North Africa and Middle East

Trusted news agencies tracing tendencies of democratisation and autocratisation globally

Freedom of expression04. December

Algerian court upholds 7-year sentence for French journalist Gleizes

Freedom of expression03. December

Tunisia detains leading human rights defender as crackdown continues

Freedom of expression27. November

Tunisian critic will stand further trials after release from prison

Equality before the law and individual liberties18. November

Washington welcomes Saudi crown prince 7 years after Khashoggi killing

Washington is welcoming Mohammed bin Salman seven years after US intelligence agencies linked Saudi Arabia's de-facto ruler to the killing of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi. President Trump will welcome MBS to the White House "to discuss bilateral issues".

DNA

Equal protection14. November

Indonesia prepares 20,000 soldiers for possible Gaza Strip mission

Indonesia says no decision has yet been made on when its troops will be deployed and what mandate they will have, underscoring the uncertainty over establishing an international presence in Gaza

DNA

Clean elections13. November

Coalition led by Iraqi PM al-Sudani wins parliamentary elections

The Reconstruction and Development Coalition has won the election in Iraq, with voter turnout just over half of eligible voters. The election period was marred by violence amid a democracy that continues to be fragile more than two decades after the toppling of Saddam Hussein.

DNA

12. November

Algeria pardons imprisoned author after German president's appeal

Sansal, 81, is known for his criticism of Algerian authorities as well as of Islamists. Algeria has now reacted positively to an appeal for his release by the German President

DNA

Political corruption12. November

Trump asks Israeli president to pardon Netanyahu

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has been facing corruption charges for years and US President Trump has once again weighed in on the debate, saying he believes the charges are unjustified.

DNA

Clean elections11. November

Iraq votes for new parliament amid disillusionment and division

Iraq is electing a new parliament. Not all possible voters have registered to vote—and that's not the only problem in a country whose democracy can be described as fragile.

DNA

Freedom of expression and alternative sources of information10. November

German president asks Algeria to pardon imprisoned author Sansal

German President Steinmeier has asked Algerian President Tebboune to pardon author Boualem Sansal. Sansal won a major German book prize in 2011, but has been jailed for undermining national unity in Algeria. Steinmeier offered medical care to the author, who is in poor health.

DNA

Clean elections27. October

Palestinian leader Abbas names successor 'in case of vacancy'

The head of the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah, Mahmoud Abbas, will turn 90 in mid-November. Now, the leader of the Fatah movement has announced a plan for his possible succession in the future.

DNA

23. October

EU to step up cooperation with Egypt to curb irregular migration

Concern over migration from war-torn and impoverished regions hangs over virtually all European elections these days. European Commission President von der Leyen met Egyptian President Al-Sissi in Brussels to offer millions in aid and in funding for border security systems.

DNA

22. October

ICJ: Israel must let Gaza aid in, work with UN agency for Palestinians

The UN's top court has issued a non-binding ruling to the effect that Israel must allow adequate aid into Gaza and cooperate with UNRWA, the UN body tasked with aiding Palestinians refugees. Israel has banned UNRWA, insisting it has been infiltrated by Hamas.

DNA

Civil Society Participation20. October

Morocco pledges social reforms amid protests

The wave of youth-led protests around the world continues to make an impact: the Moroccan government has announced social reforms in the hopes to meet demands of fed up Moroccan Gen Z'ers.

DNA

15. October

Sunni parliamentary candidate in Iraq assassinated in bomb blast

Ahead of parliamentary elections next month Sunni candidate Safaa al-Mashhadani was assassinated by car bomb in Baghdad. The killing revives fears of politically motivated violence reminiscent of earlier years of sectarian conflict.

DNA

14. October

Reports of Hamas executing rivals cause alarm in Gaza Strip

Reports, along with video material, indicate that Hamas is executing rivals and Palestinians it accuses of collaborating with Israel. The reports follow President Trump's remarks to journalists that the US has allowed the movement to retain its arms to establish order in Gaza.

DNA