Research & Publications: Libya

The factors that have made it possible for jihadi groups to thrive in the first place—economic inequality, lack of professional opportunities, social alienation, political marginalization, oppression, and indiscriminate violence—persist today in all Maghreb countries and are likely to continue. Put together, the region’s security could become even more precarious, and the fight against jihadism might be a long one.

In this week's Monday Briefing, MEI experts Jonathan M. Winer, Robert S. Ford, and Alex Vatanka provide analysis on recent and upcoming events including political turmoil in Libya, the meeting between Turkey and Russia to discuss the fate of Idlib province, and Iran's attempts to forge new relationships to offset U.S. sanctions.

Hifter’s situation will serve as a reminder to Libya’s power brokers and politicians that time waits for no man, let alone a nation.

In this week's Monday Briefing, MEI experts Paul Salem, Robert S. Ford, Randa Slim, and Jonathan M. Winer provide analysis on recent and upcoming events including Vice President Mike Pence's trip to the Middle East, Turkey’s assault on Afrin, Iraq's upcoming elections, and the U.N. humanitarian aid plan for Libya.

Mdou Moctar recently finished his first U.S. tour. His guitar-driven style of music is known as assouf among the Tuareg people, and it both lyrically and tonally evokes a feeling of homesickness.

In this week's Monday Briefing, MEI experts Gonul Tol, Ibrahim al-Assil, Amal Kandeel, and Jonathan M. Winer provide analysis on recent and upcoming events including the diplomatic row between Turkey and the United States, the arrival of Turkish troops in Idlib, Morocco's establishment of a national water security strategy amid climate concerns, and the resumption of talks on the Libya Political Agreement in Tunis.

Salafi-jihadis have maintained an active presence in Libya due to a mix of push and pull factors. This policy paper assesses the threat posed by radical Islamist movements in Libya.