Middle East & North Africa

The workshop in Rabat was the second in a series devoted to analyzing Morocco’s regional policy in Sub-Sahara Africa as well as its approach to tackling radicalization and violent extremism. Mid-level experts working in the field of policy analysis and advice in think tanks, academic research institutions, and comparable organizations were brought together with decision-makers from Morocco and the European Union to discuss options for action in the field. The participants had previously attended another workshop in Berlin on December 8-11, 2018.

The past years have seen a reorientation of Morocco’s regional foreign policy and an acceleration of Morocco’s economic integration with Sub-Saharan Africa. At the same time, socio-economic challenges at home persist and have reinforced domestic economic and political grievances, which have also acted as key drivers of radicalization. Consequently, some have criticized the increasing investments in countries south of the Sahara and called for greater domestic engagement to improve the country’s situation.

The past years have seen a reorientation of Morocco’s regional foreign policy and an acceleration of Morocco’s economic integration with Sub-Saharan Africa. At the same time, socio-economic challenges at home persist and have reinforced domestic economic and political grievances, which have also acted as key drivers of radicalization. Consequently, some have criticized the increasing investments in countries south of the Sahara and called for greater domestic engagement to improve the country’s situation.

The workshop in Tunis was the second in a workshop series devoted to analyzing issues related to the development of marginalized regions, decentralization and institution-building in Tunisia. It brought together mid-level experts who work in the field of policy analysis and advice in think tanks, academic research institutions, or comparable organizations, and who had previously attended a workshop in Berlin in August 2018 to discuss with decision-makers the options for action.

The workshop in Tunis was the second in a workshop series devoted to analyzing issues related to the development of marginalized regions, decentralization and institution-building in Tunisia. It brought together mid-level experts who work in the field of policy analysis and advice in think tanks, academic research institutions, or comparable organizations, and who had previously attended a workshop in Berlin in August 2018 to discuss with decision-makers the options for action.

Tunisia enjoys a unique status as the only Arab country with a parliamentary democracy in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). While this makes the country a beacon of hope, there are numerous challenges in the transformation process, as the 16 Tunisian and European participants of the workshop highlighted.