North Macedonia’s Democratic Resilience Deserves Proper Recognition
Western discussion of the country and the Western Balkans too often focuses on stereotypes about ethnic violence and intolerance – obscuring the real achievements.
Author: M Barbu
Albanian Ex-President Meta’s Comeback Greeted with Scepticism
Albania’s former President Ilir Meta’s return to frontline politics did not come as a surprise to anyone, but some doubt that his newly rebranded party will be able to compete successfully with well-entrenched Prime Minister Edi Rama.
Does the Nord Stream 1 shutdown show Europe can’t survive the winter without Russia gas exports?
Europe was facing an energy crisis even before the drama emerged about the Nord Stream 1 pipeline reopening from Russia to Germany.
While natural gas started flowing again on Thursday after the major pipeline shut down for 10 days of maintenance, Europe will still struggle to keep homes warm and industry humming this winter.
What do shrinkflation, skimpflation and stagflation mean and are they worse than inflation?
Have you been out to your favourite restaurant, only to discover the food wasn’t quite as good or the portions were much smaller? Or even eating at home has become more expensive as the supermarket shop adds up?
Arms trafficking from Libya to Niger is back; Nigeria, others should be concerned
Countries in the Sahel need to collaborate to stem the tide of weapons flowing through Niger.
Arms and ammunition seizures by security forces in Niger’s Agadez and Tahoua regions between January 2021 and February 2022 helped dismantle trafficking networks in the country. This is positive, but what do the seizures say about the extent of the problem? Is arms trafficking from Libya to countries in the south on the rise again?
The last ‘Arab Spring’ democracy is dangling by a thread
Once regarded as the sole democracy to have emerged from the mass protests of the Arab Spring in 2011, Tunisia on Tuesday passed a newly minted constitution that analysts fear could be the final nail in the coffin of its democratic era.
Anti-U.N. Protests in Congo Leave 15 Dead, Including 3 Peacekeepers
Demonstrators have accused international forces of failing to deter armed groups responsible for a wave of deadly attacks.
At least 15 people, including three U.N. peacekeepers, have been killed and 60 others injured in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, in an escalation of dayslong protests against the United Nations in a mineral-rich region that has been ravaged by incessant deadly violence.
Shadowy Al-Qaeda Fighters Heap Pressure On Mali’s Junta
Al-Qaeda jihadists are tightening the screws on Mali’s military junta, extending their attacks to the south of the country and hitting a key garrison town on the outskirts of the capital.
Raids last week displayed coordination and operational complexity at a range that is unprecedented in the country’s decade-long jihadist campaign, say analysts.
France could deliver drones to help Benin battle militants
France could deliver drones and more sophisticated weapons to Benin to help it tackle a worsening Islamist insurgency that is threatening the region, President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday.
Macron made the pledge during a joint press conference with Benin’s President Patrice Talon on the second leg of his three-nation tour of Cameroon, Benin and Guinea-Bissau.
7th Summit of the Astana Peace Process in Tehran: Implications for the Syrian Crisis
Three days after US President Joe Biden’s trip to the Middle East, Tehran hosted Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on July 19. This tripartite meeting was held within the framework of the seventh summit of the heads of states of the Astana Peace Process for Syria. The three parties announced that the next meeting will be held in Russia before the end of 2022. But what were the motivations of Turkey, Russia and Iran in attending the summit? And what are the summit’s consequences on the Syrian crisis?