By Sébastien Jadot, Guest Contributor to EGF Middle East and Africa Research

June 2013
Key points:

• Boko Haram challenges Nigeria’s security as well as secularism
• The radicalization of Islam in Nigeria – how did it come about?
• A new role for the Shari’a in Nigeria
• The role of Boko Haram in reviving the ideology of extremism
• Is Boko Haram protected by the Nigerian state?
• Evidence of Boko Haram linkages to regional terror groups emerging
• International response not yet decisive
• It may become more decisive when offshoots of Boko Haram begin to appear

• Sébastien Jadot  |  Опубликовано на EGF: 11.06.2013
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In a recently hosted international panel by Voice of Russia America to discuss the second anniversary of the conflict in Syria, Mikhail Roschin, EGF Affiiated Expert on radical Islam in the North Caucasus and Central Asia speaks about the national uprisings that put Syria on the path to civil war and so far more than 70,000 people have been killed in the violence between rebel opposition groups and the regime of President Bashar al-Assad. To listen to this discussion, please click here.

• EGF Editorial  |  Опубликовано на EGF: 03.04.2013  |  Security
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By Ben McPherson, Guest Contributor to EGF Middle East Research
February 2013

Key points:

• Religious fighters take hold in Syria
• How it happened: Alawites, Syrian power and the Ba’th Party
• The rise of the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood
• Sectarianism taking hold
• Part of a global power game
• The road to nowhere.
  READ MORE

• Ben McPherson  |  Опубликовано на EGF: 20.02.2013
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By Nora Renger, EGF Middle East Researcher
February 2013

Key points:

• The “wrath of Islam” is hardly novel
• Nor is the wrath of Christiandom
• Questioning the critique of morality
• Yet Muslims have always rejected violence
• Although they will not tolerate injustice
• “Islamic politics” rising across the Muslim world
• Turmoil following revolutions a threat to stability
  READ MORE

• Nora Renger  |  Опубликовано на EGF: 20.02.2013
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Political Outlook for Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Egypt

Key points:

• Morocco’s monarchy seems to have survived the wind of change blowing on Arab countries last year and is currently trying to hold on to its power by allowing reforms that partly reduce its absolute authority.
• The adoption of a new constitution and the victory of moderate and nationalist Islamic parties are signs that mark Morocco’s gradual progress towards the demands of protesters who have taken the streets last year.
• However, civil society is not yet a primary actor in Moroccan politics and a widespread sense of communalism is still missing.
• Tensions are still present in Morocco, due to the unresponsiveness of the central government regarding the high levels of unemployment, structural corruption and deficiencies in welfare and health systems.
• Morocco has been praised by the international community for its counter-terrorism efforts, although major security risks stem from the unresolved situation of West Sahara. High unemployment and persisting poverty, however, continue to ensure fertile grounds for terrorist recruiters.
• New economic deals with the EU are expected to have a positive impact on the Moroccan economy, which is of great interest for foreign direct investors.
READ MORE

• EGF Editorial  |  Опубликовано на EGF: 08.05.2012  |  External Relations
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Claudia Nocente
EGF Researcher, Global Security

Egypt’s Islamic state on the horizon

Egypt is once again in the headlines. The results of the first, allegedly, free elections after the ousting of Hosni Mubarak as the Egyptian president are causing widespread concern, especially in the West, about the country’s process towards democratization. Many fear that the legacy of the former political establishment will haunt the country for many years to come. Egyptians have been denied any aspect of a wealthy social and political life and are now concerned about the fruits of their courageous actions and the new seeds last year’s events have implanted. What will Egypt look like a year from now? Will it end up embracing a hardline Islamist direction in the administration of political power? READ MORE

• Claudia Nocente  |  Опубликовано на EGF: 22.03.2012  |  External Relations
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by Naim Ameur
Expert on political transition in Tunisia and the Maghreb

One year after the Jasmine Revolution of January 14, 2011, Tunisia has successfully advanced in its democratic transition and political reform process. The election of the National Constituent Assembly (NCA) held on October 23, 2011 was well organised, and for the first time in history, it was fair. Al-Nahdha (which means “renaissance” in Arabic), a moderate Islamic party, won 41 per cent of the NCA seats. READ MORE

• Naim Ameur  |  Опубликовано на EGF: 08.03.2012  |  Markets
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In a recent interview for "The Voice of Russia", EGF Expert on Radical Islamic Movements, Mikhail Roshchin, explained the political dynamics emerging between Islamist and secular political parties in Egypt following recent parliamentary elections. His key message for all stakeholders engaged in the formation of new governance institutions in Egypt was that the Muslim Brotherhood, which now forms the largest political bloc in Egypt's new parliament, is more likely to broker political deals with secular parties rather than develop any sense of "ideological alliances" with other, more radical, Islamist factions. This will most likely remove the concerns over "new shades of green" emerging in the ensuing Egyptian political landscape and lead to further fragmentation of the political environment in advance of the country's looming presidential elections, which are currently scheduled for June 2012. Click HERE for the entire interview.
 

• M. Roshchin  |  Опубликовано на EGF: 16.02.2012  |  External Relations
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In the wake of the “Arab Spring,” Algeria causes concerns as its less than democratic past faces the region’s democratic revolutions. Some eight months after the start of the unexpected uprisings in the region, however, Algeria remains relatively stable. READ MORE

• EGF Editorial  |  Опубликовано на EGF: 01.10.2011  |  Security
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by Marat Terterov,
EGF Director

When a game breaking event takes place in the Middle East once each decade

There is a certain understanding amongst Middle East politics experts that a game breaking event of cataclysmic proportions hits the region once every ten years or so. September of this year will mark the 10^th anniversary of the unimaginable acts of terrorism which were perpetrated in New York in September 2001 by Arab suicide bombers.  These acts of violence catapulted America’s ‘War on Terror’ to the centre of Washington’s foreign policy agenda, opening the way for renewed civil war in Afghanistan and the US-led invasion of Iraq of 2003. READ MORE

• Marat Terterov  |  Опубликовано на EGF: 15.09.2011  |  Security
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