August 21, 2026: The Maghreb is the westernmost region of the Arab world. The Maghreb region comprises western and central North Africa, including Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Tunisia, and the disputed territory of Western Sahara. In 2010, most of this region erupted in revolutions, random violence, and fears that the violence would take years to pacify. The violence ended by 2012, except in Libya, which is still unsettled in 2026.

The Maghreb region encompasses most of northern Africa, including much of the Sahara Desert, but excludes Egypt and the Sudan, which are considered part of the eastern Arab world, known as the Mashriq. The traditional definition of the Maghreb is between the Atlas Mountains and the coastal Mediterranean plains that include

Morocco, currently peaceful and prosperous.

Algeria, after a period of chaos and uncertainty, held national elections last month and created a stable government.

Tunisia, long the most stable nation in the region, has growing problems with the military

For over a decade, two factions contested Libya's power. That appears to be ending.

Mauritania is quiet, with efforts to develop a true market economy.

Western Sahara: settlement of the ancient Morocco-Algeria claims on this area is under discussion.

The population is currently about 107 million. The people are largely Arabs and Berbers, along with minorities of Andalusians, Maghrebi Jews, Europeans, and Sahrawis. The languages are mainly Arabic, with varying amounts of Berber, French, and Spanish. The main religion is Sunni Islam, with small numbers of people practicing Judaism, Ibadi Islam, Shia Islam, and Christianity.