Umberto Profazio
@profazio.bsky.social
Part Time Analyst / Full Time Dad - Personal views on Libya, Maghreb, NorthAfrica and everything else - Bylines @ IISS + NDCF 🇬🇧 🇮🇹
Pinned
Announcements made during MbS' visit to the #US offered #SaudiArabia the opportunity to check most of the boxes in its wish list without yielding to US diplomatic pressure about normalisation with #Israel. My latest #Gulf Strategic Trend for NATO Foundation. /1 www.natofoundation.org/gulf/royal-p...
Royal-politik
Six months after US President Donald Trump’s visit to Riyadh, the first diplomatic engagement of his presidential term, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince - Scopri i progetti, le ricerche e le iniziative del...
www.natofoundation.org
November 26, 2025 at 8:18 AM
Announcements made during MbS' visit to the #US offered #SaudiArabia the opportunity to check most of the boxes in its wish list without yielding to US diplomatic pressure about normalisation with #Israel. My latest #Gulf Strategic Trend for NATO Foundation. /1 www.natofoundation.org/gulf/royal-p...
'Trump should understand that for MBS, this visit isn’t about normalization with Israel; it’s about normalizing his reputation as a serious international leader and valued U.S. partner.' @carnegieendowment.org
carnegieendowment.org/emissary/202...
carnegieendowment.org/emissary/202...
In Washington, MBS Is Focused on Normalization—but Not With Israel
The Saudi crown prince wants to secure his reputation as a serious international leader and valued U.S. partner.
carnegieendowment.org
November 20, 2025 at 10:42 AM
'Trump should understand that for MBS, this visit isn’t about normalization with Israel; it’s about normalizing his reputation as a serious international leader and valued U.S. partner.' @carnegieendowment.org
carnegieendowment.org/emissary/202...
carnegieendowment.org/emissary/202...
Just received the Armed Conflict Survey 2025 published by Routledge. This year's edition has been both challenging and rewarding. Together with my never-ending love affair with #Libya, I had also the opportunity to delve into #Iraq, #Syria and #Turkey, writing the chapters for these conflicts.
November 13, 2025 at 11:22 AM
A great pleasure to meet friends and colleagues in Brussels last week to discuss maritime security in the Mediterranean Sea. Huge thanks to Institut FMES, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung and SALMA Dialogue for organising this timely event.
November 13, 2025 at 9:50 AM
A great pleasure to meet friends and colleagues in Brussels last week to discuss maritime security in the Mediterranean Sea. Huge thanks to Institut FMES, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung and SALMA Dialogue for organising this timely event.
'En demandant l'éviction de l'équipe Akhannouch et en appelant au roi comme ultime recours, la GenZ 212 a placé Mohammed VI dans une situation compliquée.' www.lepoint.fr/monde/maroc-...
Maroc : la solitude du roi face à la jeunesse
LETTRE DU MAGHREB. Appelé en recours par la GenZ 212 qui demande la démission du gouvernement Akhannouch, Mohammed VI leur a répondu en filigrane.
www.lepoint.fr
October 31, 2025 at 10:14 AM
'En demandant l'éviction de l'équipe Akhannouch et en appelant au roi comme ultime recours, la GenZ 212 a placé Mohammed VI dans une situation compliquée.' www.lepoint.fr/monde/maroc-...
'Seventeen of the continent’s leaders are over 70, while the median age in Africa is 19.'
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/27/w...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/27/w...
Paul Biya, World’s Oldest President, Extends Rule Over Cameroon
www.nytimes.com
October 30, 2025 at 2:15 PM
'Seventeen of the continent’s leaders are over 70, while the median age in Africa is 19.'
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/27/w...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/27/w...
' #Turkey ’s acquisition of new #Eurofighter jets, which aim to rejuvenate the Turkish air force, will act as a stop gap until the domestically developed #Kaan fighter is added to the country’s inventory.'
www.defensenews.com/global/europ...
www.defensenews.com/global/europ...
Turkey signs $10.7 billion deal with UK for 20 Eurofighter jets
The deal will help sustain around 20,000 jobs in the U.K. The first delivery is expected to take place in 2030.
www.defensenews.com
October 30, 2025 at 2:08 PM
' #Turkey ’s acquisition of new #Eurofighter jets, which aim to rejuvenate the Turkish air force, will act as a stop gap until the domestically developed #Kaan fighter is added to the country’s inventory.'
www.defensenews.com/global/europ...
www.defensenews.com/global/europ...
'The concept is simple: host a major sporting event to attract positive media attention while diverting attention away from abuses. #Libya joins the likes of #SaudiArabia and the #UnitedArabEmirates in using #sportswashing to launder a record of rights violations.' www.hrw.org/news/2025/10...
Are European Football Clubs Sportswashing Libyan Abuses?
On the evening of October 10, two European football giants played a friendly match amid much fanfare in the newly renovated Benghazi International Stadium, to the spectators’ delight. The catch? The m...
www.hrw.org
October 30, 2025 at 10:58 AM
'The concept is simple: host a major sporting event to attract positive media attention while diverting attention away from abuses. #Libya joins the likes of #SaudiArabia and the #UnitedArabEmirates in using #sportswashing to launder a record of rights violations.' www.hrw.org/news/2025/10...
In the latest issue of #Horizons, you will find some reflections on how foreign partners have gradually reconsidered their #Libya policy, welcoming and strengthening ties with the House of the Haftars, while keeping official relations with the internationally-recognised government in Tripoli.
The normalisation of the Haftars
Developments in Libya and other conflict theatres in the Middle East and North Africa have been clearly overshadowed by the war in Gaza over the past two years. The risk of a wider escalation has rais...
www.linkedin.com
October 30, 2025 at 8:20 AM
Just a few days after US Senior Advisor for #Africa Massad Boulos said that Washington had no information on Russian forces being deployed in #Libya from #Syria, the air bridge between the two countries resumes, this time outbound from al-Khadim to al-Hmeimim.
www.agenzianova.com/en/news/ripr...
www.agenzianova.com/en/news/ripr...
Russian military flights between Syria and Libya resumed after a five-month suspension.
Russian military flights between Syria and Libya resume after a five-month suspension. Read all the latest news on Agenzia Nova.
www.agenzianova.com
October 29, 2025 at 10:10 AM
Just a few days after US Senior Advisor for #Africa Massad Boulos said that Washington had no information on Russian forces being deployed in #Libya from #Syria, the air bridge between the two countries resumes, this time outbound from al-Khadim to al-Hmeimim.
www.agenzianova.com/en/news/ripr...
www.agenzianova.com/en/news/ripr...
Accadde oggi. Mentre #Italia i dati ISTAT confermano un calo delle nascite con nuovo record negativo, @lemonde.fr analizza la crescita economica della #Spagna collegandola alle sue politiche che incoraggiano l' #immigrazione. Il vero dibattito che dovremmo avere.
www.lemonde.fr/idees/articl...
www.lemonde.fr/idees/articl...
Singulière en Europe, l’Espagne stimule sa prospérité grâce à l’immigration
ANALYSE. Madrid assume une politique migratoire ouverte. Portée par l’afflux de travailleurs latino-américains, l’économie espagnole devrait croître de 2,6 % en 2025.
www.lemonde.fr
October 21, 2025 at 12:21 PM
Accadde oggi. Mentre #Italia i dati ISTAT confermano un calo delle nascite con nuovo record negativo, @lemonde.fr analizza la crescita economica della #Spagna collegandola alle sue politiche che incoraggiano l' #immigrazione. Il vero dibattito che dovremmo avere.
www.lemonde.fr/idees/articl...
www.lemonde.fr/idees/articl...
Emirati patrol boats on their way to #Benghazi were intercepted by Spanish authorities this summer, in another breach of the UN arms embargo. This excellent piece explores the reasons why the seizure did not make big headlines in Europe, as expected.
www.ilfoglio.it/esteri/2025/...
www.ilfoglio.it/esteri/2025/...
Così gli Emirati danno agli Haftar le motovedette usate per respingere i migranti. Inchiesta
Il sequestro in Spagna di dieci imbarcazioni dirette a Bengasi svela una rete dei traffici fra Libia, Giordania, Emirati e Hong Kong. Il ruolo di Irini, i silenzi di Madrid e il doppio favore di ...
www.ilfoglio.it
October 21, 2025 at 9:51 AM
Emirati patrol boats on their way to #Benghazi were intercepted by Spanish authorities this summer, in another breach of the UN arms embargo. This excellent piece explores the reasons why the seizure did not make big headlines in Europe, as expected.
www.ilfoglio.it/esteri/2025/...
www.ilfoglio.it/esteri/2025/...
The normalisation of the Haftars. The Maghreb Union of Journalists picks #Benghazi as its headquarters, under the strict supervision of Gen. Haftar and his LNA, which has a pretty good record of arrests, intimidations and crackdown on journalism and civil society. libyareview.com/60231/libyas...
Libya’s Benghazi Officially Becomes Headquarters of Maghreb Union of Journalists
The city of Benghazi has officially been designated as the permanent headquarters of the Maghreb Union of Journalists, following a
libyareview.com
October 21, 2025 at 9:01 AM
The normalisation of the Haftars. The Maghreb Union of Journalists picks #Benghazi as its headquarters, under the strict supervision of Gen. Haftar and his LNA, which has a pretty good record of arrests, intimidations and crackdown on journalism and civil society. libyareview.com/60231/libyas...
Congratulations #PresaDiretta. Just as the #ICC founds #Italy non-compliant with its international obligations, you dare to ask some hard questions about externalisation policies in #Libya and #Tunisia. A lighthouse in the darkness of Italian journalism.
www.raiplay.it/video/2025/1....
www.raiplay.it/video/2025/1....
PresaDiretta 2025/26 - Trafficanti di uomini - 19/10/2025 - Video - RaiPlay
Un viaggio di PresaDiretta tra Bangladesh, Senegal, Tunisia e Svezia per indagare le rotte del traffico di esseri umani dalla Libia all'Europa. Un'inchiesta che svela i crimini della rete internaziona...
www.raiplay.it
October 20, 2025 at 12:52 PM
Congratulations #PresaDiretta. Just as the #ICC founds #Italy non-compliant with its international obligations, you dare to ask some hard questions about externalisation policies in #Libya and #Tunisia. A lighthouse in the darkness of Italian journalism.
www.raiplay.it/video/2025/1....
www.raiplay.it/video/2025/1....
Some people may see in this football match the return of normalcy to #Libya, especially to the east, the safer part of the country according to the current narrative. At a closer look it is a typical case of #sportwashing to the benefit of Gen. #Haftar and his clan.
libyaherald.com/2025/10/atle...
libyaherald.com/2025/10/atle...
Atletico Madrid win Benghazi’s Reconstruction Cup after beating Inter Milan 4-3 on penalties – great political showpiece
Atletico Madrid won the Reconstruction Cup held in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi. The football competition was sponsored and
libyaherald.com
October 15, 2025 at 8:37 AM
Some people may see in this football match the return of normalcy to #Libya, especially to the east, the safer part of the country according to the current narrative. At a closer look it is a typical case of #sportwashing to the benefit of Gen. #Haftar and his clan.
libyaherald.com/2025/10/atle...
libyaherald.com/2025/10/atle...
'Les membres de la Génération Z insistent constamment sur leur totale indépendance vis-à-vis des partis politiques et des syndicats, témoignant ainsi de l’aversion de toute une jeunesse pour les structures intermédiaires qui ont perdu toute crédibilité à leurs yeux.'
orientxxi.info/magazine/mar...
orientxxi.info/magazine/mar...
Maroc. Quand la Génération Z se soulève
Depuis le samedi 27 septembre, la vie du royaume est rythmée par les manifestations quotidiennes du mouvement GenZ 212. Lancée par des jeunes autonomes (…)
orientxxi.info
October 10, 2025 at 1:38 PM
'Les membres de la Génération Z insistent constamment sur leur totale indépendance vis-à-vis des partis politiques et des syndicats, témoignant ainsi de l’aversion de toute une jeunesse pour les structures intermédiaires qui ont perdu toute crédibilité à leurs yeux.'
orientxxi.info/magazine/mar...
orientxxi.info/magazine/mar...
'A letter from a group of 60 older intellectuals, dissidents and activists supportive of the youth-led demonstrators went further. Departing from #GenZ212 ’s demands, it said tensions could ease only by addressing “the deep and structural causes of the anger shaking our country".' /1
King Mohammed VI set to speak as Gen Z protesters demand reforms in Morocco
Morocco’s elusive King Mohammed VI is inaugurating parliament in a speech with far higher stakes than his annual addresses as anti-government protests have swept the nation’s cities and questioned the...
apnews.com
October 10, 2025 at 1:19 PM
'A letter from a group of 60 older intellectuals, dissidents and activists supportive of the youth-led demonstrators went further. Departing from #GenZ212 ’s demands, it said tensions could ease only by addressing “the deep and structural causes of the anger shaking our country".' /1
'Considerato la “scatola nera” del governo algerino, Haddad conosce molti dei segreti della storia del paese degli ultimi decenni, dai massacri compiuti durante la guerra civile ai legami tra Algeri il Fronte Polisario nel Sahara Occidentale.' www.nigrizia.it/notizia/alge...
Algeria: il “mistero” della fuga dell’ex capo dell’intelligence Haddad
Elusi gli arresti domiciliari sarebbe sbarcato in Spagna ad Alicante, ma i media algerini continuano a negare la notizia
www.nigrizia.it
October 10, 2025 at 8:59 AM
'Considerato la “scatola nera” del governo algerino, Haddad conosce molti dei segreti della storia del paese degli ultimi decenni, dai massacri compiuti durante la guerra civile ai legami tra Algeri il Fronte Polisario nel Sahara Occidentale.' www.nigrizia.it/notizia/alge...
“One of the motivations #Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar had for launching the Oct. 7 attacks was to derail the normalization process between #Israel and the Arab world, and especially a potential peace deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia,” [..] @washingtonpost.com
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...
Column | After two years, Israel’s Gaza war has reshaped the Middle East
Israel’s hard-power preeminence in the Middle East seems paramount. But the country’s leaders — and the entire region — still face an array of political challenges.
www.washingtonpost.com
October 9, 2025 at 9:30 AM
“One of the motivations #Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar had for launching the Oct. 7 attacks was to derail the normalization process between #Israel and the Arab world, and especially a potential peace deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia,” [..] @washingtonpost.com
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...
"Si le #Hamas part, ces milices vont remplir le vide, conclut-il. Des forces internationales ou arabes ne seront pas en mesure de les contenir et, avec le temps, elles pourraient même [les infiltrer]." @courrierinter.bsky.social
www.courrierinternational.com/article/plan...
www.courrierinternational.com/article/plan...
Des milices soutenues par Israël se préparent à prendre le pouvoir à Gaza
Alors que les négociations sont en cours autour du “plan de paix”, des gangs de pilleurs auraient accéléré les recrutements ces dernières semaines pour combler ...
www.courrierinternational.com
October 9, 2025 at 9:18 AM
"Si le #Hamas part, ces milices vont remplir le vide, conclut-il. Des forces internationales ou arabes ne seront pas en mesure de les contenir et, avec le temps, elles pourraient même [les infiltrer]." @courrierinter.bsky.social
www.courrierinternational.com/article/plan...
www.courrierinternational.com/article/plan...
From top-down to bottom-up: #Libya's local elections test the willingness of an entrenched leadership to move forward and break the status quo.
en.majalla.com/node/327663/...
en.majalla.com/node/327663/...
Can municipal polls help break Libya's political deadlock?
Eventually, with enough elected Libyans at the local level pushing for national-level change, they will stand a better chance of challenging the status quo, as it seems unlikely to come from the top.
en.majalla.com
October 8, 2025 at 9:42 AM
From top-down to bottom-up: #Libya's local elections test the willingness of an entrenched leadership to move forward and break the status quo.
en.majalla.com/node/327663/...
en.majalla.com/node/327663/...
If you get lost in the narrow streets between the Mattei Plan, the Global Gateway and the Rome Process, this policy brief by @kellyp90.bsky.social @arturovarvelli.bsky.social @ecfr.eu will guide you through, suggesting a more symbiotic relationship between the #EU and #Italy. ecfr.eu/publication/...
The turtle and the pilot fish: How the EU and Italy can help each other in the Mediterranean
Italy and the EU must work more closely together in the “Wider Mediterranean” on energy, migration and security. Here’s how they can do it.
ecfr.eu
October 7, 2025 at 10:26 AM
If you get lost in the narrow streets between the Mattei Plan, the Global Gateway and the Rome Process, this policy brief by @kellyp90.bsky.social @arturovarvelli.bsky.social @ecfr.eu will guide you through, suggesting a more symbiotic relationship between the #EU and #Italy. ecfr.eu/publication/...
I have read many awful articles on #Libya in the past decade. This is by far the worst. A black and white picture where the good have fancy Instagram accounts while the bad traffic migrants into Europe. Anyone with a superficial knowledge of the country will understand that. What a disgrace.
October 7, 2025 at 9:09 AM
I have read many awful articles on #Libya in the past decade. This is by far the worst. A black and white picture where the good have fancy Instagram accounts while the bad traffic migrants into Europe. Anyone with a superficial knowledge of the country will understand that. What a disgrace.
'Al-Nasr had become a buffer to extort migrants’ money, and Al-Maya a dead-end prison to capture international funds.' @wlacher.bsky.social and Jérome Tubiana explain how #Libya has turned #migrants into a source of revenue, blackmailing the #EU @monde-diplomatique.fr
mondediplo.com/2025/09/10li...
mondediplo.com/2025/09/10li...
The extortion state: how the EU helps Libya to turn migrants into cash
Open access // by Wolfram Lacher & Jérôme Tubiana (Le Monde diplomatique - English edition, September 2025)
mondediplo.com
October 6, 2025 at 10:25 AM
'Al-Nasr had become a buffer to extort migrants’ money, and Al-Maya a dead-end prison to capture international funds.' @wlacher.bsky.social and Jérome Tubiana explain how #Libya has turned #migrants into a source of revenue, blackmailing the #EU @monde-diplomatique.fr
mondediplo.com/2025/09/10li...
mondediplo.com/2025/09/10li...
'The executive order falls short of a NATO-style mutual defense agreement. Because it has not been ratified by the Senate, it is not binding. Future presidents will not be required to abide by it.' @washingtonpost.com
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...
Column | Israel may have underestimated Trump’s links with Qatar
The U.S. relationship with Qatar entered new territory this week with a security pledge from President Donald Trump.
www.washingtonpost.com
October 3, 2025 at 6:52 AM
'The executive order falls short of a NATO-style mutual defense agreement. Because it has not been ratified by the Senate, it is not binding. Future presidents will not be required to abide by it.' @washingtonpost.com
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...