Welcome Home? Islamic State Returnees Test Balkan Countries’ Ability To Reintegrate – Analysis

The recent repatriation of families of ISIS fighters to Kosovo, Albania and North Macedonia poses a tough challenge to all three countries to rehabilitate them back into society.

By Fjori Sinoruka, Xhorxhina Bami and Sinisa Jakov Marusic*

On July 18, North Macedonia announced that it had repatriated 23 of its citizens who had spent the last few years on the battlefields in Syria and Iraq and been one-time members of Islamic State, ISIS.

UNHCR Urges Afghan Neighbor States to Keep Borders Open

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is concerned about the prevailing humanitarian needs within Afghanistan, and urges support to ensure that all those requiring assistance “are not forgotten.”

The situation on the ground across the country remains extremely fluid. While widespread fighting has decreased since the takeover of the country by the Taliban on Sunday, the full impact of the evolving situation is not yet clear. Many Afghans are extremely anxious about what the future holds, the report notes.

Who Really Are the Taliban? Is There a Taliban 2.0?

Who are the Taliban? We still see this question floating around a fair amount on social media and online. People also tend to confuse them with al-Qaeda. Now that the Taliban have taken over Afghanistan at a lightning pace over the last two weeks they claim to have been “reformed.”

Hallelujah! Can I get an “Amen!”

Yeah. Right.

Taliban has learnt sound-byte diplomacy

The Taliban’s media-savvy spokespersons send deceptive signals that appear socially and politically acceptable, while the organisation continues to pursue their military, ideological objective on the ground

As the Taliban take over Kabul for the second time in three decades, many questions are waiting to be answered. One that has occupied important editorial spaces across the world is that of the Taliban makeover — “has the Taliban really changed?” This is a hugely important question as the answer to this would have implications for tens of thousands of Afghans, especially women. Many voices including within the Taliban claim it has learnt from its mistakes and is now more pragmatic and less extremist.

The Past, Present, and Future of Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan

Al-Qaeda has not been eliminated from the Afghanistan-Pakistan (AfPak) region, and the group still enjoys significant support in the broader regional jihadist landscape.

To counter the aggressive U.S. counterterrorism campaign, al-Qaeda altered its organizational structure and strategy in AfPak, strengthening its roots in the region to ensure its survival.

Tunisie : référendum, Constitution, élections… ce que prévoit Kaïs Saïed

Près d’un mois après les annonces choc du 25 juillet, les prochaines étapes du programme présidentiel commencent à se dessiner. Explications.

À la stupeur suscitée par l’offensive menée contre l’assemblée et le gouvernement par le président tunisien, Kaïs Saied, le 25 juillet, a succédé l’attente et les interrogations. Les mesures exceptionnelles – gel de l’Assemblée, limogeage du gouvernement et prise en main des trois pouvoirs – engagées en s’adossant à l’article 80 de la Constitution sont provisoires et le président avait signifié de lui-même qu’il se donnait trente jours pour jeter les bases d’un changement de cap politique. Depuis, le pays est suspendu à l’annonce de cette feuille de route. Laquelle ne saurait tarder, selon des sources proches du palais.

Au Sahel, les regards sont braqués vers Kaboul

SCÉNARIO. L’échec des Américains et de la communauté internationale relance le débat sur la présence des troupes internationales au Mali et au Sahel.

Ce 18 août, cela fait un an jour pour jour que le président malien Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta a été chassé du pouvoir après des manifestations soutenues par les mouvements d’opposition, sur fond de lutte contre la corruption et face à l’impuissance de l’État pour contrer la violence. Cet anniversaire était l’occasion pour les Maliens de dresser un bilan de l’année écoulée, de faire le point sereinement sur les avancées et les attentes, mais les événements en Afghanistan, soit à plus de 8 000 kilomètres ont tout chamboulé.

The Next Act in the Afghan Tragedy

The collapse of the US’s position in Afghanistan has limited read-across to its relations with its NATO and Asian allies. But it is a stark reminder of the constraints on the UK as a global power.

This is a desperate time for the people of Afghanistan, as they await their fate under Taliban rule. While too much international aid has been wasted and embezzled, enough still got through to provide substantial improvements in health, education and economic opportunities for millions of Afghans, including many women and girls. All this is now at risk.