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Excluded candidates, marginalized dissent before Tunisia’s presidential elections
Photo by Fethi Belaid/AFP via Getty Images
  • Analysis
  • Excluded candidates, marginalized dissent before Tunisia’s presidential elections

    Before Tunisian voters have their say in the presidential election on Oct. 6, state institutions have already had their say. The security services, judicial authorities, and the High Independent Electoral Authority (ISIE) have either obstructed or officially barred over a dozen potential candidates from running. Of the three eligible candidates officially approved by the ISIE, only President Kais Saied and former Saied supporter Zouhair Maghzaoui remain outside of prison. Candidate Ayachi Zammel was arrested on Sept. 6. Many other potential candidates attempted to run from prison or were jailed for alleged technical violations of election laws. By restricting the list of potential candidates effectively to two, state institutions have embraced their historically paternalistic, modernizing role toward a distrusted citizenry.

    September 17, 2024

    Azerbaijan’s green shift: Energy transition, COP29 commitments, and US collaboration
    Photo by Aziz Karimov/Getty Images
  • Analysis
  • Azerbaijan’s green shift: Energy transition, COP29 commitments, and US collaboration

    Azerbaijan seeks to establish itself as a major actor in the global energy transition space as it prepares to host the 2024 UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, on November 11-22. COP29 offers many opportunities to improve US-Azerbaijani energy cooperation, including by coordinating the United States’ clean energy technology goals with Azerbaijan’s renewable energy revolution.

    September 9, 2024

    Brokering a solution to the Libyan Central Bank crisis
    Photo by Weisserstier via Flickr, licensed under the terms of Creative Commons 2.0
  • Analysis
  • Brokering a solution to the Libyan Central Bank crisis

    The ongoing effort by various factions in Libya to gain control of the Central Bank of Libya (CBL) poses a clear and present danger for the entire country, threatening its safety and security as well as its economy.

    Powering up: Turkey-Iraq transmission line is part of a broader strategic shift
    Photo by THAIER AL-SUDANI/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
  • Analysis
  • Powering up: Turkey-Iraq transmission line is part of a broader strategic shift

    On July 21, 2024, Iraq inaugurated a new power line connecting Turkey and Iraq to handle Turkish electricity imports. Iraq is operationalizing this new power line with the goal of ensuring a more stable energy future, reshaping its geopolitical relationships, and reducing its reliance on Iran.

    August 7, 2024

    Special Briefing: The regional impact of Ismail Haniyeh’s assassination
  • Commentary
  • Special Briefing: The regional impact of Ismail Haniyeh’s assassination

    In a new special briefing, scholars from across MEI weigh in with their thoughts on the assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh and the potential regional impact.

    July 31, 2024

    Israeli Strikes and the Risk of Regional Escalation
  • Podcast
  • Israeli Strikes and the Risk of Regional Escalation

    This week’s episode looks at the dramatic regional developments of the past 24 hours, including the Israeli strike on a top Hezbollah commander in Beirut and the assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. The strikes mark a significant escalation, and are expected to provoke retaliation from Iran and Hezbollah that could potentially ignite a wider regional conflict.

    July 31, 2024