Morocco’s Template for Dealing with Terrorism
OPINION — Africa has replaced the Middle East as the epicenter of global terrorist threats, according to a recent analysis by the United Nations Office […] More
North Africa
The Problem with The Sahel
OPINION — With little public notice, the two-decades-long U.S. war on terrorism continues in the Sahel, the semi-arid region of western and north-central Africa. According […] More
An Inside Account of the US Evacuation from Libya
Sarah Carlson is the author of a new book, In the Dark of War: A CIA Officer’s Inside Account of the U.S. Evacuation from Libya based in […] More
Libya’s Carpe Diem?
Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt, US Army (Ret) was the Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs from 2008-2009. Prior to that, he was the Deputy […] More
The Latest
Russian Influence Grows in the Middle East and North Africa
Bottom Line Up Front In both Syria and Libya, Russia has relied on a combination of mercenaries, weapons sales to proxies and clients, and […] More
Combatting Terrorism in West Africa and the Sahel
Cipher Brief Expert Emile Nakhleh is a retired CIA Senior Intelligence Service Officer and founding director of the CIA’s Political Islam Strategic Analysis Program Office. […] More
France Reconsiders Force Posture in the Sahel Amid Surging Violence
Bottom Line Up Front Islamic State in Greater Sahara (ISGS) is now seen by France and Sahelian countries as the greatest security threat in […] More
Energy Geopolitics in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Battle for Libya
Bottom Line Up Front Just last week, France agreed to send war frigates to the eastern Mediterranean, a decision welcomed by Greece and decried […] More
Understanding Haftar and the Path Ahead in Libya
United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres said on Tuesday that the situation in Libya is a “scandal” and expressed his frustration over countries pushing for […] More
How did Libya get where it is Today?
The Cipher Brief spoke with Ambassador Deborah K. Jones, former U.S. Ambassador to Libya (2013-2015) about the state of play in the country, who wants […] More
Fighting Over Access to Libya’s Energy Supplies
Bottom Line Up Front Fighting in Libya has dragged on for the past eight years following the ouster of the country’s longtime leader, the […] More
Geopolitical Conflict Underlying the War in Libya
This Academic Incubator column is part of a Cipher Brief academic partnership program that presents insights on global security-related issues from the next generation of […] More
Turkey Enters the Conflict in Libya
Bottom Line Up Front Turkey has intervened in Libya’s internecine civil war in an effort to prop up the increasingly beleaguered Government of National […] More
External Powers Set Their Sights on Libya
Bottom Line Up Front Turkish President Erdogan recently suggested that Ankara might intervene militarily in Libya if requested by the government in Tripoli. A […] More
Allegations of Intimidation and Torture Stalk Sisi’s Egypt
Bottom Line Up Front Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi continues his crackdown on any dissent, real or imagined. Since anti-corruption demonstrations began in late […] More
Sisi Responds to Protests in Egypt With an Iron Fist
Bottom Line Up Front In late September, protests erupted throughout Egypt in response to the widespread and systemic corruption of the regime of Abdel […] More
Protests Erupt in Egypt over Sisi’s Corruption
Bottom Line Up Front Exceedingly rare and courageous protests erupted throughout Egyptian cities this past weekend, with demonstrations against corruption. Corruption allegations claim that […] More
Libya’s Growing Criminal Enterprise
Bottom Line Up Front Throughout Libya’s civil war, widespread allegations have surfaced that strongman Khalifa Haftar operates as a modern-day warlord, using his power […] More
Libya: Spiraling Further Downward
Bottom Line Up Front On July 5, the U.N. Security Council issued a statement condemning an airstrike on a migrant detention camp in Libya […] More