Pivotal Places
North Africa, Mediterranean, and the Sahel Program

North Africa Insights

In-depth, policy-relevant commentaries on governance, security, and economic trends across North Africa and the Sahel.

In Middle East & North Africa Research

North Africa Insights is a commentary series and forum providing rigorous, analysis of the region’s evolving dynamics. Covering Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Libya, Mauritania, Egypt, and the Sahel, the series presents essays and reflections by scholars, practitioners, and regional experts. Each contribution situates current developments — whether in governance, security, migration, energy, or diplomacy — within broader historical and geopolitical contexts. The series strengthens understanding of the region’s complexities and delivers actionable insights for policy discussions, academic research, and public discourse.

Research & Writing

Commentary
Sudan: How One of the Most Severe Humanitarian Crises Became Marginalized in the Global System
How Sudan’s catastrophic war became a neglected crisis, exposing geopolitical selectivity and the erosion of global humanitarian response
Mohamed Ali Chihi
Issue Brief
Reassessing Tunisia’s Strategic Importance for the United States
U.S. policy options to leverage Tunisia for regional security, economic stability, and Sahel-focused cooperation
Amb. Joey R. Hood
Commentary
Mali’s Post-Alignment Strategy: Sovereignty, Partnerships, and the Limits of Stabilization
How Mali’s shift in external partnerships has failed to improve security, governance, or economic conditions
Yahia H. Zoubir • Abdelkader Abderrahmane
Commentary
Smuggling Sovereignty: What Arkenu Reveals About Libya’s Fragmented Oil State
How Libya’s fragmented governance enables oil revenue diversion through hybrid networks and what recent interventions signal for restoring state control
Hafed Al Ghwell
Commentary
The Maghreb Dilemma: Why the European Union Must Contain Escalating Tensions Between Algeria and Morocco
Why EU fragmentation risks fueling Algeria–Morocco tensions, and how a neutral, coordinated strategy could prevent escalation and protect regional stability
Djallel Khechib
Commentary
Impacts of the Iran War on North Africa, the Sahel, and the Mediterranean
How the Iran war disrupts energy, trade, and food systems across North Africa and the Sahel, reshaping regional stability
Hafed Al Ghwell
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