Since resuming diplomatic ties in March, Saudi Arabia and Iran have made rapid progress in rebuilding relations and pursuing de-escalation. While optimism abounds, there are genuine reasons for concern stemming from their starkly divergent views on regional and global politics and the threats therein.
The recent outbreak of violence in Sudan has already taken a heavy toll on the country and threatened stability abroad. Middle East Council scholars offer their insights on what’s driving the conflict, the imperative to bring it to a swift end, and its implications for Sudan and beyond.
As a region, the economies of the Middle East and North Africa sit at the bottom of world rankings on transparency. With this affecting everything from levels of corruption to foreign direct investment and resilience to external shocks, countries in the MENA region would be best served by creating more transparency and sharing accurate information.