On Thursday, the State Department released an overview of U.S. support for the Tunisian transition by helping lay the groundwork for responsive and accountable governance and supporting preparation for elections this summer.  In order to meet these goals, the Department is seeking to build the capacity of civil society organizations, political parties, and the media.  Additionally, in coordination with international partners and financial institutions, the U.S. is seeking to support ...

On Sunday, the Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR) issued a statement expressing concern over Bahraini students being forced to sign a pledge of allegiance "for the leadership of the Kingdom of Bahrain represented in His Majesty King Hamad Bin Essa Al Khalifa."  The pledge also requites the students to "respect the laws and regulations of the Kingdom of Bahrain" and promise "not to organise or participate in any eventor activity that is not ...

On Tuesday, the Conflict Prevention and Resolution Forum hosted a discussion on what lessons from South Africa and Indonesia can be applied to the political transitions in the Middle East and North Africa.  Leena El-Ali, Director of the Muslim-Western Relations and the Middle East and North Africa Programs at Search for Common Ground, who moderated the event, made opening remarks and introduced the following panelists: Endy Bayuni, Visiting Fellow at ...

Amnesty International has released its annual report on human rights, saying that while the uprisings across the Middle East have given rise to hope, there is serious backlash that must be dealt with if true success is to be realized.  While uprisings unseated leaders in Egypt and Tunisia, they have been halted by violence and repression in Libya, Syria, Yemen and elsewhere. Even in Egypt there are widespread fears that ...

Prominent Muslim Brotherhood leader Abdel Moneim Abouel Fotouh has announced that he will run for president, defying the group’s previous decision not to field a candidate.  Abouel Fotouh has said that he will run as an independent in the December election.  Disagreements between Abouel Fotouh and other Brotherhood leaders led to his exclusion from the Guidance Bureau, however he still commands a strong following from the younger Brotherhood members.  Abouel ...

During a Policy Forum at the Washington Institute of Near East Policy, chair of Middle East and Mediterranean Studies at Sciences Po Giles Kepel and Dr. Martin Kramer, the Washington Institute's Wexler Fromer fellow discussed the future of the Arab uprisings.  Kepel pointed tothe Arab people's economic grievances, frustrations over rampant corruption and the expiration of the Islamist threat as reasons for the revolution.  He also noted the differences between the Tunisian ...

Amanda Flu, writing for Time Magazine, chronicles a group of friends who have been turned tech revolutionaries following the start of the Syrian uprising. Based in Damascus this group of men are working to disseminate cell phone videos, images, and information of the revolution across the country to the world at large.  This self described "struggle for change, made for the sake of freedom and human dignity," is highly covert ...

According to the National Democratic Institute's Twitter feed, its team in Benghazi is currently meeting with youth, civil society and women activists. They are also meeting with the scouts, the largest civil society group in Libya. The team hopes to implement a project to engage youth in political life, similar to an earlier program with scout in Algeria. The team reports that they have been well-received by locals.

Writing in the New York Times, Roger Cohen stated "Osama Bin Laden is dead -- and so is an old Middle East" and noted that the recent events in the Middle East demonstrate how the al-Qaeda leader had lost touch with Arab youth who have "move irrelevant....Facebook and Twitter turned out to be far more effective agents of change than any 'martyrdom' attack on apostates, crusaders and Zionists – the ...

On Friday, protesters in Oman continued their sit-ins in the southern towns of Salalah and Sur.  Nearly 1500 people took place in the rally in Salalah, during which protesters called for freedom of expression and greater reform following the blockade of sites by local telecom operators.  Demonstrators have also demanded a probe into corruption by high level officials.  Protests in Oman began in January and led to Sultan Qaboos Bin ...

During a short briefing with the Omani Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah,  Secretary of State Hillary Clinton stated that the two would discuss not only U.S. relations with Oman but also the recent events in the Middle East.  The minister noted the importance of U.S.-Omani relations and expressed his belief that the country and the region needs to promote "our younger generation, which is now is, in ...

On Tuesday, the United States Institute of Peace, the National Democratic Institute, the Solidarity Center, and Human Rights Watch hosted a live video-conference with senior representatives of the Bahraini opposition including: Khalil Almarzooq, a leading member of the Al Wefaq Islamic National Society and its bloc’s official spokesperson; Dr. Muneera Fakhro, parliamentary member and senior leader of the leftist Wa’ad party; Mohammed Al Maskati, head of the Bahrain Youth Center ...

The Economist writes that the resignation deal for Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, brokered by Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council, will be signed on May 1st.  The deal requires  Saleh to hand over power to his vice president who will run a unity government for one month before Saleh officially resigns. After his resignation new presidential elections will be held in 60 days time.  The deal, which was ...

On Wednesday, Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, Judith McHale discussed the State Department's 'people-to-people' diplomacy initiative at the Exchange 2.0 Summit.  In her address, she noted the importance of engaging with more people "to better ensure the stability and security of our world."  She highlighted the youth presence online and the importance of the youth as "drivers of change" as seen in the Middle East and North ...

The Pew Research Center published a poll on Egypt's political outlook on Tuesday, offering the "first credible" statistical insight of the political trends in post-revolutionary Egypt. Researchers conducted personal interviews with 1,000 Egyptian adults between 24 March and 7 April. Generally, the poll shows a highly favorable view of the military, and split support for the Muslim Brotherhood, the April 6 Movement and Ayman Nour's Al-Ghad party. The ...