In a chat with Al Majalla, former Iraqi foreign minister Hoshyar Zebari details the run-up and aftermath of the US invasion of Iraq and its impact on the the Kurdish quest for legitimacy

Syrian novelist Khaled Khalifa shares his firsthand account from the heart of the country's capital, describing the endless sorrow of the Syrian people

A breakdown of Sudan's rich resources and the mounting obstacles preventing its economy from getting back on track

Analysis of the diplomatic movement regarding Syria including the positions of Gulf states, Syria's neighbours, world powers, and Turkey

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Islamist AKP party are facing its most serious challenge after two decades in power  

Six months after Iraq formed a new government, Iraqis have mixed views on al-Sudani's performance

Arabic poetry had a profound impact on human civilisation and enjoys a deservedly high status in world art and literature

A novelist who decried military rule, tracing it to the country's colonial roots, and a poet showing how tyranny destroys itself both resonate afresh as conflict rages in their homeland once more  

Amid little understanding of what started the war, the chances of a clear win for either side are slim in a complex situation. The longer it lasts, the greater the risk of humanitarian catastrophe.

Fighting from Khartoum to Darfur endangers hard-won international support for economic development in one of the world's poorest countries. And there may be worse to come for the Sudanese people.