Category: North Africa

North Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent. The largest ethnic groups in North Africa are the Egyptians, Arabs and the Berber tribes. North Africa is predominantly Muslim. Desert has been the dominant factor in the North African environment.

Here is a brief introduction to the seven North African Countries.

Algeria
Algeria covers 2,381,741 sq km. Around 90 percent of the nation is desert. Algeria is an authoritarian regime. Its economy is largely based on hydrocarbons. It has the second largest reserves of oil in the African continent. Algeria has the largest defense budget in Africa.

Egypt
Egypt is an Afro-Asiatic transcontinental country. It covers 1,010,000 sq km. Most of the country’s territory lies within the Nile Valley. More than 87 million people live in Egypt. It is the largest country in North Africa and the Arab World. Egypt’s legal system is basLibya
Libya covers almost 1.8 million sq km. Currently the nation is affected by civil war. Libya’s economy depends up on revenue from the oil sector, which accounts for 80 percent of GDP and 97 percent of exports. The nation holds the largest proven oil reserves in Africa.

Morocco
Morocco is the only nation in Africa to have both Atlantic and Mediterranean coastlines. More than 33 million people live in Morocco, which covers an area of 446,550 sq km. Morocco is a constitutional monarchy, with an elected parliament. The nation’s predominant religion is Islam. The nation has a relatively liberal economy.
Sudan
Sudan covers 1,886,068 sq km. Today, the country is widely recognized as an authoritarian state, whose legal system is based on Islamic Sharia law. Stoning is still a legal form of judicial punishment in Sudan. It is one of the fast growing economies in the world.

Tunisia
Tunisia is located on the Mediterranean coast of North Africa. The nation is a constitutional republic. The president is the head of state and the prime minister is the head of government. The nation’s legal system is influenced by French civil law. Tunisia is an export-oriented country.

Western Sahara
Western Sahara is a disputed territory, which covers around 266,000 sq km. It is one of the most sparsely populated territories in the world. The population is just over 500,000. Its economy is based on fishing and phosphate mining.

Egypt explained: 6 key questions

August 14, 2013 Global AuthorEgypt, Morsy, Muslim brotherhood, violence

A month after mass protests led to the ouster of President Mohamed Morsy, Egypt is still in turmoil. Morsy’s removal, carried out by the military on July 3, has angered his supporters and created deep division in the country. In some cases, the tension has led to violence. Hundreds have been killed and thousands have been injured in recent weeks, either… Read More

Egypt on Crossroads, Collective Effort Required

December 9, 2012 Global Author

Egypt is on a crossroad now, so is many regions in the Arab world. This is a fact that almost nobody could argue about. But the main question is how things are going to unfold in the near future, and how the government will manage to get out of the crisis without causing much damage to the already strained tense... Read More

Egypt’s Morsi Grants Himself Sweeping Powers

November 23, 2012 Global Author

Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi has caused controversy by putting himself above oversight and protecting Islamist lawmakers who support him.President Morsi Thursday declared that his decisions cannot be appealed by the courts or any other authority, citing a need to "protect the revolution." . Read More

Libya: Armed Protesters Occupy Parliament Area

November 3, 2012 Global Author

A group of armed men have occupied an area near Libya's parliament building after new Prime Minister Ali Zeidan and his Congress approved the Cabinet line-up, according to Associated Press. The militia members are demanding some of the ministers be removed because they have links to the late Muammar Gaddafi's regime, according to news reports. . Read More

Africa: Partnership, Engagement Highlight Africa Policy

November 3, 2012 Global Author

Washington — Say "Africa" to most Americans and they think of "the Dark Continent" - a land beset by problems and disasters, far enough away that anything that happens there cannot possibly affect America. And they would be wrong, said Amanda J. Dory, deputy assistant secretary of defense for African affairs. "What happens in Africa definitely affects the United States,"... Read More

Libya Crisis Becomes Focus of Presidential Race

October 17, 2012 Global Author

One year since the brutal assassination of former Libyan leader Col. Muammar Gaddafi, the political crisis inside this North African state has become a means used by the Republican Party to seal their attempt to defeat President Barack Obama on November 6. Although there was a cover-up involving the destruction of the United States consulate and annex in Benghazi on... Read More

Egypt’s prosecutor defies President Morsi order calling for his ouster

October 12, 2012 Global Author

CAIRO - Egypt's prosecutor general on Thursday defied his president's order to step down to defuse public anger over acquittals in a case of brutality against protesters during last year's uprising that topped the regime of Hosni Mubarak.Critics accused President Mohammed Morsi of exceeding his mandate. . Read More

Omar al-Bashir Orders Borders Reopened With South Sudan

October 7, 2012 Global AuthorDarfur, President Omar al-Bashir, Soth Sudan, Sudan

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has ordered land and river border crossings with South Sudan reopened, after agreements signed last month that eased tensions between the neighboring states. Sudan's state-run media said Sunday that Bashir "ordered the opening of all the highway or river gates on the border." The directive came as the president met with his new ambassador to South... Read More

Libyan forces deploy around former Gaddafi stronghold

October 4, 2012 Global Author

TRIPOLI - Libyan militias, operating alongside the Defence Ministry, have deployed their forces around a former stronghold of ousted dictator Muammar Gaddafi, officials said on Wednesday, stoking fears of impending fighting. The forces are surrounding parts of the town of Bani Walid, a week after the death of former Misrata rebel fighter Omran Shaban, which has raised tension between the... Read More

Remember Sirte!; Heroism and Apocalypse in the Libyan Desert

October 2, 2012 Global AuthorLibya, NATO, Obama

The month of October 2011 stands as an historical monument to heroism and apocalypse in the Libyan desert as the people of Sirte, hometown to Col. Gaddafi, staged a desperate, doomed fight to protect their families and homes from the might of NATO and its allied bands of Libyan rebels. With history all to often written by the victors, the... Read More