. Need for an international conference and a political solution.
Syria: more bloodshed
Syria – inconclusive fighting in Idlib province and elsewhere. Peace talks not dead.
Tunisia – a black day
Tunisia – President Essebsi survives a health crisis. Jihadi attacks. Economic problems breed discontent.
Mauritania elects a president
Ghazouani peacefully elected as president of Mauritania in place of Abdel Aziz – no change. Economy doing well.
Yemen – talk peace, make war
Summary: Stockholm peace process for Hudaida continues, but so does escalation of the war with Houthi attacks on Saudi territory. Two more tankers hit.
Libya: oil and water
Libya – descent into civil war. Oil revenue and drinking water supplies under threat.
Syria – kaleidoscope of war
Syria – IS eliminated as a territory. Regime still seeking full control, but (about) five other armies have their own agendas.