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By George Joffé (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12612169) One of the most difficult facets of the crisis in Libya to unravel is the nature of the opposition to the Gaddafi regime. Apart from the amorphous mass demonstrations calling for freedom and an end to oppression and the regime, it is extremely difficult to identify any institutions or ideologies that represent . . . → Read More: Libya’s hunt for a Qaddhafi alternative By George Joffé (http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/opinion/2011/02/201122412934486492.html) After alienating powerful tribes, Gaddafi’s regime seems to be falling, but it is unclear who could fill vacuum. Many believed that Colonel Gaddafi’s regime in Libya would withstand the gale of change sweeping the Arab world because of its reputation for brutality which had fragmented the six million-strong population over the past 42 years. Its likely . . . → Read More: Libya: Past and future? By Alison Pargeter (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12569902) The Gaddafi regime is seemingly on its last legs in Libya, questions are inevitably being raised about what comes next. But this is a country where the trappings of a normal state simply do not apply. Col Muammar Gaddafi created such a personalised system of governing that he left no space for anything beyond . . . → Read More: What next after Gaddafi? Tunisia, Egypt, and now — in its own way — Libya. The end game for kaddhafi is likely to be more dramatic than what we’ve seen in Tunisia and Egypt. Whether he survives the uprising — which at this stage cannot be completely ruled out — or not, the ongoing events in Libya will mark a . . . → Read More: Mapping MENA unrest What an extraordinary fortnight it’s been in the MENA region! Anti-government protests spread to the second country after Tunisia considered by pundits the least likely in the region to experience such uprisings, Egypt. As observers currently wonder whether Egypt’s “democratic window” has already closed, one thing is certain: Mubarak’s rein has come to an end. Whatever happens to . . . → Read More: Egypt on the brink Cidob, the Barcelona-based foreign affairs think-tank, have put together a comprehensive collection of textual and audio-visual material relating to the events in Tunisia. It is definitely worth . . . → Read More: Tunisia Files By Emma Murphy (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12215808) Managing change is a difficult business at the best of times For Tunisia’s new interim national unity government, it is going to be a tough job satisfying the political aspirations of the Tunisian public, whilst at the same time restoring the stability which has long been Tunisia’s crucial economic asset. There has been much . . . → Read More: Dilemmas of Tunisian transition By Emma Murphy (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12197343) Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali came to power in 1987 through a constitutional coup and he appears to have been removed from power through a constitutional coup. The key here on both occasions was not the constitution but the army. In 1987 the army moved to secure stability as an increasingly senile and paranoid President Bourguiba . . . → Read More: Exit Ben Ali – but can Tunisia change? By Emma Murphy Political players in those bodies dealing with EU external affairs would do well to pay attention to the riots currently wracking one of Europe’s closest southern Mediterranean allies. On the 17 December, a young unemployed man, Mohamed Bouazizi, set fire to himself in the town of Sidi Bouzid in Tunisia, in an act of total despair . . . → Read More: Tunisian riots signal depth of Arab frustration at regime failings By Abdessamad Fatmi The story of Morocco and Spain is the tale of a difficult old international couple, victim of its cultural differences, turbulent mutual pasts, lingering prejudices, strong personalities, diverging careers, yet with a promising and fertile potential. Moroccan-Spanish relations are indeed complex, unpredictable, and wide-ranging. History, culture, society, geography, economy, politics and strategy are all issues that matter to this couple. It is a relationship that exhibits a number of contradictory aspects. Each of the two countries considers the other a close and strategic partner, relationships between the two kings are cordial, government relations are given priority with high level summits and priority foreign visits, economic relations are increasing, and the number of Moroccan immigrants living in Spain (at over 700 000) is at its highest ever… Yet, the bilateral relationship keeps producing awkward spasms and crises that conjure up demons from the past and reveal the enduring mutual clichés, misunderstandings, mistrust, internal pressures and diverging interests. Continue reading Spanish-Moroccan relations: Is the honeymoon over? |
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