In July, the GCC Supreme Council announced the approval of a unified tourist visa allowing foreigners to access all six countries within the bloc using a single permit. With plans to pilot this by the end of 2025, the relaxation of rules encourages multi-destination trips across the Gulf region.
The chances of renewed fighting across the Libyan capital, Tripoli, appear increasingly likely as efforts to contain GNU Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dabaiba fail.
The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL)’s new political roadmap for resolving the national crisis has received rare praise across Libya’s political spectrum. It presents a real opportunity for success, but only if UNSMIL can capitalize on its momentum.
On 8 August, the Azerbaijani and Armenian leaders signed an agreement in Washington that is poised to end more than three decades of bilateral tensions and open the way to better connectivity, not only in the South Caucasus but also for the Middle Corridor linking China to Europe.
Libya’s High National Election Commission (HNEC) has finally conducted the long-awaited second round of municipal elections, but uncertainty remains as momentum builds for new national elections.
Saddam Haftar's rise as the successor to his father, LNA Commander Khalifa Haftar, ends the question of "who comes next?"—but now the real one begins: can he fill his father's shoes?
This report covers political and security updates in Libya for the week of August 1 - August 7, 2025. Clients can download the full report at the end of the summary.
The Gulf is positioned as a pivotal hub in the emerging India–Middle East–Europe Corridor (IMEC), with the potential to reshape global trade routes while diversifying its economies. This analysis explores EU–GCC integration and the geopolitical stakes driving IMEC’s future.
The recent peace deal between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda, known as the Washington Agreement, could unlock major economic opportunities in eastern Congo, particularly in the mining and infrastructure sectors. But serious challenges remain.
In recent years, UNSMIL has failed to provide meaningful leadership, allowing Libya’s political crisis to deepen with no clear path forward. While it has thus far fallen short of its mandate, it still retains the opportunity to recalibrate, though time and public confidence are running out.
This report covers political and security updates in Libya for the week of July 25 - July 31, 2025. Clients can download the full report at the end of the summary.
