Authors

Brian Dabbs

Brian Dabbs is a freelance journalist based in Cairo. He also currently writes and edits for the English edition of the Egyptian independent newspaper Al-Masry Al-Youm.

Articles written by Brian Dabbs

ICC Ruling Could Alter Culture of Political Violence in Kenya and Beyond

By Brian Dabbs 25 Jan 2012 | Briefing

The International Criminal Court decided Monday to bring four prominent Kenyan political figures to trial for war crimes allegedly committed during the 2007-2008 post-election violence that engulfed the country. The ruling is widely expected to fundamentally alter the culture of impunity that surrounds electoral violence in Kenya, with ramifications for politically orchestrated conflict throughout Africa.

Israel Targets East Africa With Kenya Security Pact

By Brian Dabbs 28 Nov 2011 | Briefing

Targeting East Africa as an area of vital strategic interest, Israel is heightening its regional presence, most notably through a security pact signed last week with Kenya. The move comes at a critical time for the East African nation, whose military campaign aimed at eradicating al-Qaida-linked al-Shabaab in Somalia has now entered its sixth week, while domestic security concerns continue to escalate.

For Kenya, the Threat of a Quagmire in Somalia

By Brian Dabbs 04 Nov 2011 | Briefing

Less than a mile from the Kenyan border, dozens of soldiers saunter along the derelict and flooded roads. Some are members of Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government (TFG). Others pledge allegiance to a local, allied militia. All are pitted against the al-Qaida-linked al-Shabaab militant group. And all welcome Kenya’s two-week-old military foray into Somalia that aims to eradicate al-Shabaab from the region.

Kenya Gets Pro-Active on Somalia Militancy

By Brian Dabbs 17 Oct 2011 | Briefing

Supported by military planes and helicopters, Kenyan tanks, military trucks and columns of troops streamed across the Somali border Sunday in coordination with Somali government soldiers. The mobilization comes in the wake of a spate of kidnappings along Kenya's porous border with Somalia that prompted the Kenyan government Saturday to effectively declare war on al-Qaida-linked Al-Shabaab militants.

Muslim Brotherhood No Threat to Egypt's Israel Policy

By Brian Dabbs 21 Jul 2011 | Briefing

As demonstrators continue to hunker down in Cairo's Tahrir Square, the Muslim Brotherhood has blamed a number of groups for infiltrating the protest and fomenting instability -- including, not surprisingly, Israelis. But the threat of a dramatic change in Egypt's policy toward Israel, should the Muslim Brotherhood garner substantial parliamentary power in elections this fall as expected, is equally minimal.