The Geopolitical Desk is an independent media and business intelligence platform that provides actionable analysis on some of the world’s most complex regions.
All our reporting is built on first-hand access and human intelligence, for an audience of intelligent humans.
Our work is built for real-world decision-makers who need clarity, context and credible insight in complex environments. Subscribe now to support our work.
All our reporting is built on first-hand access and human intelligence, for an audience of intelligent humans.
Our work is built for real-world decision-makers who need clarity, context and credible insight in complex environments. Subscribe now to support our work.
Hello, we're glad you're here.
We're building The Geopolitical Desk into an impartial, evidence-based and expert-led source for trusted, field-informed reporting covering the Middle East & North Africa, and the actors and interests shaping their futures.
You may know us as the team behind Libya Desk. Since 2018, we’ve provided discreet, evidence-based reporting for clients working in Libya’s complex and contested environment — from embassies and energy majors to INGOs and multilateral institutions.
With The Geopolitical Desk, we’re building on that legacy to do something bigger.
Our mission is to deliver accurate, strategic and genuinely useful reporting to people working on high-stakes issues — from nuclear negotiations in Iran to political transitions in Libya or Sudan to energy security, business development and diplomacy across the Middle East and North Africa.
We want to strip out the noise and offer reporting that’s impartial, grounded in local realities, and credible. No Twitter spin. No recycled headlines. No AI hallucinations. Just sharp, field-informed analysis that helps you act early and with confidence.
We’re not chasing pageviews and we’re not built for virality. We’re building something sustainable, nuanced and with an actual real-world use — where the people who read our work are also the ones who make it possible.
If that sounds like you, we hope you’ll stick around and consider subscribing to support our work.
What we cover
Each week, we publish articles and reports built from interviews, human-sourced data, and on-the-ground access. Our current focus includes Libya, Algeria and Iran, with expanding coverage across the Gulf, Levant, and Sahel.
Currently, we're offering:
- A free plan that provides access to a selection of website articles, as well as access to three dedicated newsletters on Libya, Iran and the energy sector.
- Paid subscriptions offering deep-dives, expert analysis and business intelligence on countries such as Libya and Iran.
- Cross-cutting thematic insights on specific sectors including Oil & Gas, Banking & Finance and more.
- Downloadable resources that provide deeper insights and confidential analysis that is not published elsewhere.
- Custom research & advisory for clients needing tailored briefings, risk assessments, stakeholder mapping, and more.
- Real-time alerts and updates for institutional subscribers monitoring fast-changing environments, such as oil output in Libya or political risk in Iran.
- Free newsletters and accessible commentary for a wider policy and business audience
Some articles are free. Most of our deeper work is reserved for paid subscribers. And occasionally, we produce bespoke reports and briefings tailored to client needs.
Who it’s for
Our reporting is designed for professionals who don’t have time for cluttered dashboards or recyled analysis. Our subscribers include:
- Diplomats & foreign policy teams
- Energy companies & commodity traders
- Development actors & humanitarian planners
- Researchers, journalists, and security professionals
If you’re trying to understand or operate in the Middle East and North Africa, we exist to support you.
Why we’re doing this
We started in Libya because we believed better information could improve outcomes in a country besieged by disinformation, foreign interference and institutional collapse. Over time, we became known not just for our reporting on Libya, but for understanding how Libya fits into a much larger geopolitical web.
From Riyadh to Tehran, from Brussels to DC, from Beijing to Benghazi — we’ve spent years developing sources, building trust and staying close to the ground. Now, we’re bringing that same approach to The Geopolitical Desk.
We believe there’s a better way to cover this region. And we’re building it here, transparently and independently.
How we do it
Our editorial process prioritizes real-world observations and on-the-ground information gathering from a network of analysts, contributors, consultants and high-level sources.
Each report or article we publish is produced using a blend of:
- Primary research, including key informant interviews, focus groups, and field surveys;
- Desk research, drawing on verified open-source material and internal datasets in multiple source languages;
- A proprietary database, built on over six years of field research in high-risk environments like Libya;
- An internal editorial review from our executive team, which includes seasoned political risk and journalism professionals who have worked with institutions such as the BBC, the United Nations, USAID, and the European Union, amongst others.
We follow a strict editorial code based on four guiding values:
- Impartiality – We do not serve political agendas or promote specific actors or interest groups.
- Neutrality – We are an independent publication funded by readers, which allows us to maintain our neutrality while researching and reporting competing geopolitical interests.
- Do-No-Harm – We avoid publishing content that may endanger individuals or communities.
- Confidentiality – We protect our sources and treat sensitive information with the utmost discretion.
Who's behind it
Our editorial team brings together local and international experts with deep experience in conflict-affected and politically sensitive contexts.
The team is led by Oliver Crowley, Libya Idres and Mohamed Dorda, all of whom have worked in-house or as consultants for public and private sector institutions.
Libya Idres
With over a decade of experience leading editorial and communication initiatives in the region, Libya is widely regarded as one of the most trusted media professionals in Libya and a leading voice in North Africa.
She previously co-founded Almieyar, a Libya-based media platform, and served as Editor-in-Chief of Elkul, an award-winning news outlet supported by BBC Media Action.
Throughout her career, Libya has built and led cross-functional newsrooms, trained the next generation of media professionals across the region, and advised organizations on how to navigate volatile environments.
Mohamed Dorda
Mohamed is a senior researcher and political risk advisor with over 13 years of experience in the Middle East and North Africa.
He is a co-founder of Libya Desk and has served as a lead advisor to diplomatic missions, energy companies and multilateral institutions navigating complex regional contexts.
He brings deep insight into armed group dynamics, political negotiations, transitional governance, and regional security architecture.
Mohamed has designed and led dozens of large-scale research projects and is a regular contributor to confidential briefings and strategic assessments for institutional clients.
Oliver Crowley
Oliver previously co-founded Libya Desk, where he helped grow the business into one of the most trusted sources of political risk and energy analysis in the country.
Since then, he has led complex research and risk advisory projects in the Middle East and North Africa, advising companies, embassies, and international organizations.
Oliver’s background is in political economy, public affairs and strategic communications. He has lived and worked across North Africa and the Middle East.
Together with a wider pool of analysts, consultants and field researchers, the team convenes multiple times per week to review news, share analysis and develop a comprehensive understanding of ongoing developments across key markets that can serve as a reliable, independent source of information for professionals operating in the region.
Each desk is supported by analysts and field contributors who combine geopolitical fluency with hyperlocal insight to ensure our content is fact-checked and informed by the most up-to-date insights.
How we’re funded
The Geopolitical Desk is fully reader-supported. We don’t take grants or government funding, and we currently don’t accept advertising or sponsored content. Our only incentive is to produce high-quality intelligence that is valuable enough for professionals to pay for.
Our revenue comes from:
- Paid subscriptions
- Enterprise and institutional access
- Bespoke research and briefings
If you find our work useful, subscribing helps us continue producing it.
If you want to talk to us about institutional access, get in touch.
Follow Along
We publish new articles weekly, with regular coverage from our Libya, Iran, and Algeria Desks — and more Desks coming soon.
📬 Subscribe to our free newsletters
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If you like what we’re building, share it with someone in your network who works in this space.
If you have further questions about how we work, or if you're interested in a media partnership, enterprise plan, or custom research, please contact us at insights[at]thegeopoliticaldesk[dot]com.
Thanks for reading. We hope you stay with us as we continue our growth.