Shows
Geopolitics Simplified by Arezki DaoudNigeria: Beyond Trump's Narrative, Who's Really Targeted Nigeria violence?In less than five minute, Arezki Daoud explains why violence in Nigeria cannot be understood through a single religious lens. Christians are targeted, but so are Muslims and many other communities facing insurgency, criminal gangs, and local conflicts. The video provides a factual, balanced context to counter political oversimplifications.#Nigeria #Security #Africa #Geopolitics #Insurgency #Violence #NigeriaNews #Analysis #DavidDaoud #ComplianceStandards #ChristianMuslimRelations #ContextMatters #Flashpoint #ArezkiDaoud
2025-11-1604 min
Geopolitics Simplified by Arezki DaoudRussia Evolving Position in Mali: Wagner Out, Africa Corps. InIn this episode of Flashpoint, we go beyond the headlines to explore Russia’s quiet shift from Wagner to the Africa Corps in Mali. Under pressure from Algeria, Moscow is phasing out mercenaries in favor of a state-run military presence — a move that is raising alarm among Tuareg leaders in the north.We break down how Algeria influenced this transition, what Wagner's legacy leaves behind, and why Tuareg commanders are now cautiously engaging with jihadist groups like GSIM. As Mali’s conflict shifts, Russia’s role is evolving — but not disappearing.Don't forget to subscribe for weekly insights on the Middle...
2025-06-1109 min
Geopolitics Simplified by Arezki DaoudEthnic Targeting in West Africa and Sahel: The Forgotten Plight of the FulaniWhat’s happening to the Fulani in the Sahel isn’t just war — it’s collective punishment. This is the story no one wants to tell.#SahelCrisis #FulaniUnderAttack #WestAfricaConflicts #HumanRightsCrisis #Pulaaku #BurkinaFaso #Mali #EthnicCleansing #Fulani #Mali #Sahel
2025-06-1111 min
Geopolitics Simplified by Arezki DaoudSahel, North & West Africa This Week: Security Moves, Energy Strains, and Policy CrossroadsWeek ending 31 May 2025: This week’s roundup covers key developments across North and West Africa: Russia phases out Wagner in Mali, Haftar gains ground in Libya, Mauritania cracks down on migration with EU backing, Guinea cancels over 100 mining permits, Senegal faces record fuel prices despite oil output, Egypt scrambles to manage a deepening energy crisis, and Morocco battles its first major wildfire of the season. For full analysis, visit North-Africa.com and subscribe for weekly regional insights.
2025-05-3108 min
Geopolitics Simplified by Arezki DaoudIs Morocco Quietly Preparing for Royal Succession?With Morocco's King Mohammed VI facing health issues, the topic of royal
succession has come to the forefront. This video delves into Morocco's
succession process, the King's health challenges as reported by foreign
media, and the rising prominence of key figures like Crown Prince Moulay
Hassan, advisor Fouad Ali El Himma, and security chief Abdellatif
Hammouchi. As Morocco prepares for a potential transition, questions
emerge about the future of the monarchy and the direction the young
Crown Prince might take. Will Morocco see a shift towards conservatism,
or will it continue along a path of modernization?
#Morocco #RoyalSuccession #KingMohammedVI...
2024-11-0709 min
Geopolitics Simplified by Arezki DaoudThe US Africa Policy: Don't Expect Anything NewU.S. administrations, whether Republican or Democrat, have historically shown limited focus on Africa, prioritizing counterterrorism over development. With recent geopolitical shifts, some are calling for a more balanced approach, emphasizing stability and economic growth over military presence.
2024-11-0504 min
Geopolitics Simplified by Arezki DaoudMali: The Failing Campaign of Wagner in Mali Presages Trouble for the Junta in BamakoThere have been more chatter and speculations about the
activities of Russia’s mercenaries, formerly known as the Wagner Group, now reportedly called the Afrika Corps in the Sahel. It is unclear if the name “Afrika Corps” is official, but if so, it certainly confirms that the Russian outfit’s primary focus is indeed on Africa, likely as an arm of Moscow’s Africa policy. For the purpose of this analysis, I
will continue using the name Wagner. The Wagner gang is active in many Sahelian regions. We have been hearing that a number of its mercenaries withdrew from Burkina Fa...
2024-09-1208 min
Geopolitics Simplified by Arezki DaoudLibya: As Crises Pile, Libya has no Clear Path to StabilityLibya is back in the news again, and it is not good news. At the center of it all, once again, are the two types of power struggles we are witnessing. On the one hand, there is a permanent conflict between Libya's rival governments, and on the other hand, there is an intense competition for influence involving foreign powers, who sponsor one rival government against the other.
2024-09-1008 min
Geopolitics Simplified by Arezki DaoudElections in North AfricaA preview of what to expect in the upcoming presidential elections in fall in Algeria and Tunisia.
2024-07-0707 min
Geopolitics Simplified by Arezki DaoudLibya’s Abnormal New NormalSince 2011, Libya has been engulfed in a bloody civil war after the death of Muammar Gaddafi. Over the years, it was easy to identify the problem: too many foreign regional players and global powers meddling in Libya’s affairs, explicitly or implicitly seeking to impose their vision on what Libya ought to be through local proxies. These foreign meddlers had no shortage of proxies within Libya. One of them is the so-called internationally recognized Government of National Unity based in Tripoli in the northwest of the country, headed by Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibeh. And then in Sirte is the riv...
2024-05-2410 minGeopolitics Simplified by Arezki DaoudUS-Niger relations face uncertainty, with Niamey’s pivot to RussiaThe visit a few days ago of a US government delegation to Niamey, the capital of Niger, did not go down well with the ruling junta there. Clearly as the junta is paving the way for the Russian military to enter Niger and expand their presence in the Sahel, the Americans are starting to lose patience and they may have shown their frustration in this latest interaction with the Junta.
2024-03-1907 min
Geopolitics Simplified by Arezki DaoudThe Sahel is the Next Big Geopolitical Crisis. Foreign Meddlers are Already ThereThe #Sahel is now clearly the next big event in Africa's geopolitics. After the complete destruction of #Libya, the same foreign powers that paid for the killing of a nation are now shifting their attention to the Sahel, establishing the bases of another sizeable crisis that will take decades to extinguish.
The Sahel has long been destabilized, at least in recent history. Its post-colonial era has been still dominated by France, despite the Sahelian nations being independent on paper. There have been no improvements for the region, but a fast worsening of the
political, social, environmental, and e...
2024-01-3111 minGeopolitics Simplified by Arezki DaoudAfrica 2024 Elections Preview2024 should be a record election year for Africa. Twenty countries, accounting for 346 million voters will be called to participate to elections that will mostly be rigged and decided in advance. In this podcast, Arezki Daoud argues that African elections have no democratic content and standards in them.
Different factors and actors have a more direct impact on the political systems in those countries. Among the factors cited by MondAfrique is the predominant role of the military in several countries like Mali, Niger and Guinea, the strength of
traditional tribal structures, the rise of Islamic values favoring
tradition...
2024-01-2303 minGeopolitics Simplified by Arezki DaoudRussia-Africa: From weapon sales to economic tiesHas the war in #Ukraine deter #Russia from engagement in #Africa? Certainly not! We know that on the #security front, a growing number of #African states are turning to Russia to supply them with #military equipment and security services, judging by the presence of official and non-government outfits like the #Wagner Group. Things are evolving very rapidly on that front in 2023 and weapons sales to Africa are likely to further increase this year, despite Russia needing all the military hardware it can procure to execute its war on Ukraine. But many analysts have dismissed Russia as an economic partner...
2024-01-2302 minGeopolitics Simplified by Arezki DaoudRussia to experience boost of its influence in the Sahel#Russia’s influence in the #Sahel is about to expand further with more cooperation deals announced by #Niger and Russia during the ongoing visit to #Moscow of Niger’s Prime Minister and other senior officials. Speaking to Russian media, Niger’s Defense Minister Salifou Mody said joint projects are being finalized during the visit, following months of preparation
and negotiation in #Niamey. Mody even hinted on an increase presence of Russian assets as being part of a cooperation plan tying the two countries.
2024-01-2303 minGeopolitics Simplified by Arezki DaoudEgypt’s economy hit hard by Houthis’ attacks on commercial vessels in the Red SeaThe #US and the #UK hitting #Houthi targets in #Yemen is largely the result of a sense of panic taking place in commercial and business circles. The #Houthis have clearly identified that there is a choke point that they can squeeze even more to get their positions heard. And what is happening up north, is certainly alarming not only for shipping companies and their clients, but for #Egypt and those who invested on the #Suez Canal.
2024-01-2302 minGeopolitics Simplified by Arezki DaoudEgypt: 2024 OutlookIn this podcast, Arezki Daoud gives an overview of ongoing problems in #Egypt and what we should expect in 2024.
2024-01-2310 minGeopolitics Simplified by Arezki DaoudThe Sahel Region: 2024 Outlook
#Christmas in #Africa this year has been gloomy to say the least. There
was not much to cheer for. The political, economic, social and security
environments in many #African nations have been experiencing the
worst-case scenario, so much so that 2024 is likely to bring more bad
news for millions of people. While the end of the Covid19 pandemic
brought hope of return to some normalcy and pave the way for recovery,
economic woes, violence, a degraded environment, and political leaders
unable to solve problems, were compounded by the impacts from the wars
in #Ukraine and in the #MiddleEast to...
2024-01-2315 min
Geopolitics Simplified by Arezki DaoudRising Storms: The Pact Uniting Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger Against Jihadists and IsolationRising Storms: The Pact Uniting #Mali, #Burkina Faso, and #Niger Against #Jihadists and Isolation: In this brief, #ArezkiDaoud of #MEARisk and the #NorthAfricaJournal addresses the challenges facing the new alliance formed by the three troubled #Sahel nations.
2024-01-2302 minGeopolitics Simplified by Arezki DaoudNigeria: Is President Bola Tinubu headed the wrong way?#Nigeria: Is President Bola #Tinubu headed the wrong way?
After being elected president in early 2023, #Nigeria's #Bola #Tinubu decided to cancel fuel #subsidies, setting the stage for a deterioration of prices across the board. For now, #Nigerians are experiencing high prices, high inflation, a weak currency, with #labor unions threatening to strike.
2024-01-2304 min
Geopolitics Simplified by Arezki DaoudEgypt’s economy hit hard by Houthis’ attacks on commercial vesselsThe #US and the #UK hitting #Houthi targets in #Yemen is largely the result of a sense of panic taking place in commercial and business circles. The #Houthis have clearly identified that there is a choke point that they can squeeze even more to get their positions heard. And what is happening up north, is certainly alarming not only for shipping companies and their clients, but for #Egypt and those who invested on the #Suez Canal.
2024-01-1202 min
Geopolitics Simplified by Arezki DaoudEgypt: 2024 OutlookIn this podcast, Arezki gives an overview of ongoing problems in #Egypt and what we should expect in 2024.
2024-01-0410 min
Geopolitics Simplified by Arezki DaoudNorth Africa and Sahel: And Now the Environment is Major Factor of InstabilityAs we reach the end of the third quarter 2023, about to enter the tail-end of the year, it is difficult to see a bright horizon for the northern half of #Africa. Two major natural disasters, magnified by poor governance and bad infrastructure, caused the death of at least 7,000 people in the #Maghreb region. Between #Morocco’s #earthquake and #Libya’s #flood, tens of thousands of people have been rendered #homeless and facing extraordinary problems ahead. In the #Sahel, there is no shortage of crises, with the headlines this week focusing on a #Tuareg rebellion in northern #Mali and the #WestAfrican grou...
2023-09-2313 min
Geopolitics Simplified by Arezki DaoudMali: New Tuareg Rebellion in Northern Mali, Al-Qaeda Attack on Government ForcesMali’s new junta managed to topple a weak president. But governing is turning out to be difficult with the regime battling on multiple fronts. With bad policies, the military junta has forced the ethnic Tuaregs in the north to take up arms after years of a halt in hostilities, promising months, even years of war in an already devastated region.
2023-09-1505 min
Geopolitics Simplified by Arezki DaoudLibya's epic freak floods. The big pictureThe unfolding #environmental disaster with major #floods that are taking place in eastern #Libya, may be of #biblical proportion and the death toll there can surpass that of #Morocco and by far. Arezki Daoud provide a brief update of this big #disaster.
2023-09-1305 min
Geopolitics Simplified by Arezki DaoudSports Diplomacy and Competition in the Arab World.Learn how #SaudiAarabia, #Qatar and the #UAE are competing in the #sports world in anticipation of dropping #oil and #gas income in the future
2023-09-1206 min
Geopolitics Simplified by Arezki DaoudEarthquake in Marrakesh, MoroccoMorocco had a devastating earthquake just as people prepare for the weekend. Here is how the North Africa region has always prone to quakes.
2023-09-1207 min
Geopolitics Simplified by Arezki DaoudSahel: Mali's new constitution paves the way for more instability ahead#Sahel: #Mali's new #constitution paves the way for more instability ahead. The Tuareg community in northern Mali has rejected the latest constitutional referendum imposed by the ruling military junta in #Bamako, while conservative clerics decry the mention of Mali as a #secular nation. #ArezkiDaoud of #MEARisk and the #NorthAfricaJournal sees no good news in this latest development.
2023-06-2404 min
Geopolitics Simplified by Arezki DaoudDoes Saudi Arabia matter? An unscripted discussion between Arezki Daoud and Giorgio CafieroSaudi Arabia has been making big moves lately. A detente with Iran, a re-engagement with Syria, a potential diplomatic path to solve the Yemeni crisis and more. Domestically, its top leader Mohammed Bin Salman (MBS), has been pushing for deep reforms that required the neutralizing of the ultra-conservatives. In this unscripted chat, MEA Risk's Arezki Daoud speaks with Gulf State Analytics' Giorgio Cafiero to understand these big changes, which could have ripple effects around the world.
2023-06-1948 min
Geopolitics Simplified by Arezki Daoud10 countries in 10 minutes: Brief commentaries on 10 countries by Arezki10 countries in 10 minutes: Brief commentaries on 10 countries by Arezki Daoud. Just what you need to know about #Turkey, #Senegal, #Caneroon, #USA, #Nigeria, #Lebanon, #Sahel, #Florida, #SouthAfrica, and #Egypt.
2023-06-1413 min
Geopolitics Simplified by Arezki DaoudLatest big geopolitical issues affecting North Africa as of 10 June 2023. Podcast by Arezki DaoudLatest big geopolitical issues affecting North Africa as of 10 June 2023. Podcast is hosted by Arezki Daoud and focuses on the five of North Africa, namely Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia.
2023-06-1215 min
Geopolitics Simplified by Arezki DaoudCan foreign and regional powers give Libya a break?Foreign meddling may have been even more troubling than any other source of instability. Governments in Russia, the UAE, France, Turkey, etc.. have been central in preventing the Libyans from negotiating a future that works for them. But Arezki Daoud argues that the shifting global geopolitics over the recent months may provide an opportunity for the Libyans to begin the real negotiations and step away from violence.
2023-05-2403 min
Geopolitics Simplified by Arezki DaoudNorth Africa and the Sahel week-in-review | 20 May 2023Welcome to this episode of North Africa and the Sahel week-in-review, for the period ending Saturday, 20th of May. Today is the 22nd of May and greetings to all. So the week in the northern half of Africa ended with a lot of political tension in the Maghreb region, consisting of countries located along the southern Mediterranean coastline, and both political stress and physical violence in the Sahel region. In this podcast, Arezki Daoud goes through the major events affecting the northern half of Africa during the week ending 20 May 2023.
2023-05-2319 min
Geopolitics Simplified by Arezki DaoudThe Fleecing of Libya: Billions of Dollars Missing and Everyone is at FaultIn the post-Gaddafi era, Corruption in Libya is endemic and metastasized. The culture of corruption is so ubiquitous and widespread that Transparency International ranks Libya third before last in the MENA region, doing only better than Syria and Yemen. In this podcast, Arezki looks at how the Gaddafi clan has siphoned off billions of dollars and that the current governments may have made corruption even worse.
2023-05-1211 min
Geopolitics Simplified by Arezki DaoudA world turned on its head: Egypt's loyalty to the US in questionIn Egypt, a country that gets substantial military and economic aid from the United States, General Abdelfattah el-Sissi has allegedly ordered the manufacture of 40,000 rockets for the benefit of Russia, in the midst of the war in Ukraine. Leaked documents apparently say Egypt would deliver artillery shells and gunpowder, in what was referred to as a “top secret” deal.
2023-05-0607 min
Geopolitics Simplified by Arezki DaoudA close look at South Africa today: achievements and challengesIn this podcast, Arezki Daoud of MEA Risk and of The North Africa Journal, reports on his thoughts on South Africa, after a 10-day visit in April 2023.
2023-04-1915 min
Geopolitics Simplified by Arezki DaoudMali’s painful post-colonial transition.The nation of Mali in the Sahel is headed toward an even more painful period. Bad governance, catastrophic environment, deadly terrorism, and a war between the west and Russia starting on its territory are conspiring to make Mali of the most unstable nations in the world. In this episode, Arezki Daoud looks at how France has played a negative role in perpetuating the state of misery Mali has found itself.
2023-03-2911 min
Geopolitics Simplified by Arezki DaoudAudio podcast: Sahel collapsing with the Jihadists, Russia and France in a bitter fight over controlIn this audio podcast, Arezki Daoud is sharing an update on the situation in the Sahel, specifically in Mali and Burkina Faso, two countries that have been torn apart by outside forces, be they the Jihadists, or some western powers, and now by the Wagner Group, a mercenary group that represents Russia. Arezki addresses the two most visible issues the Sahel faces on the security front and concludes with a third wildcard factor.
2023-03-1931 min
Geopolitics Simplified by Arezki DaoudNorth Africa / Sahel Week in Review: Mali and Tunisia remain center stageWelcome to this week-in-review episode where we look at some of the key events affecting the geopolitics of North Africa and the Sahel. Your host in Arezki Daoud, principal analyst at MEA Risk LLC and editor of The North Africa Journal. In the Sahel, the general state of insecurity, as well as the atmosphere of transition due to the take over of power by military juntas, have had a dominant play in the Sahelian context. In North Africa, the dominant story may very well be Tunisia, with the president there increasing his control of the government, expanding assaults on human rig...
2023-03-1316 minGeopolitics Simplified by Arezki DaoudInstability and Coups in Sahel NationsIn this brief episode, Arezki Daoud reports on the latest attempts to topple regimes in the Sahel and that more of there are expected.
2023-02-1004 min
Geopolitics Simplified by Arezki DaoudSahel and North Africa week in review 7 Jan 2023Greetings to our second episode of Week in Review and a quick summary of what we are tracking in the Sahel and in North Africa. Today is Saturday, the 7th of January 2023. This past week was somewhat subdued in the region largely due to the year-end holiday season and the shift to 2023. But events don’t stop simply because it is new year. Arezki Daoud of MEA RIsk LLC presents to you the big stories of the week, which include that of an unfolding emigration crisis in the Mediterranean Sea.
2023-01-0924 min
Geopolitics Simplified by Arezki DaoudThe Sahel and North Africa this week: Mali-Ivory Coast crisis, Burkina vs. the UN, terrorism in Egypt, rivalry in Libya and more. Week ended 30 Dec. 2022In this week's review of events in the Sahel and North Africa, Arezki Daoud addresses the major factors affecting the region as the year draws to an end.
2022-12-3112 min
Geopolitics Simplified by Arezki DaoudNorth Africa - Sahel week in review 1 - Week ending 23 December 2022This podcast hosted by Arezki Daoud of MEA Risk LLC focuses on some of the most important events in North Africa and the Sahel that we are monitoring as of Friday, 23rd of December 2022. So this is a sort of week in review. This week was dominated by a couple of big events, the first is the political stalemate in Tunisia, and the second is about the collapse of the peace deal that was signed some 7 years ago by the government of Mali and rebel groups in the north. Each of these events are harbingers of more problems ahead.
2022-12-2408 min
Geopolitics Simplified by Arezki DaoudCan Algeria and Africa deliver more natural gas to EuropeWinter is near and Europe is facing an energy crisis after Russian attacked Ukraine. The EU and its member-countries have been looking for natural gas everywhere they can but the prospect of replacing Russian gas supplies on short notice will be difficult. Can Algeria and Africa fill the gap? In this podcast, Arezki Daoud argues that a short contribution from Africa will not be possible, but the longer term feels more optimistic.
2022-12-0613 minGeopolitics Simplified by Arezki DaoudFood shortages in Tunisia: brief explainer.Arezki Daoud of MEA Risk and The North Africa Journal visits Tunisia this November and is bringing better understanding on the challenges facing the Tunisians in their day-to-day living.
2022-11-2709 min
Geopolitics Simplified by Arezki DaoudRussia's War on Ukraine: North African Nations' PositionsThe Maghreb’s biggest nations and regional rivals, Algeria, and Morocco, so far have refrained from choosing a side in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. For its part, Tunisia has had ambivalent positions due to a number of factors, which we will cover in a moment. In general, though, these nations have had no intention on openly support one or the other party in the conflict and have assumed some neutrality based on multiple geopolitical factors. Broadly speaking and setting aside Ukraine as a sovereign nation, North African states see this conflict as one that opposes Russia, an extension of what used to be...
2022-10-2228 min
Geopolitics Simplified by Arezki DaoudAlgeria-Russia: Deconstructing Algeria’s relationship with Russia: Not as rosy as you thinkThe visit of President Emmanuel Macron to Algiers at the end of August shook up and challenged the Algerian authorities in their once again excellent relations with Russia. The French security and ministerial deployment that accompanied the trip of the French president and the most recent visit of a delegation of 16 French ministers to Algiers, was intended to solicit Algerian help to stop the Russian advance in the Sahel and West Africa and its deployment in Mali. And that’s how competition between Paris and Moscow on the heart and soul of Algeria has been intensifying.
2022-10-2212 min
Geopolitics Simplified by Arezki DaoudPodcast: Lebanon FallingThe past months have been particularly horrendous for Lebanon, a country that used to be called the Switzerland of the Arab World. The demise of Lebanon is not only a reflection of a deeply corrupt regime and a divided nation, but it is also synonymous of an Arab world where its leaders have no concept of solidarity. In this 8-minute podcast, Arezki shares his views on the current turmoil facing Lebanon.
2022-10-2207 min
Geopolitics Simplified by Arezki DaoudSahel: Burkina Faso’s security environment to worsen as Jihadi attacks likely to intensifyThe Sahelian nation of Burkina Faso has been a powder keg for some time and this weekend, the coup leader that toppled the previous government has been himself toppled by another coup. The situation in Burkina’s capital, Ouagadougou, has been extremely tense lately, with protesters attempting to raid the French embassy there, as France remains highly unpopular due to its policies in its former colonies. On Friday, 30th of September 2022, the security crisis in Burkina Faso spiraled out of control when low-ranking military officers announced their toppling of the junta leader, Colonel Paul-Henri Damiba. In this brief podcast, MEA Risk...
2022-10-0408 min
Geopolitics Simplified by Arezki DaoudThe escalating rivalry between Algeria and MoroccoThe escalating rivalry between Algeria and Morocco has had a destabilizing effect on the Maghreb region of North Africa. In fact, the entire western Mediterranean region is feeling the impact of the two countries’ strange competitive postures. Instead of cooperating to improve the living standards of their populations, the two countries have created a toxic environment in the Mediterranean allowing human smuggling, illegal emigration and drug trafficking to overwhelm parts of southern Europe, to say the least. In this podcast, Arezki Daoud, principal analyst at MEA Risk LLC and Editor of The North Africa Journal unpacks some of the realities s...
2022-09-2319 min
Geopolitics Simplified by Arezki DaoudThe Sahel in turmoil: How Bamako and Paris lost most of Mali's territoryThe year 2021 was a horrendous period for the region. All the problems that one can imagine were there, from the massacre of civilians to two military coups in Mali and of course, an aggressive expansion of the jihadist groups. Early last year saw the massacre of more than 100 people in two villages of northwestern Niger, in an area bordering Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. The targeting of civilians is now so intense that more civilians were killed than soldiers. Between January and November 2021, no fewer than 600 civilians in Niger were slaughtered in terrorist attacks, mainly conducted by an Islamic St...
2022-01-1824 min
Geopolitics Simplified by Arezki DaoudTunisia Revisited in 10 minutes: A MEA Risk analyst Arezki Daoud reviews of TunisiaTunisia Revisited: MEA Risk analyst Arezki Daoud reviews where Tunisia stands as of November 2021 in the areas of social and economic development.
2021-11-2010 min
Geopolitics Simplified by Arezki DaoudUnderstanding Tunisia's political crisis in ten minutes, by Arezki DaoudThere has been unusual interest in the west about the political crisis engulfing Tunisia this week. Naturally Tunisia was always seen the cradle of the Jasmin Revolution, and the nation that showed the best prospect of democratization. But this week, the president froze the parliament for one month and dismissed the prime minister, moves that were greeted with great jubilation by a large swath of the Tunisian population, but also seen by many, including some foreign observers as steps to kill the prospect of democracy in the country.
2021-07-2810 min
Geopolitics Simplified by Arezki DaoudHow governments in northern Africa are left with only repression as they are unable to governThis week (ending 21 January 2021), Tunisia made the front pages of global media with Tunisians clashing with security forces over the past days to complain about their living conditions. The riots, which are still underway, have been taking place in several regions, concentrating largely on disadvantaged areas and neighborhoods. In Morocco, the detention of thousands of suspects awaiting trial is clear evidence of a regime that has no interest in upholding its human rights obligations. In Algeria, the situation is even worse as the regime continues to harass activists, opposition politicians and Hirak militants. Egypt is probably the worst human r...
2021-01-2110 min
Geopolitics Simplified by Arezki DaoudTunisia faces a chaotic situation: Economic woes could bring back to power extremist politiciansTunisia is a boiling cauldron. It is certain that the Covid-19 epidemic is having a drastic impact on the country on many fronts. But the system put in place after the 2011 Jasmine Revolution, which was praised around the world as paving the way for the first democracy in the Arab world, has simply stalled. While the economy is facing unprecedented challenges, the very negative effects of such challenges could bring to power not only the Islamo-conservative movement that already attempted to govern in 2011 and failed, but also the party that ruled under dictator Ben Ali, both of which are a...
2020-11-2611 min
Geopolitics Simplified by Arezki DaoudNGOs in the Sahel: Operating in an increasingly challenging environment.In this episode, Arezki Daoud discusses with Do Christophe Ouattar of World Neighbors (http://WN.org) how NGOs are operating in the Sahel. Topics include coping with growing insecurity, environment degradation, the impact of Covid-19 on humanitarian affairs and much more.
2020-11-1843 min
Geopolitics Simplified by Arezki DaoudCovid-19 in the Maghreb region as of mid-November 2020In this brief podcast recorded on 12 November 2020, MEA Risk's Arezki Daoud provided an update on the Coronavirus in the Maghreb region. The state of the Covid-19 epidemic in the Maghreb looks rather bleak as we are reaching the mid-point of November 2020. As in during the Spanish flu pandemic, the Covid-19 virus is back with a vengeance in what could be a second wave. Newspapers in 1919 reported very similar patterns, whereby a second wave in fall and winter turned out to be deadlier than when the pandemic was confirmed in early 1918. Here is a quick snapshot of Maghreb countries as o...
2020-11-1211 min
Geopolitics Simplified by Arezki DaoudAlgeria: Another referendum confirming rejection of regimeIn this brief, Arezki Daoud is reacting to the results of the referendum for a new constitution in Algeria, Which was reported to have had less-than 24% turnout on Monday, November 2, 2020. This is a bad week for the Algerian regime, which should brace for a disastrous 2021.
2020-11-0205 min
Geopolitics Simplified by Arezki DaoudA Fragile Libyan Ceasefire by Arezki Daoud of MEA Risk LLCIn this “In case you missed it” brief, Arezki Daoud of MEA Risk discusses the challenges of the ceasefire to stick.
2020-10-2705 min