Headlines Libya

Libya: promoting olive production

Libya is now focusing on olive to compete with its neighbors in the region in a move to diversify its economy which depends on oil. The country is the 12th largest olive oil producer in the world, accounting for 0.25% of the global production, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Speaking […]

Columns Features Opinions

Turkey as a ‘Role Model’ in the MENA Region after the Arab Spring

The Arab revolutions of 2011 have brought into immediate focus the following question related to Turkey’s foreign policy: ‘Can Turkey’s economic and political model become a reference-point for the region’s post-autocratic societies, similar to the EU for east-central Europe after 1989?’. Indeed, many political observers see the revolutions in the Arab countries as a chance […]

Columns Features Opinions

Social Media in North Africa: a ‘Double-Edged Weapon’

How important has been the role that social media have played in the Arab Spring uprisings and the subsequent democratic transformation affecting the North African region? This is a question that has been hotly contested in both policy-making and academic circles essentially ever since a Tunisian fruit vendor’s act of self-immolation swiftly wreaked havoc with […]

Business Energy

Libya: Oil Minister prepares industrial reform

The head of Libya’s oil ministry Abdelbari al-Arusi is planning to set up two separate institutions which will be responsible for the exploration and production activities on one hand and the other will be taking care of the refinery but they will all be under the ministry. According to reports, Benghazi will host the body […]

Business Emerging Markets

Libya seduces Moroccan investors

At the end of the Libyan delegation’s visit to Morocco, both counterparts seem to be happy of the outcome of the negotiations to encourage investment. The chief of the Libyan Chamber of Commerce Idriss Omran said there are ongoing feasibility studies and projects to promote investment on both sides. He called on Moroccan investors to […]

Asia International

Lebanon: the Shi’ite-Sunni crisis revived

The country’s sectarian crisis seems to be deepening as clashes broke out again between the sunnis and shite. Recent events took place in the Palestinian refugee camp of Ain el-Hilweh on the edge of Sidon where majority of the habitants are Sunnis and most of them followers of Sheikh Ahmed al-Aseer. Reports claim that clashes […]

Headlines Libya

Libya Celebrates Revolution First Anniversary, Rebels Refuse to Lay Down Arms

Libya celebrated on Tuesday the first anniversary of the revolution that put an end to Moammar Khaddafi’s decades long dictatorship but even so the country is not totally pacified as evidenced by the recent clashes in Bani Walid that opposed pro-government forces to anti-revolutionaries and loyalists to Khaddafi. Bani Walid, one of the final bastions […]

Headlines Libya

Libyans willingly disarm themselves

Results of a campaign to collect arms and ammunitions from civilians is considered to be encouraging after hundreds of them handed over their weapons to national army troops stationed in Tripoli, Benghazi, Zintan and Yefrin. The action is in line with the government’s ambitions to curb the level of insecurity in the country after an […]

Headlines Libya

Libya: will the militias help quell Islamist extremists ?

Libyan authorities have reportedly asked the militias operating in Benghazi to help quell the Islamist extremists accused of killing the US ambassador to Tripoli, Chris Stevens, and three members of his staff last week. According to press reports, the acting president, Mohammed Magarief, and the new prime minister, Mustafa Abou shagour, summoned senior commanders of […]

Egypt Features Headlines Libya

US ambassador killed in attack on consulate in Benghazi

The US ambassador to Libya, Christopher Stevens, and three other embassy staff members were killed on Tuesday during an attack on the US consulate in Benghazi, Libyan and US official sources have confirmed. The US ambassador was visiting the Libyan Eastern city, when the US consulate was attacked and burnt down by angry demonstrators who […]