Middle East and North Africa Archives

Analyses

Middle East and North Africa

Next autumn Tunisians will go to the polls to elect the President of the Republic. The Election’s date has not been confirmed, and the main opposition coalition, Chebbi’s National Salvation Front, has announced they will boycott the vote unless three conditions will be met: the electoral commission will be independent, the main Islamist party, Ennahda, will be allowed to re-open its headquarters, and all political prisoners will be freed. When Tunisians last voted for presidential elections, all those conditions were in place, but in the past few years, political and civil liberties have shrunk to the extent that the country is not only “partly” free but its democratic ranking continues to deteriorate, year on year.

Society
The Earthquake of Al Haouz: The Difficult Reconstruction of a Tormented Area
Rabii El Gamrani 12 February 2024

One million and six hundred thousand people were affected by the earthquake of September 8, 2023, which caused about 3,000 deaths and the destruction or damage to some 50,000 homes; 60,000 people are still displaced. Journalist Rabii El Gamrani went to Al Haouz, in the heart of the High Atlas, to see how the reconstruction is going.
International Affairs
Houthi Strikes: A Regional Escalation?
An Interview with Hussein Ibish
Giancarlo Bosetti , Alessandra Tommasi 19 January 2024

The war in Gaza has expanded to include a new and dangerous flashpoint: the Red Sea. In recent weeks, Yemen’s Houthis have targeted “Israeli” cargo ships – and attacked others – in support of Hamas. The US and the UK have retaliated by bombing a number of Houthis’ targets in Yemen. ResetDOC interviewed Hussein Ibish, senior resident scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington, about the stakes for the Houthis and the risks of a wider high-intensity conflict.
Migrations
Stuck in Tunisia. Migrant Plight amid EU Pact’s Failure
Ilaria Romano 30 October 2023

Tunisia faces challenges managing a surge in refugees and migrants, with 11,000 registered by the UNHCR, making it a major departure point for those heading to Europe. The country lacks proper infrastructure for immigration, providing minimal support to registered migrants. The EU signed a Memorandum of Understanding to address the issue, but obstacles and human rights concerns persist, with Tunisia rejecting the first EU aid installment.
Gender, Human Rights
Iranian Women’s Struggle Awarded:
Nobel Peace Prize Goes to Activist Narges Mohammadi
Marina Forti 13 October 2023

The 2023 Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to Iranian activist Narges Mohammedi, 51, “for her fight against the oppression of women in the country and her struggle to promote human rights and freedom for all.” Mohammedi, who is currently serving a 10-year sentence for “spreading anti-state propaganda” in Tehran’s Evin prison, has campaigned for women’s rights and against the use of the death penalty. Over the lenght of her career, the Iranian regime has arrested her 13 times, convicted her five times, and sentenced her to a total of 31 years in prison and 154 lashes.
Migrations
Virtual Racism Against Migrants Surges in the Maghreb
Rabii El Gamrani 5 October 2023

Virtual racism against sub-Saharan migrants is flourishing on social media in the Maghreb region, with groups promoting xenophobia and racist content. Conspiracy theories and fake news contribute to the spread of these narratives, portraying migrants as a demographic threat. However, in real-life interactions, racism appears to be less prevalent, as many Moroccans and sub-Saharans coexist peacefully.
Human Rights, International Affairs
International Academics Call for Ghannouchi’s Release in Tunisia
Alessandra Tommasi 27 September 2023
International Affairs
Tunisia’s Authoritarian Regime in a Game of Political Brinkmanship
Ruth Hanau Santini 11 September 2023

Few commentators make predictions these days about Tunisia, with the exception of its financial resilience deemed to be now overstretched and foreign reserves hardly covering the country’s needs in the autumn. Whether Kais Saied will be able to pull a last minute trick out of the autocratic hat, or whether Tunisia will face a default and financial and social collapse is anyone’s guess.
International Affairs
A Conversation with Mustafa Akyol
on the Dark Fate of Freedom in Muslim Countries
Giancarlo Bosetti , Alessandra Tommasi 1 August 2023
Migrations, Society
Migrants in Morocco: the Limbo of Those who Choose to Stay
Rabii El Gamrani 31 March 2023

Morocco introduced a National Strategy for Immigration and Asylum in 2014 to integrate migrants into society. A legalization campaign granted residence permits to thousands of sub-Saharan migrants. However, challenges persist, including inadequate legal instruments, unclear regularization procedures, and difficulties finding employment. The UNHCR handles asylum claims, leading to long waiting times. Tightening permit renewal conditions have left many migrants in limbo, fearing deportation. Some migrants have successfully integrated into society, but the overall management of migration remains complex, with limited local involvement and growing impatience among some Moroccans towards migrants.