This week, Egypt’s parliament approves a motion to amend the country’s constitution. The proposed amendments would keep the current President, General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, in power until 2034. In Libya, Libyan National Army (LNA) commander Khalifa Hifter continues operation to take territory in the country’s southwest, including al-Sharara oil field. And in Washington, the US House of Representatives approves a motion to end US support for the war in Yemen as UN representatives in Hodeidah continue working to broker a deal between the Saudi-led coalition and Houthi fighters as they contest control of the strategic port city.
Further reading:
Egypt’s parliament approves constitutional amendments
- “Parliament advances constitutional amendments by overwhelming majority, opposition speaks out,” Mada Masr
- “Potential Changes to Egypt’s Presidential Term Limits,” Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy
- “Fact Sheet – Egypt’s Totalitarian Turn: Al-Sisi’s Crackdown Deepens,” Project on Middle East Democracy
Khalifa Hifter and LNA forces southwestern offensive
- “Eastern Libyan take over el-Sharara oil field,” Middle East Monitor
- “Interim Government’s Housing Minister resigns, accuses Haftar of “ethnic cleansing” against Libya’s Tabu,” Abdulkader Assad, Libya Observer
- “Feuding tribes unite as new civil war looms in Libya’s south,” Tom Westcott, Middle East Eye
- “Empowered decentralization: A city-based strategy for rebuilding Libya,” Brookings
US House of Representatives votes to end support for war in Yemen
- “House Votes to Halt Aid for Saudi Arabia’s War in Yemen,” Catie Edmondson and Charlie Savage, New York Times
- “Americans are morally responsible for America’s war on Yemen – a series on Yemen, part 1,” Shireen al-Adeim, Harvard Journal on Middle Eastern Politics and Policy
- “Houthi violations of Yemen’s Hodeidah truce lead to 76 civilian deaths,” Arab News
- “U.N.: Yemen warring parties agree preliminary compromise on Hodeidah,” Reuters