This 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 rights offender in the North Africa region. This week marks the anniversary of the demonstrations in Cairo’s Tahrir Square, which broke out on 25 January 2011, and which toppled another Arab tyrant Hosni Mubarak. This is a podcast by Arezki Daoud of MEA Risk LLC and Editor of The North Africa Journal. Transcript here: https://bit.ly/3iGEJt9 Download MP3 version of this episode: click here. Episode also available on: iTunes | Anchor.fm | Spotify | TuneIn Radio | Google Play |  Android Devices | Breaker.Audio |  Pocket.Cast  

MEA Risk Podcasts

How governments in northern Africa are left with only repression as they are unable to govern

Tunisia 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 bad idea for Tunisia. Download link.

Podcast: Tunisia faces chaotic situation, as economic woes could derail political progress

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.

Podcast: NGOs in the Sahel: Operating in an increasingly challenging environment

In this brief podcast recorded on 12 November 2020, MEA Risk's Arezki Daoud provides 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 of 12 November 2020.

Podcast: Evolution of the Covid pandemic in the Maghreb as of mid-Nov. 2020

In this “In case you missed it” brief, Arezki Daoud of MEA Risk discusses the challenges of the ceasefire in Libya to stick. ﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿ Download the episode here.

Libya: A Fragile Ceasefire: Podcast

In this episode, Arezki Daoud of MEA Risk LLC and Editor of the North Africa Journal revisits Algeria after the most recent brief review on Egypt. Why Algeria? because the country is bracing for yet another election on 1 November with the government of President Tebboune pushing for a new constitution. This podcast will highlight how much trouble Algeria is facing and how the long-term outlooks feels extremely compromised. ﻿

Podcast: One more election in Algeria and a highly compromised economic outlook

In this 20-minute podcast, MEA Risk analyst Arezki Daoud discusses how overstretched Egypt is and what could be the seeds of future unrest. Episode recorded on 21 September 2020.

Podcast: An overstretched Egypt and the seeds of future unrest

In this brief podcast recorded on 17 July 2020, MEA Risk analyst Arezki Daoud provides an update on what we are seeing in North Africa and the Sahel. The region is experiencing tumultuous events as the summer evolves. At this stage, it is clear that the fall season is expected to be intense.  There were at least five major events and flashpoints that dominated the front pages of the news this week: Covid-19 epidemic The Libyan crisis The Tunisian political crisis The Malian crisis The rising tension between Algeria and Morocco

Podcast: Covid-19 and the crises of Libya, Tunisia and Mali

18 June 2020: There have been increasing calls by pro-democracy militants to resume the Hirak anti-regime protest movement in Algeria, a situation that has prompted an intensification of government repression against opposition figures and rights activists. The Algerian regime faces an exceedingly difficult outlook. Not only the country’s economy is beyond repair in light of the current unpractical and unrealistic policies and the collapse of state revenues, but the antiquated methods of repression used by the security services are making it more likely for opposition to harden its anti-government sentiment over time. In this context, the Algerian regime has squandered all opportunities to fix the mess it has created in the first place, and is now running straight into a trap that it has built with its own hands. In this brief podcast, MEA Risk analyst and Editor of The North Africa Journal, Arezki Daoud, discusses the prospect of a resumption of anti-government protests in Algeria.

Podcast: Algeria braces for new cycle of anti-regime protests

In this brief opinion piece, MEA Risk's Arezki Daoud looks at the latest announcements on military spending in the Maghreb, a region that is expected to struggle with the economic fallout of the Covid-19 crisis. This brief was recorded on June 4, 2020.

Morocco and Algeria spending on questionable military hardware as their economy struggles

In this latest brief podcast, MEA Risk's Arezki Daoud addresses the issues of instability and security in the Sahel, focusing on the impact of Covid-19 pandemic, the insurgency and how government forces are magnifying the crisis in the sub-region.  This podcast was recorded on 29 May 2020.

Sahel Podcast: Covid-19, the insurgency and the brutality of government forces

The holy month of Ramadan is coming to an end this week and after four weeks of sacrifice and spiritual uplifting, millions of Muslims are excited to finally greet the Eid El-Fitr celebration. But this year’s excitement is being severely dampened by the impact the Coronavirus pandemic is having on centuries of religious practice. It is unthinkable that the Eid el-Fitr will take place largely indoors, without the usual mass morning prayers, parading of children and family members visiting in droves.  Yet this is what exactly is going to happen this year in most Muslim countries. Whether you are in Cairo, Algiers or Marrakesh, celebrations and the party will be subdued. In this nine-nine minute podcast, Arezki Daoud of MEA Risk LLC reviews the environment surrounding the end of Ramadan and the challenges ahead.

Eid el-Fitr in the time of Covid-19

This is a retrospect on North Africa and the Sahel region, for the week ending 24 April.  The review, which focuses on the latest on Covid-19 in the Maghreb, Egypt and the Sahel, is presented by MEA Risk analyst Arezki Daoud. The video version can also be seen on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpb4P1VX1aw

North Africa and the Sahel Review of week ending 24 April 2020: Lock-downs, curfews and government abuse

26 March 2020: North Africa is bracing for an unprecedented economic contraction, even if the coronavirus crisis were to be contained soon.  The fundamentals of economic growth are such, that the region is expected to witness an erosion of revenues driven by both internal and external factors, with direct hit on their own economic development and social safety nets. In this podcast, Arezki Daoud comments on the three North African nations of the Maghreb region, namely Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria. More on Egypt will come in a separate podcast. [Read the full transcript here]

Podcast: Outlook – North Africa faces unprecedented economic crisis accelerated by Covid-19

Today’s topic of MEA Risk podcast is to review North Africa coronavirus readiness as of 12 March 2020. The podcast is presented by Arezki Daoud. Link to the transcript can be found here: https://bit.ly/3cWJGus

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MEA Risk Podcasts

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