From the arming of tribes to protect goat herders to the rise of the RSF, who are currently fighting the military, Al Majalla sheds light on Sudan's endemic militia problem.

Because the government ceded an unhealthy degree of authority to local militias and tribal intermediaries, no one can dismantle these groups without risking their own lives.

In three generations, Palestinians have sought liberation, return, Jerusalem, statehood, nationhood, self-governance, and autonomy. Fatah has changed with the times and with events.

The history of Kurdish factions' demands and tactics across four states is fascinating, not least for their relationships with the states in question.

Israel's 'non-state actors': How Jewish militias opposed to a Palestinian state regularly employ violence and intimidation tactics to achieve their goals

The role of the state, society, and the individual has rarely been more in flux in the Middle East. The philosophical underpinning of their roles and relationships matters now more than ever.

Al Majalla explores the origins of Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad and prospects for their respective futures following the 7 October attacks on Israel.

Across MENA, the proliferation of militias combines corruption, smuggling, looting, intimidation, and parasitism to swell their coffers at the expense of state treasuries.

Non-state actors play an outsized role in the region's conflicts and wars. Hezbollah is a prime example of how these actors have blurred the lines between militancy and national governance.

The hand of Iran has helped the Houthis expand. It now controls Yemen's capital and deep-water port while laying siege to its third city in a land of tribal loyalties and simmering feuds.