Libya’s Abnormal New Normal

Libya’s Abnormal New Normal

Author: Arezki Daoud May 24, 2024 Duration: 10:34

Since 2011, Libya has been engulfed in a bloody civil war after the death of Muammar Gaddafi. Over the years, it was easy to identify the problem:  too many foreign regional players and global powers meddling in Libya’s affairs, explicitly or implicitly seeking to impose their vision on what Libya ought to be through local proxies. These foreign meddlers had no shortage of proxies within Libya. One of them is the so-called internationally recognized Government of National Unity based in Tripoli in the northwest of the country, headed by Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibeh. And then in Sirte is the rival entity called the Government of National Stability led by Osama Hamada. The latter is supported by the House of Representatives and the Libyan National Army, both essentially representing eastern Libya. Although from an optic perspective he was appointed by the Libyan House of Representatives as commander of the Tobruk-based Libyan National Army, self-proclaimed Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar is the man who calls the shots in eastern Libya and beyond.  He is the man who many foreign parties like to talk to, despite the existence of two competing Prime Ministers and two legislative bodies.


Trying to make sense of the world's complex power struggles and regional conflicts can feel overwhelming. Geopolitics Simplified by Arezki Daoud cuts through that noise with clear, accessible commentary. Host Arezki Daoud, drawing from his professional background with MEA Risk LLC, focuses his lens primarily on the intricate dynamics of Africa and the Middle East, regions often at the heart of global shifts but frequently misunderstood. Each episode breaks down a current event or a longer-term strategic development, explaining not just what is happening, but the historical roots and potential consequences behind the headlines. You'll hear a straightforward analysis that avoids academic jargon, designed for anyone curious about how international relations affect economics, security, and daily life in different corners of the planet. This isn't about dry recitations of facts; it's about connecting dots in a way that provides genuine understanding. The podcast delivers these insights with a consistent and informed perspective, making even the most tangled geopolitical situations comprehensible. For regular listeners, this becomes an essential tool for forming a more nuanced view of global news, moving beyond simplistic narratives to grasp the underlying forces shaping our interconnected world.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 59

Geopolitics Simplified by Arezki Daoud
Podcast Episodes
North Africa - Sahel week in review 1 - Week ending 23 December 2022 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:47
This podcast hosted by Arezki Daoud of MEA Risk LLC focuses on some of the most important events in North Africa and the Sahel that we are monitoring as of Friday, 23rd of December 2022. So this is a sort of week in revi…
Can Algeria and Africa deliver more natural gas to Europe [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:11
Winter is near and Europe is facing an energy crisis after Russian attacked Ukraine. The EU and its member-countries have been looking for natural gas everywhere they can but the prospect of replacing Russian gas supplie…
Food shortages in Tunisia: brief explainer. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:16
Arezki Daoud of MEA Risk and The North Africa Journal visits Tunisia this November and is bringing better understanding on the challenges facing the Tunisians in their day-to-day living.
Russia's War on Ukraine: North African Nations' Positions [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:23
The Maghreb’s biggest nations and regional rivals, Algeria, and Morocco, so far have refrained from choosing a side in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. For its part, Tunisia has had ambivalent positions due to a number of…
Podcast: Lebanon Falling [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:29
The past months have been particularly horrendous for Lebanon, a country that used to be called the Switzerland of the Arab World. The demise of Lebanon is not only a reflection of a deeply corrupt regime and a divided n…
The escalating rivalry between Algeria and Morocco [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:28
The escalating rivalry between Algeria and Morocco has had a destabilizing effect on the Maghreb region of North Africa. In fact, the entire western Mediterranean region is feeling the impact of the two countries’ strang…