Iraq’s provincial elections provide signals about the maturity of the country’s political system, as well as highlight new power brokers in the provinces.

Jan Eliasson, the UN secretary-general’s special envoy for Darfur, says any new political agreement on Darfur must reflect the realities on the ground.

The Sinai Peninsula has in recent years become a haven for transnational crime and Islamist militancy, posing new security challenges to Egypt and Israel.

An increasingly chaotic political situation in Darfur may require a more inclusive round of negotiations than currently envisioned.