Political Risk

With a rising oil income, public economic expectations in hydrocarbon rich Algeria have been raised, to the detriment of ongoing reforms. Riots and protests erupt daily in the country,... 2006-06-26

Morocco continues to garner occasional plaudits for its moves towards political and economic liberalization. However, progress on the human rights front remains limited, and there... 2006-06-07

The late-May replacement of Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahya by Abdelaziz Belkhadem suggests that President Abdelaziz Bouteflika is attempting to expand his own control over Algerian... 2006-06-07

It's been a long time coming, but it may well have proved worth the wait; Libya's removal from Washington's list of state sponsor of terrorism (leaving a convenient space for newly... 2006-05-19

Tensions with France have risen as negotiations over a stalled bilateral 'friendship treaty' have highlighted the two countries' very different attitudes to France's colonial history... 2006-05-10

In late April UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan presented his latest report on the Western Sahara question. In it, Annan effectively buried the plans for an eventual referendum on independence... 2006-05-08

Yet another landmark in Libya's ongoing international rehabilitation was marked by the resumption of cover by US Eximbank on March 23, which extends export credit guarantees for US... 2006-04-04

Morocco has kicked off its attempt to seize the initiative on the Western Sahara question. In mid-March King Mohammed VI gave a speech in the Western Saharan capital of Laayoune proposing... 2006-04-04

Timed with the country's 50th year of independence celebrations, President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali announced the most dramatic prisoner release on the weekend of February 25-26. More... 2006-03-06

In the light of concern at recent electoral gains and victories for Islamists in the Middle East such as Hamas's victory in the Palestinian Legislative Council elections,