Libya: Algiers renews its Engagement in the Libyan Dialogue Process
The first two weeks of Martin Kobler’s leadership of UNSMIL have been a period of intense diplomatic activity. Kobler has already indicated that he will start his mediation efforts where his predecessor left off, but made it clear that “Leon...
Tunisia: Bloody Attack on Presidential Guard Prompts Stringent Security Measures
The bloody attack in Tunis on 24 November, which killed a dozen presidential guards, prompted a series of new security measures from the government. The Tunisian government raised the security alert to the highest (third) level, including an 8-hour curfew...
Tunisia: President Beji Essebsi Weighs in Again to Resolve Nidaa Party’s Crisis
The political crisis within Nidaa Tounes persists, and it seems that the attack in Tunis did not slow the escalation of the crisis with Nidaa Tounes. Indeed, the rivalry between the Hafedh Essebsi group and Mouhcen Merzouk loyalists led to...
Lybia: Kobler takes over Leon’s unfinished Job
German career diplomat Martin Kobler has taken over the duties of Bernardino Leon as UN envoy to Libya. The change came following what Libyan affairs observers considered a Libya-gate scandal in the wake of the leaked emails of Leon, obtained...
Tunisia: Nidaa Tounes on the Brink of Disintegration?
The crisis within the ruling party Nidaa Tounes over the holding of a constituent congress meeting persists. The power struggle over the leadership of the party between what have come to be called the Leftist camp and the Destourian camp...
Tunisia: Crisis at Nidaa Tounes Party
Until recently limited to political differences, the crisis within Nidaa Tounes party turned violent and when a group of thugs attacked a hotel, where the executive bureau of the party was preparing to hold a meeting, at Hammamat, last Sunday....
Libya: Leon’s Dialogue Process?
Roughly two weeks after the end of the term of the Tobruk House of Representatives (HoR) on 20 October, UNSMIL has not been able to convince the conflict parties in Tobruk and Tripoli to sign the proposed draft agreement. A...
Tunisia: Government’s Difficulty to impose its Imams in Mosques
The government’s decision to close around 80 mosques and replace over 100 imams, in the aftermath of the Bardo and Sousse bloody attacks continues to cause tensions within communities, as well as between Islamist organisations and the government. The latest...