Libya
All countries-
Violence in the Arab world
Born of a barbaric state
In this essay, the Syrian writer Morris Ayek describes how repressive Arab states have succeeded in creating societies modelled on themselves
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Libyan author Najwa Binshatwan on "The Slave Pens"
Confronting a dark chapter
Najwa Binshatwan′s novel ″The Slave Pens″ was the only one of six novels shortlisted for this year′s International Prize for Arab Fiction to be written by a woman. At the Abu Dhabi award ceremony, she talked to Valentina Viene about her novel and the importance of origins and identity
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Libya′s Great Man-Made River irrigation project
The eighth wonder of the world?
Inaugurated by Libya′s former dictator, Muammar Gaddafi, the Great Man-Made River was celebrated as a huge technological achievement. Yet the world′s largest irrigation project is not without its critics. By Moutaz Ali
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Social unrest in the Arab world
Guilty of gross negligence
The ongoing protests in North Africa reveal the extent of the failure of government there. Never before have corrupt elites been so alienated from the social realities of the ordinary people, says Loay Mudhoon
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Egypt's 'anti-terror' campaign
Not all it seems
Sisi's administration is using the attacks on Coptic Christians as a pretext for furthering its own foreign and domestic ends, making Egypt an unsuitable partner for the fight against terrorism. Commentary by Stephan Roll
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Morocco′s Amazigh
The long road to recognition
Morocco′s Amazigh captured a historic achievement in 2011 when constitutional measures following the country′s February 20th protests officially recognised the Amazigh culture and language. But six years on, many Amazigh are dissatisfied with the reform process and continue to complain of discrimination. By Matthew Greene
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Tuareg fusion
Desert cats
"Passionate about the Tuareg" see themselves as cultural ambassadors. The musical project is the result of co-operation between two bands – one from southern Tunisia and the other from the Libyan Sahara. What unites them is a desire to revive the musical heritage of their forefathers through modern re-interpretation. By Valerie Stocker
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Arab Spring and Western Winter
Look before you leap!
Economist Ishac Diwan compares the failure of the Arab Spring with the rise in right-wing populism across the western world, both of them phenomena marked by massive social tensions. Moreover, he argues, the efforts of progressive movements to provide a viable alternative have all but run aground
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Civil war in Libya
Forever at loggerheads
After one year in office, Libya′s Government of National Accord is on the verge of collapse. While its ministers are trying to maintain order in the capital, the armed opposition is challenging them for strategic positions. At the same time, the government is involved in a proxy war with the East Libyan army. Valerie Stocker reports from Tripoli
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Book review: Hisham Matar′s ″The Return″
A painful void
In his new memoir, "The Return", the writer Hisham Matar confronts the ghosts of his past: the disappearance of his father, the expropriation of his country's history and the shattered dream of a new Libya. Claudia Kramatschek read the book
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Libya, Al Koni and the Skhirat Agreement
A fatal blow
If the Skhirat Agreement (LPA) is not quickly and substantially amended to allow a new executable agreement to be reached, its end will have been written from within its own chapters. By Azza K. Maghur
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Libya′s domestic crisis
On the road to nowhere
Libya′s domestic crisis, which has been rumbling on since the outbreak of civil war in the summer of 2014, has peaked this year. With a gamut of issues – political, social, security and financial – confronting the country, Libya is more divided than ever. Houda Mzioudet writes from Tunis