Political Risk

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,

It is too early to speak of a Tripoli Spring, but real signs of progress on political reform and liberalisation are accompanying Libya's emergence from international isolation. The... 2006-02-03

Libya has made a strong start to 2006, with the Oasis group of US oil companies returning to the Waha oil and gas concessions relinquished 20 years ago. This following hard on the... 2006-01-13

Political activity ground to a halt in December as the country fretted about the health of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, the man who many Algerians credit with finally ending the... 2006-01-10

The closing months of 2005 saw a flurry of political realignment with the merger of several small parties, the revival of the historic alliance between the two largest parliamentary... 2006-01-10

Security remains a concern in Morocco following the apparent discovery of a major terrorist threat and the arrest of a gang accused of conspiring to establish a new al-Qa’ida linked... 2005-12-01

Tunisia’s authorities predictably touted the UN-sponsored World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) as a triumphant showcase for the country’s technological advancement.... 2005-12-01

Following the president’s dissolution of local councils in Kabylie in July voters went to the polls on November 24 in the predominantly Berber region to elect local leaders. The... 2005-12-01