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Country Algeria Algeria ( or ; Literary Arabic: '; Algerian Arabic,Tamazight: Dzayer, ⴷⵣⴰⵢⴻⵔ; ), officially People's Democratic Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa on the Mediterranean coast. Its capital and most populous city is Algiers. With a total area of , 90% of which is desert, Algeria is the tenth-largest country in the world, and the largest in Africa and in the Mediterranean. The country is bordered in the northeast by Tunisia, in the east by Libya, in the west by Morocco, in the southwest by Western Sahara, Mauritania, and Mali, in the southeast by Niger, and in the north by the Mediterranean Sea. The territory of today's Algeria was the home of many prehistoric cultures, including Aterian and Capsian and the "Proto-Imaziɣen" cultures. Its area has known many empires and dynasties, including ancient Amaziɣ Numidians, Phoenecians, Lybio-Punic Carthaginians, Romans, Vandals, Byzantines, Arab Umayyads, Arab Abbasids, Multi-Ethnic Fatimids, Amaziɣ Hammadids, Amaziɣ Almoravids, Amaziɣ Almohads, Turkish Ottomans and the French colonial empire. In recent decades Algeria and other nations of the "Desert Belt" have experienced an identity crisis; in response Algeria and Morocco have nationalized Tamaziɣt, the language of their 13,000 year old people. Algeria is a semi-presidential republic consisting of 48 provinces and 1541 communes. With a population of 37.9 million, it is the 35th most populated country on Earth. Abdelaziz Bouteflika has been the President of Algeria since 1999 and has won four consecutive elections. However, according to the Democracy Index, Algeria is an authoritarian regime. Chad Chad (تشاد, ; Tchad, ), officially the Republic of Chad (جمهورية تشاد ; République du Tchad "Republic of the Chad"), is a landlocked country in north-central Africa. It is bordered by Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic to the south, Cameroon and Nigeria to the southwest, and Niger to the west. It is the fifth largest country in Africa and the second-largest in Central Africa in terms of area. Chad has several regions: a desert zone in the north, an arid Sahelian belt in the centre and a more fertile Sudanian Savanna zone in the south. Lake Chad, after which the country is named, is the largest wetland in Chad and the second-largest in Africa. The capital N'Djamena is the largest city. Chad's official languages are Arabic and French. Chad is home to over 200 different ethnic and linguistic groups. The most popular religion of Chad is Islam (at 55%), followed by Christianity (at 40%). Comoros The Comoros (جزر القمر, '), officially the Union of the Comoros (Comorian: Umoja wa Komori, Union des Comores, الاتحاد القمري '), is an island country in the Indian Ocean located at the northern end of the Mozambique Channel off the eastern coast of Africa between northeastern Mozambique, the French region of Mayotte, and northwestern Madagascar. The capital and largest city in Comoros is Moroni. The religion of the majority of the population is Sunni Islam. At 1660 km2, excluding the contested island of Mayotte, the Comoros is the fourth-smallest African nation by area. The population, excluding Mayotte, is estimated at. As a nation formed at a crossroads of different civilisations, the archipelago is noted for its diverse culture and history. The archipelago was first inhabited by Bantu speakers who came from East Africa, supplemented by Arab and Austronesian immigration. Djibouti Djibouti (Yibuuti, جيبوتي ', undefined, Jabuuti, officially the Republic of Djibouti''') is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is bordered by Eritrea in the north, Ethiopia in the west and south, and Somalia in the southeast. The remainder of the border is formed by the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden at the east. Djibouti occupies a total area of 8958 sqmi. Djibouti has always been a very active member in the African Union and the Arab League. Eritrea Eritrea, officially the State of Eritrea is a country in the Horn of Africa, with its capital at Asmara. It is bordered by Sudan in the west, Ethiopia in the south, and Djibouti in the southeast. The northeastern and eastern parts of Eritrea have an extensive coastline along the Red Sea. The nation has a total area of approximately 117600 km2, and includes the Dahlak Archipelago and several of the Hanish Islands. Its toponym Eritrea is based on the Greek name for the Red Sea (Ἐpuθpὰ Θάλaσσa Erythra Thalassa), which was first adopted for Italian Eritrea in 1890. Eritrea is a multi-ethnic country, with nine recognized ethnic groups in its population of around million. Most residents speak languages from the Afroasiatic family, either of the Ethiopian Semitic languages or Cushitic branches. Among these communities, the Tigrinyas make up about 55% of the population, with the Tigre people constituting around 30% of inhabitants. In addition, there are a number of Nilo-Saharan-speaking Nilotic ethnic minorities. Most people in the territory adhere to Christianity or Islam. Libya Libya (ليبيا, ), officially the State of Libya, is a country in the Maghreb region in North Africa, bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south and Algeria and Tunisia to the west. The sovereign state is made of three historical regions: Tripolitania, Fezzan and Cyrenaica. With an area of almost 1.8 e6km2, Libya is the fourth largest country in Africa, and is the 16th largest country in the world. Libya has the 10th-largest proven oil reserves of any country in the world. The largest city and capital, Tripoli, is located in western Libya and contains over one million of Libya's six million people. The second-largest city is Benghazi, which is located in eastern Libya. Libya has been inhabited by Berbers since the late Bronze Age. The Phoenicians established trading posts in western Libya, and ancient Greek colonists established city-states in eastern Libya. Libya was variously ruled by Carthaginians, Persians, Egyptians and Greeks before becoming a part of the Roman Empire. Libya was an early centre of Christianity. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, the area of Libya was mostly occupied by the Vandals until the 7th century, when invasions brought Islam to the region. In the 16th century, the Spanish Empire and the Knights of St John occupied Tripoli, until Ottoman rule began in 1551. Libya was involved in the Barbary Wars of the 18th and 19th centuries. Ottoman rule continued until the Italian occupation of Libya resulted in the temporary Italian Libya colony from 1911 to 1947. During the Second World War, Libya was an important area of warfare in the North African Campaign. The Italian population then went into decline. Mauritania Mauritania is a country in Northwest Africa. It is the eleventh largest sovereign state in Africa and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west, Western Sahara to the north and northwest, Algeria to the northeast, Mali to the east and southeast, and Senegal to the southwest. The country derives its name from the ancient Berber kingdom of Mauretania, which existed from the 3rd century BCE into the 7th century CE in the far north of modern-day Morocco and Algeria. Approximately 90% of Mauritania's land is within the Sahara; consequently, the population is concentrated in the south, where precipitation is slightly higher. The capital and largest city is Nouakchott, located on the Atlantic coast, which is home to around one-third of the country's million people. The government was overthrown on 6 August 2008, in a military coup d'état led by General Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz. On 16 April 2009, Aziz resigned from the military to run for president in the 19 July elections, which he won. Morocco Morocco (المغرب; ; Maroc), officially the Kingdom of Morocco (المملكة المغربية; ; Royaume du Maroc), is a country located in the Maghreb region of North West Africa with an area of 710,850 km2. Its capital is Rabat, the largest city Casablanca. It overlooks the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. Morocco claims the areas of Ceuta, Melilla and Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera, all of them under Spanish jurisdiction. Since the foundation of the first Moroccan state by Idris I in 788 AD, the country has been ruled by a series of independent dynasties, reaching its zenith under the Almoravid and Almohad dynasties, spanning parts of Iberia and northwestern Africa. The Marinid and Saadi dynasties continued the struggle against foreign domination, allowing Morocco to remain the only northwest African country to avoid Ottoman occupation. The Alaouite dynasty, which rules to this day, seized power in 1631. In 1912, Morocco was divided into French and Spanish protectorates, with an international zone in Tangier. It regained its independence in 1956, and has since remained comparatively stable and prosperous by regional standards. Somalia Somalia ( Soomaaliya; الصومال), officially the Federal Republic of Somalia (Jamhuuriyadda Federaalka Soomaaliya; جمهورية الصومال الفيدرالية, is a country with its territory located in the Horn of Africa. It is bordered by Ethiopia to the west, Djibouti and Somaliland to the northwest, the Gulf of Aden to the north, the Guardafui Channel and Somali Sea to the east, and Kenya to the southwest. It is separated from Socotra by the Guardafui Channel in the northeast and from the Seychelles by the Somali Sea. Somalia has the longest coastline on Africa's mainland, and its terrain consists mainly of plateaus, plains and highlands. Climatically, hot conditions prevail year-round, with periodic monsoon winds and irregular rainfall. In terms of culture, religion, ethnicity and linguistics, it has been described as the "only" and the "most" homogeneous country in Africa. Somalia has an estimated population of around million. Around 85% of its residents are ethnic Somalis, who have historically inhabited the northern part of the country. Ethnic minorities are largely concentrated in the southern regions. The official languages of Somalia are Somali and Arabic, both of which belong to the Afroasiatic family. Most people in the country are Muslim, with the majority being Sunni. Sudan Sudan or the Sudan (, ; السودان as-Sūdān), officially the Republic of the Sudan (جمهورية السودان Jumhūriyyat as-Sūdān), is a country in East Africa. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea to the east, Ethiopia to the southeast, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the southwest, Chad to the west, and Libya to the northwest. It houses 37 million people (2017) and occupies a total area of 1,861,484 square kilometres (718,722 square miles), making it the third-largest country in Africa. Sudan's predominant religion is Islam, and its official languages are Arabic and English. The capital is Khartoum, located at the confluence of the Blue and White Nile. Since 2011, Sudan is the scene of ongoing military conflict in its regions South Kordofan and Blue Nile. Sudan's history goes back to the Pharaonic period, witnessing the kingdom of Kerma (c. undefined 2500 BC–1500 BC), the subsequent rule of the Egyptian New Kingdom (c. undefined 1500 BC–1070 BC) and the rise of the kingdom of Kush (c. undefined 785 BC–350 AD), which would in turn control Egypt itself for nearly a century. After the fall of Kush the Nubians formed the three Christian kingdoms of Nobatia, Makuria and Alodia, with the latter two lasting until around 1500. Between the 14th and 15th centuries much of Sudan was settled by Muslim (But not all Sudanese are considered Arabs). From the 16th–19th centuries, central and eastern Sudan were dominated by the Funj sultanate, while Darfur ruled the west and the Ottomans the far north. This period saw extensive Islamization. Tanzania Tanzania officially the United Republic of Tanzania (Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania), is a country in eastern Africa within the African Great Lakes region. It borders Uganda to the north; Kenya to the northeast; Comoro Islands at the Indian Ocean to the east; Mozambique and Malawi to the south; Zambia to the southwest; and Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west. Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest mountain, is in north-eastern Tanzania. The very first humans known lived in Pliocene Tanzania 6 million years ago. The genus Australopithecus ranged all over Africa 4-2 million years ago; and the oldest remains of the Homo genus are found near Lake Olduvai. Following the rise of Homo erectus 1.8 million years ago, mankind spread all over the Old World, and later in the New World and Australia under the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens also overtook Africa and absorbed the older archaic species and subspecies of humanity. One of the oldest known ethnic groups still existing, the Hadzabe, appears to have originated in Tanzania, and their oral history recalls ancestors who were tall and were the first to use fire, medicine, and lived in caves, much like Homo erectus or Homo heidelbergensis who lived in the same region before them. Tunisia Tunisia (officially the Republic of Tunisia) is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa, covering 163,610 km2. Its northernmost point, Cape Angela, is the northernmost point on the African continent. It is bordered by Algeria to the west and southwest, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Tunisia's population was 11.435 million in 2017. Tunisia's name is derived from its capital city, Tunis, which is located on its northeast coast. Geographically, Tunisia contains the eastern end of the Atlas Mountains, and the northern reaches of the Sahara desert. Much of the rest of the country's land is fertile soil. Its 1,300 km of coastline include the African conjunction of the western and eastern parts of the Mediterranean Basin and, by means of the Sicilian Strait and Sardinian Channel, feature the African mainland's second and third nearest points to Europe after Gibraltar. Uganda Uganda, officially the Republic of Uganda (Jamhuri ya Uganda), is a landlocked country (except for its borders with Lake Victoria and Lake Albert) in East-Central Africa. It is bordered to the east by Kenya, to the north by South Sudan, to the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to the south-west by Rwanda, and to the south by Tanzania. The southern part of the country includes a substantial portion of Lake Victoria, shared with Kenya and Tanzania. Uganda is in the African Great Lakes region. Uganda also lies within the Nile basin, and has a varied but generally a modified equatorial climate. Uganda takes its name from the Buganda kingdom, which encompasses a large portion of the south of the country, including the capital Kampala. The people of Uganda were hunter-gatherers until 1,700 to 2,300 years ago, when Bantu-speaking populations migrated to the southern parts of the country. United Arab Republic The United Arab Republic (UAR; الجمهورية العربية المتحدة ) was a sovereign state in the Middle East from 1958 to 1971. It was initially a political union between Egypt (including the occupied Gaza Strip) and Syria from 1958 to until Syria seceded from the union after the 1961 Syrian coup d'état, leaving a rump state, while Egypt continued to be known officially as the United Arab Republic until 1971. The republic was led by President of Egypt Gamal Abdel Nasser. The UAR was a member of the United Arab States, a loose confederation with the Mutawakkilite Kingdom of Yemen, which was dissolved in 1961. Western Sahara Western Sahara (الصحراء الغربية ; ; Spanish and French: Sahara Occidental) is a disputed territory on the northwest coast and in the Maghreb region of North and West Africa, partially controlled by the self-proclaimed Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic and partially occupied by neighboring Morocco. Its surface area amounts to 266000 km2. It is one of the most sparsely populated territories in the world, mainly consisting of desert flatlands. The population is estimated at just over 500,000, of which nearly 40% live in Laayoune, the largest city in Western Sahara. Occupied by Spain until the late 20th century, Western Sahara has been on the United Nations list of non-self-governing territories since 1963 after a Moroccan demand. It is the most populous territory on that list, and by far the largest in area. In 1965, the UN General Assembly adopted its first resolution on Western Sahara, asking Spain to decolonize the territory. One year later, a new resolution was passed by the General Assembly requesting that a referendum be held by Spain on self-determination. In 1975, Spain relinquished the administrative control of the territory to a joint administration by Morocco (which had formally claimed the territory since 1957) and Mauritania. A war erupted between those countries and a Sahrawi nationalist movement, the Polisario Front, which proclaimed the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) with a government in exile in Tindouf, Algeria. Mauritania withdrew its claims in 1979, and Morocco eventually secured de facto control of most of the territory, including all the major cities and natural resources. The United Nations considers the Polisario Front to be the legitimate representative of the Sahrawi people, and maintains that the Sahrawis have a right to self-determination. Bahrain Bahrain (البحرين ' ), officially the Kingdom of Bahrain (مملكة البحرين '), is an island country in the Persian Gulf. The sovereign state comprises a small archipelago centered around Bahrain Island, situated between the Qatar peninsula and the north eastern coast of Saudi Arabia, to which it is connected by the 25 km King Fahd Causeway. Bahrain's population is 1,234,571 (c. 2010), including 666,172 non-nationals. It is 765.3 km2 in size, making it the third-smallest nation in Asia after the Maldives and Singapore. Bahrain is the site of the ancient Dilmun civilisation. It has been famed since antiquity for its pearl fisheries, which were considered the best in the world into the 19th century. Bahrain was one of the earliest areas to convert to Islam, in 628 CE. Following a period of Arab rule, Bahrain was occupied by the Portuguese in 1521, who in turn were expelled in 1602 by Shah Abbas I of the Safavid dynasty under the Persian Empire. In 1783, the Bani Utbah clan captured Bahrain from Nasr Al-Madhkur and it has since been ruled by the Al Khalifa royal family, with Ahmed al Fateh as Bahrain's first hakim. Israel Israel (إِسْرَائِيل), officially the State of Israel, is a country in Western Asia, located on the southeastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea and the northern shore of the Red Sea. It has land borders with Lebanon to the north, Syria to the northeast, Jordan on the east, the Palestinian territories of the West Bank and Gaza Strip to the east and west, respectively, and Egypt to the southwest. The country contains geographically diverse features within its relatively small area. Israel's economic and technological center is Tel Aviv, while its seat of government and proclaimed capital is Jerusalem, although the state's sovereignty over Jerusalem has only partial recognition. Israel has evidence of the earliest migration of hominids out of Africa. Canaanite tribes are archaeologically attested since the Middle Bronze Age, while the Kingdoms of Israel and Judah emerged during the Iron Age. The Neo-Assyrian Empire destroyed Israel around 720 BCE. Judah was later conquered by the Babylonian, Persian and Hellenistic empires and had existed as Jewish autonomous provinces. The successful Maccabean Revolt led to an independent Hasmonean kingdom by 110 BCE, which in 63 BCE however became a client state of the Roman Republic that subsequently installed the Herodian dynasty in 37 BCE, and in 6 CE created the Roman province of Judea. Judea lasted as a Roman province until the failed Jewish revolts resulted in widespread destruction, expulsion of Jewish population and the renaming of the region from Iudaea to Syria Palaestina. Jewish presence in the region has persisted to a certain extent over the centuries. In the 7th century CE, the Levant was taken from the Byzantine Empire by the Arabs and remained in Muslim control until the First Crusade of 1099, followed by the Ayyubid conquest of 1187. The Mamluk Sultanate of Egypt extended its control over the Levant in the 13th century until its defeat by the Ottoman Empire in 1517. During the 19th century, national awakening among Jews led to the establishment of the Zionist movement in the diaspora followed by waves of immigration to Ottoman Syria and later British Mandate Palestine. Jordan 4% Christianity 1% Druze, Bahá'í Kuwait Kuwait ( الكويت ', or ), officially the State of Kuwait (دولة الكويت '), is a country in Western Asia. Situated in the northern edge of Eastern Arabia at the tip of the Persian Gulf, it shares borders with Iraq and Saudi Arabia. , Kuwait has a population of 4.5 million people: 1.3 million are Kuwaitis and 3.2 million are expatriates. Expatriates account for 70% of the population. Oil reserves were discovered in commercial quantities in 1938. From 1946 to 1982, the country underwent large-scale modernization. In the 1980s, Kuwait experienced a period of geopolitical instability and an economic crisis following the stock market crash. In 1990, Kuwait was invaded, and later annexed, by Saddam's Iraq. The Iraqi occupation of Kuwait came to an end in 1991 after military intervention by a military coalition led by the United States. Kuwait is a major non-NATO ally of the United States. It is also a major ally of ASEAN, while maintaining a strong relationship with China. Lebanon Lebanon (لبنان ; Lebanese pronunciation: ; Liban), officially known as the Lebanese Republic (الجمهورية اللبنانية ; Lebanese pronunciation: ; République libanaise), is a country in Western Asia. It is bordered by Syria to the north and east and Israel to the south, while Cyprus is west across the Mediterranean Sea. Lebanon's location at the crossroads of the Mediterranean Basin and the Arabian hinterland facilitated its rich history and shaped a cultural identity of religious and ethnic diversity. At just 10,452 km 2 (4,036 sq. mi.), it is the smallest recognized sovereign state on the mainland Asian continent. The earliest evidence of civilization in Lebanon dates back more than seven thousand years, predating recorded history. Lebanon was the home of the Canaanites/Phoenicians and their kingdoms, a maritime culture that flourished for over a thousand years (c. 1550–539 BC). In 64 BC, the region came under the rule of the Roman Empire, and eventually became one of the Empire's leading centers of Christianity. In the Mount Lebanon range a monastic tradition known as the Maronite Church was established. As the Arab Muslims conquered the region, the Maronites held onto their religion and identity. However, a new religious group, the Druze, established themselves in Mount Lebanon as well, generating a religious divide that has lasted for centuries. During the Crusades, the Maronites re-established contact with the Roman Catholic Church and asserted their communion with Rome. The ties they established with the Latins have influenced the region into the modern era. Mesopotamia Mesopotamia is a historical region of Western Asia situated within the Tigris–Euphrates river system, in modern days roughly corresponding to most of Iraq, Kuwait, parts of Northern Saudi Arabia, the eastern parts of Syria, Southeastern Turkey, and regions along the Turkish–Syrian and Iran–Iraq borders. The Sumerians and Akkadians (including Assyrians and Babylonians) dominated Mesopotamia from the beginning of written history (c. 3100 BC) to the fall of Babylon in 539 BC, when it was conquered by the Achaemenid Empire. It fell to Alexander the Great in 332 BC, and after his death, it became part of the Greek Seleucid Empire. Oman Oman (عمان ' ), officially the Sultanate of Oman''' (سلطنة عُمان ), is an Arab country on the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. Its official religion is Islam. Holding a strategically important position at the mouth of the Persian Gulf, the country shares land borders with the United Arab Emirates to the northwest, Saudi Arabia to the west, and Yemen to the southwest, and shares marine borders with Iran and Pakistan. The coast is formed by the Arabian Sea on the southeast and the Gulf of Oman on the northeast. The Madha and Musandam exclaves are surrounded by the UAE on their land borders, with the Strait of Hormuz (which it shares with Iran) and Gulf of Oman forming Musandam's coastal boundaries. Palestine Palestine usually refers to: * Palestine (region), a geographical and historical region in the Middle East Qatar Qatar (,, or ; قطر ' ; local vernacular pronunciation: ), officially the State of Qatar (دولة قطر '), is a country located in Western Asia, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula. Whether the sovereign state should be regarded as a constitutional or an absolute monarchy is disputed. Its sole land border is with neighbouring Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) monarchy Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its territory surrounded by the Persian Gulf. An arm of the Persian Gulf separates Qatar from the nearby Bahrain. In early 2017, Qatar's total population was 2.6 million: 313,000 Qatari citizens and 2.3 million expatriates. Islam is the official religion of Qatar. The country has the highest per capita income in the world. Qatar is classified by the UN as a country of very high human development and is widely regarded as the most advanced Arab state for human development. Qatar is a high-income economy, backed by the world's third-largest natural gas reserves and oil reserves. Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia (, ; السعودية '), officially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA; المملكة العربية السعودية ', ), is a country in Western Asia constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula. With a land area of approximately, Saudi Arabia is geographically the largest sovereign state in the Middle East, the second-largest in the Arab world (after Algeria), the fifth-largest in Asia, and the 12th-largest in the world. Saudi Arabia is bordered by Jordan and Iraq to the north, Kuwait to the northeast, Qatar, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates to the east, Oman to the southeast and Yemen to the south; it is separated from Israel and Egypt by the Gulf of Aqaba. It is the only nation with both a Red Sea coast and a Persian Gulf coast, and most of its terrain consists of arid desert, lowland and mountains. As of October 2018, the Saudi economy was the largest in the Middle East and the 18th largest in the world. Saudi Arabia also enjoys one of the world's youngest populations; 50% of its 33.4 million people are under 25 years old. The territory that now constitutes Saudi Arabia was the site of several ancient cultures and civilizations. The prehistory of Saudi Arabia shows some of the earliest traces of human activity in the world. The world's second-largest religion, Islam, emerged in modern-day Saudi Arabia. In the early 7th century, the Islamic prophet Muhammad united the population of Arabia and created a single Islamic religious polity. Following his death in 632, his followers rapidly expanded the territory under Muslim rule beyond Arabia, conquering huge and unprecedented swathes of territory (from the Iberian Peninsula in the West to modern day Pakistan in the East) in a matter of decades. Arab dynasties originating from modern-day Saudi Arabia founded the Rashidun (632–661), Umayyad (661–750), Abbasid (750–1517) and Fatimid (909–1171) caliphates as well as numerous other dynasties in Asia, Africa and Europe. Syria Syria (سوريا ), officially the Syrian Arab Republic (الجمهورية العربية السورية ), is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon to the southwest, the Mediterranean Sea to the west, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest. A country of fertile plains, high mountains, and deserts, Syria is home to diverse ethnic and religious groups, including Syrian Arabs, Greeks, Armenians, Assyrians, Kurds, Circassians, Mandeans and Turks. Religious groups include Sunnis, Christians, Alawites, Druze, Isma'ilis, Mandeans, Shiites, Salafis, Yazidis, and Jews. Sunni make up the largest religious group in Syria. Syria is a unitary republic consisting of 14 governorates and is the only country that politically espouses Ba'athism. It is a member of one international organization other than the United Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement; it has become suspended from the Arab League on November 2011 and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, and self-suspended from the Union for the Mediterranean. United Arab Emirates The United Arab Emirates (UAE; دولة الإمارات العربية المتحدة '), sometimes simply called the Emirates (الإمارات '), is a country in Western Asia at the southeast end of the Arabian Peninsula on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman to the east and Saudi Arabia to the south, as well as sharing maritime borders with Qatar to the west and Iran to the north. The sovereign constitutional monarchy is a federation of seven emirates consisting of Abu Dhabi (which serves as the capital), Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah and Umm Al Quwain. Their boundaries are complex, with numerous enclaves within the various emirates. Each emirate is governed by a ruler; together, they jointly form the Federal Supreme Council. One of the rulers serves as the President of the United Arab Emirates. In 2013, the UAE's population was 9.2 million, of which 1.4 million are Emirati citizens and 7.8 million are expatriates. Human occupation of the present UAE has been traced back to the emergence of anatomically modern humans from Africa some 125,000 BCE through finds at the Faya-1 site in Mleiha, Sharjah. Burial sites dating back to the Neolithic Age and the Bronze Age include the oldest known such inland site at Jebel Buhais. Known as Magan to the Sumerians, the area was home to a prosperous Bronze Age trading culture during the Umm Al Nar period, which traded between the Indus Valley, Bahrain and Mesopotamia as well as Iran, Bactria and the Levant. The ensuing Wadi Suq period and three Iron Ages saw the emergence of nomadism as well as the development of water management and irrigation systems supporting human settlement in both the coast and interior. The Islamic age of the UAE dates back to the expulsion of the Sasanians and the subsequent Battle of Dibba. The UAE's long history of trade led to the emergence of Julfar, in the present day emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, as a major regional trading and maritime hub in the area. The maritime dominance of the Persian Gulf by Emirati traders led to conflicts with European powers, including the Portuguese and British. Yemen Yemen (ٱلْيَمَن), officially known as the Republic of Yemen (ٱلْجُمْهُورِيَّة ٱلْيَمَنِيَّة), is a country at the southern end of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. Yemen is the second-largest Arab sovereign state in the peninsula, occupying 527,970 km2. The coastline stretches for about 2000 km. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, the Gulf of Aden and Guardafui Channel to the south, and the Arabian Sea and Oman to the east. Yemen's territory includes more than 200 islands. Yemen's constitutionally stated capital is the city of Sana'a, but the city has been under Houthi rebel control since February 2015.
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Country Alžir Alžir, službeno Alžirska Narodna Demokratska Republika je država u sjevernoj Africi i najveća zemlja po veličini na afričkom kontinentu. Na sjeveru izlazi na Sredozemno more. Graniči na sjeveroistoku s Tunisom, na istoku s Libijom, na jugoistoku s Nigerom, na jugozapadu s Malijem i Mauritanijom te na zapadu s Marokom i Zapadnom Saharom. Džibuti Džibuti (arap. Jumhūriyah Jibūti, Đumhűriyya Đibűtî ), država u istočnoj Africi. Na istoku izlazi na Crveno more i Adenski zaljev, dijelove Indijskog oceana. Graniči na jugoistoku sa Somalijom, na jugu i zapadu s Etiopijom te na sjeveru s Eritrejom. Odvojena je od Jemena na Arapskom poluotoku 20 km širokim morskim prolazom Bab el-Mandeb. Dvije trećine stanovnika zemlje živi u glavnome gradu. Odnos većinskih Somalijaca i manjinskih Afara u nedavnoj je povijesti često bio neprijateljski. Somalijici u Džibutiju uglavnom pripadaju jednome od dva klana. Dominatni klan je Issa, a manji je Gadabuursi, a oba su dio klana Dir. Ostali stanovnici su uz Afare, Europljani (Talijani i Francuzi), Arapi, te Etiopljani. Eritreja Eritreja je država u sjeveroistočnoj Africi na obali Crvenog mora. Graniči sa Sudanom na sjeverozapadu, Etiopijom na jugu te Džibutijem na jugoistoku. Nakon prestanka sovjetske vojne pomoći Etiopiji eritrejski gerilci uspjeli su početkom devedesetih pobijediti etiopske snage i izvojevati neovisnost. Mlada je država bila dodatno opterećena dvogodišnjim ratom s Etiopijom oko granične crte koji je izbio 1998. Obećana demokratizacija zemlje nije provedena i Eritreja je još uvijek jednostranačka država kojom vlada Narodni front za demokraciju i pravdu (PFDJ), nasljednik oslobodilačkog pokreta EPLF, i njegov vođa Isaias Afewerki. Svi su javni mediji u državnom vlasništvu. Komori Komori su otočna država u južnoj Africi. Nalaze se u Mozambičkom kanalu između otoka Madagaskara i afričkog kopna. Sastoje se od tri veća vulkanska otoka: Njazidja (Grande Comore, 1.148 km²), Nzwani (Anjouan, 425 km²) i Mwali (Mohéli, 290 km²) i nekoliko manjih. Obližnji otok Mayotte, na kojeg Komori polažu pravo, francuska je kolonija. Komori se ubrajaju među najsiromašnije zemlje svijeta. Gospodarstvo se osniva na poljoprivredi i ribarstvu, stranoj pomoći i doznakama radnika iz inozemstva. BDP je u 2002. bio 700 USD po stanovniku, mjereno po PPP-u. Libija Libija (arap. ليبيا, Lībiyā, ar. Lībya , berberski: ), država je u sjevernoj Africi na obali Sredozemnog mora. Graniči na istoku s Egiptom, na jugoistoku sa Sudanom, na jugu s Čadom i Nigerom, na zapadu s Alžirom te na sjeverozapadu s Tunisom. Do početka 20. stoljeća područje današnje Libije bilo je pokrajina Osmanskog Carstva. Godine 1912. Libija je postala talijanskom kolonijom. Za vrijeme Drugog svjetskog rata bila je poprište žestokih pustinjskih borbi, a nakon rata Libiji je dana neovisnost. Otkriće nafte 1959. potpuno je preobrazilo dotada siromašnu zemlju ovisnu o stranoj pomoći. Godine 1969. u vojnom je udaru vlast preuzela vojna skupina na čelu s Moamerom Gadafijem koji od tada, iako bez formalnih funkcija, vlada do 2011., kada je nakon ustanka naroda koji je prerastao u rat (Rat u Libiji 2011.), na kraju i ubijen. Danas je Libija demokratska republika. Maroko Maroko je država u sjeverozapadnoj Africi u regiji poznatoj kao Magreb, na obali Atlantskog oceana i Sredozemnog mora. Graniči na sjeveru sa španjolskim eksklavama Ceuta i Melilla, na istoku i jugoistoku s Alžirom te na jugu s teritorijem Zapadne Sahare koja je trenutno pod marokanskom kontrolom. Arapsko ime zemlje, "Al-Mamlakâ l-Maġribīyâ", znači "Zapadna kraljevina". Marokansko gospodarstvo karakterizira otprilike podjednaka zastupljenost poljoprivrede, industrije i usluga u BDP-u. Mauretanija Mauretanija (službeno Islamska Republika Mauretanija) je država u zapadnoj Africi na obali Atlantskog oceana. Graniči na sjeveru s teritorijem Zapadna Sahara, na sjeveroistoku s Alžirom, na istoku i jugu s Malijem te na jugozapadu sa Senegalom. Sjeverni i većinu središnjeg dijela zemlje zauzima pustinja Sahara u kojoj je život ograničen na oaze. Na jugu zemlje prostire se stepski Sahel gdje nešto veća količina oborina omogućuje razvoj nomadskog stočarstva i ograničenog ratarstva. Sjedilačka poljoprivreda moguća je samo na krajnjem jugozapadu uz obale granične rijeke Senegal. Reljef Mauretanije sastoji se od nizina i niskih uzvisina, a najviši vrh je Kediet Ijill (915 m) na sjeveru uz zapadnosaharsku granicu. Somalija Somalija je država u istočnoj Africi u regiji znanoj kao "Rog Afrike" na obali Indijskog oceana. Na sjeverozapadu graniči s Džibutijem, na zapadu s Etiopijom i Kenijom. Somalija je jedno od rijetkih područja svijeta bez organizirane vlasti. Somalijska je obala s 2720 km najdulja na afričkom kontinentu. Sjeverni dio zemlje brdovit je s nadmorskim visinama od 1000 do 2000 m (somalijska visoravan), a središnja i južna područja su ravna s prosječnom visinom ispod 200 m. Rijeke Džuba i Šebele izviru u Etiopiji i teku prema jugu u Indijski ocean, ali ga Shebelle ne dostiže, osim u kišnom razdoblju. Sudan Sudan je država u sjeveroistočnoj Africi, po površini treća na kontinentu. Na sjeveroistoku izlazi 853 km dugom obalom na Crveno more, a graniči sa sljedećim zemljama: * Egiptom na sjeveru, Tanzanija Ujedinjena Republika Tanzanija (svahili: Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania) ili Tanzanija država je na istočnoj obali Afrike. Graniči s Kenijom i Ugandom na sjeveru, Ruandom, Burundijem i DR Kongo na zapadu te Zambijom, Malavijem i Mozambikom na jugu. Na istoku, Tanzaniju oplakuju vode Indijskog oceana. Savezna Republika Tanganjika i Zanzibar je nastala 1964. godine, spajanjem Tanganjike i Zanzibara, koji su u godinama prije ujedinjenja stekli neovisnost od Velike Britanije. Država je kasnije preimenovana u Tanzanija (Tanganjika + Zanzibar). Godine 1996. glavnim je gradom službeno postala Dodoma, umjesto dotadašnjeg Dar es Salaama (u kojem su još uvijek neke vladine institucije). Tunis Tunis (arapski: تونس, službeno: Tuniška Republika (الجمهورية التونسية) magrebška je država koja na sjeveru i na istoku graniči sa Sredozemnim morem. Na zapadu ima granicu s Alžirom (965 km) te na jugoistoku s Libijom (459 km). Ime države dolazi od imena njezina glavnog grada, Tunisa, koji se nalazi na sjeveru zemlje. Oko 40% teritorija zemlje pokriva saharska pustinja, dok je ostatak zemlje vrlo plodan. Ovaj prostor kolijevka je kartaške civilizacije te poslije žitnica Rimskog imperija. Uganda Uganda je država u istočnoj Africi, bez izlaza na more. Graniči na sjeveru s Južnim Sudanom, na istoku s Kenijom, na jugu s Tanzanijom, na jugozapadu s Ruandom te na zapadu s DR Kongom. Od 1971. do 1979. njome je vladao Idi Amin. Odlika ugandskoga krajobraza je niz golemih mravinjaka uz ceste. Nazupčani i strmi mravinjaci dosežu često visinu od 4-5 m. Ujedinjena Arapska Republika Ujedinjena Arapska Republika je bila država koja se sastojala od današnjeg Egipta i Sirije. Ta državna tvorevina se poslije opet podijelila na Egipat i Siriju, s tim da je Egipat nastavio još neko vrijeme nositi zastavu UAR-a. Zapadna Sahara Na području nekadašnje španjolske kolonije Zapadne Sahare (Španjolska Sahara) tijekom Zapadnosaharskog rata 1976. proglašena je Saharska Arapska Demokratska Republika (DARS) kao suverena država. Nalazi se na sjeverozapadu Afrike i graniči s Marokom, Alžirom, Mauritanijom i Atlanskim oceanom. Čad Čad je država u središnjoj Africi bez izlaza na more. Graniči s Libijom na sjeveru, Sudanom na istoku, Srednjoafričkom Republikom na jugu, Kamerunom na jugozapadu te Nigerijom i Nigerom na zapadu. Čad ima površinu od 1.284.000 km 2 na kojoj živi 10.329.208 stanovnika (procjena 2009.) Zemlja je donedavno bila među najsiromašnijima na svijetu, dijelom i zbog dugotrajnog građanskog rata etničko-vjerskih frakcija (na sjeveru je glavna religija islam, a na jugu kršćanstvo i animizam, iako su međusobno sukobljavale i pojedine sjeverne frakcije). U 2004. započelo se s izvozom sirove nafte, što bi u budućnosti moglo donijeti značajno povećanje nacionalnog bogatstva. BDP je u 2004. bio 1.600 USD po stanovniku, mjereno po PPP-u, s povećanjem od 38% u odnosu na 2003. Prvi predsjednik bio je Francois Tombalbaye. Bahrein Bahrein, službeno Kraljevina Bahrein je otočna država u jugozapadnoj Aziji. Obuhvaća istoimeni otok i nekoliko manjih u Perzijskom zaljevu. Ima morsku granicu s Katarom i Saudijskom Arabijom s kojom je povezan cestovnim mostom. Gospodarstvo Bahreina temelji se na proizvodnji i rafiniranju nafte, ali zemlja se zbog ograničenih zaliha sve više okreće uslužnom, osobito financijskom sektoru. Izrael Izrael (hebrejski: יִשְׂרָאֵל; arapski: إسرائيل), službeno Država Izrael, bliskoistočna je država smještena na jugoistočnoj obali Sredozemnog mora i sjevernoj obali Crvenog mora. Graniči s Libanonom na sjeveru, Sirijom na sjeveroistoku, Jordanom na istoku, Palestinskim područjima Zapadnom obalom i Pojasom Gaze na istoku i zapadu te Egiptom na jugozapadu. Izrael ima geografski izrazito raznovrsne značajke unutar svog relativno malog teritorija. Izraelsko gospodarsko i tehnološko središte je Tel Aviv, dok je sjedište državnih institucija u glavnom gradu Jeruzalemu. Država Izrael (Medinat Jisra'el) je bliskoistočna zemlja, smještena uz istočni rub Sredozemnog mora. Izrael je parlamentarna demokratska država te jedina židovska država na svijetu. Površina države je 20.770 km 2 (bez okupiranih područja) i ima 8.843.160 stanovnika prema procjeni za 2018. godinu. Ime potječe od Jakova, kasnije prozvanog Izrael, jednog od patrijarha židovskog naroda od čijih je 12 sinova nastalo 12 izraelskih plemena. Izraelska zastava ima korijene u židovskoj tradiciji. Bijela pozadina simbolizira čistoću. U sredini je Davidova zvijezda koja simbolizira savez Boga i Židova. Gornji trokut zvijezde simbolizira Boga koji se saginje prema narodu, a donji trokut simbolizira Židove koji pružaju ruku Bogu. Plave pruge simboliziraju talit, židovski molitveni šal. O trajnoj žudnji Židova za povratkom u svoju zemlju govore već biblijske riječi iz doba babilonskog ropstva. Jeruzalem se u biblijskom tekstu spominje oko 700 puta. Jemen Republika Jemen je država u jugozapadnoj Aziji, s obalama na Crvenom moru, Adenskom zaljevu i Arapskom moru. Po obliku vladavine je republika. Jemen se nalazi na krajnjem jugozapadu Arapskog poluotoka. Plodnija je od ostalih zemalja Srednjeg istoka, s dobrim obradivim tlom u zapadnim visoravnima gdje redovito pada kiša. Obala i gorje na istoku su vrući, suhi i ogoljeli. U Jemenu se ističu dva planinska lanca: Tibämat aš šam iz smjera S-J s najvišim vrhom Džabal Nabi Šu'ajb i Hadramaut iz smjera I-Z. Država je siromašna rijekama i slatkom vodom. U Adenskom zaljevu se nalazi i jedini veći otok Sokotra. Jordan Jordan, službeno Hašemitska Kraljevina Jordan je država na Bliskom Istoku u jugozapadnoj Aziji. Glavni grad je Amman. Na krajnjem jugozapadu kratkom obalom (26 km) izlazi na Crveno more, graniči na zapadu s Izraelom i područjem Zapadne obale, na sjeveru sa Sirijom, na sjeveroistoku s Irakom i na jugu i istoku sa Saudijskom Arabijom. Povijest Jordana nakon osamostaljenja obilježena je pokušajima balansiranja između strana u izraelsko-palestinskom sukobu. Iako je podržavao težnju Palestinaca za neovisnom državom, Jordan je pod vodstvom kralja Huseina (na vlasti 1953. - 1999.) održavao dobre odnose i s državama Zapada, a 1994. potpisan je mirovni ugovor s Izraelom. Katar Katar (arap. قطر, Qatar) je država na Arapskom poluotoku u jugozapadnoj Aziji. Obuhvaća mali poluotok na zapadnoj obali Perzijskog zaljeva i nekoliko susjednih otočića. Graniči na jugu sa Saudijskom Arabijom, a na zapadu morskom granicom s Bahreinom. Po državnom uređenju je apsolutna monarhija – emirat, a službeni naziv je Država Katar (arap. دولة قطر, Dawlat Qatar). U posljednjih 150-ak godina politikom Katara dominira obitelj Al-Tani iz koje potječe trenutni emir i predsjednik vlade. Nakon kraja britanskog protektorata 1971. zemlja se nije pridružila Ujedinjenim Arapskim Emiratima, odabravši umjesto toga potpunu neovisnost. Kuvajt Kuvajt je država u jugozapadnoj Aziji. Na istoku izlazi na Perzijski zaljev. Graniči na sjeveru s Irakom, a na jugu sa Saudijskom Arabijom. Većinu zemlje čini ravna pustinja. Službeni naziv je Država Kuvajt. Najpoznatiji događaj nedavne povijesti Kuvajta je sukob sa susjednim Irakom. Irak i Kuvajt bili su saveznici tijekom iračko-iranskog rata u osamdesetima, ali u kolovozu 1990. Irak je pod vodstvom Saddama Huseina napao i okupirao Kuvajt. U veljači 1991. međunarodna koalicija na čelu s SAD-om oslobodila je zemlju koja je od tada jedan od glavnih saveznika Sjedinjenih Država u regiji. Tijekom američke invazije Iraka 2003. Kuvajt je bio jedina arapska država koja je javno podržala intervenciju. Libanon Libanon, službeno Libanonska Republika je država u jugozapadnoj Aziji na Bliskom istoku. Nalazi se na obali istočnog Sredozemlja, a graniči na sjeveru i istoku sa Sirijom, te na jugu s Izraelom. Libanon nazivlju i Švicarskom Srednjega istoka. Zemlja se sastoji od nekoliko regija koje se pružaju paralelno s obalom: uska obalna ravnica koja se proširuje oko gradova Tripolija, Beiruta, Sidona i Tira (Sura), zatim krški planinski lanac Libanon po kojem je zemlja dobila ime (najviša točka Qurnat as-Sawda' 3.088 m), dolina Bekaa, te u zaleđu vapnenačko gorje Anti-Libanon (2.659 m) koje čini granicu sa Sirijom. Libanonska planina se na sjeveru i jugu proteže u brda. Mezopotamija Mezopotamija (grč. Meσoπotauίa, prijevod od staroperzijskog Miyanrudan "Zemlja između dvije rijeke" ili aramejskog naziva Beth-Nahrin "Kuća dviju rijeka"; međuriječje) je područje jugozapadne Azije koje obuhvaća otprilike 350.000 četvornih kilometara. Mezopotamija obuhvaća aluvijsku ravnicu između rijeka Tigrisa i Eufrata, u Iraku i Siriji. Oman Oman, službeno Sultanat Oman je država na jugoistočnoj obali Arapskog poluotoka u jugozapadnoj Aziji. Na istoku i jugu izlazi na Arapsko more, a na sjeveroistoku na Omanski zaljev. Graniči na jugozapadu s Jemenom, na zapadu sa Saudijskom Arabijom, te na sjeverozapadu s Ujedinjenim Arapskim Emiratima. Većinu zemlje zauzima ravna pustinja, a niža brda su na jugoistoku. Vapnenački planinski lanci Hadjar (= Stijenjak) uzdižu se iznad sjeverne obale, s najvišim vrhovima Šams (2.980 m) i Gjebel Akhdar (3.018 m). Omanu pripada i eksklava poluotoka Musandam, odvojena od ostatka zemlje teritorijem UAE, koja zauzima strateški važan položaj na južnoj obali Hormuškog tjesnaca na ulazu u Perzijski zaljev. Klima je većinom sušna pustinjska, uz obale nešto blaža polupustinjska, a tek na višem gorju Hadjar se donekle približava mediteranskoj. Palestina Palestina (egip. P-r-s-t; „Peleset“, akad. Palaštu, grč. Πaλaισtίvn; Palaistine, lat. Palaestina, hebr. פלשׂתינה, arap. فلسطين; Filasṭīn) je jedan od naziva za područje između Sredozemnog mora i rijeke Jordan. Pojam „Palestina“ može se odnositi na geografski, povijesni, ali i politički pojam (vidi: Palestinska autonomija). Najstariji naziv za navedeno područje bio je „Kanaan“. Najranije korištenje „Palestine“ datira iz 12. stoljeća pr. Kr.; egipatski faraon Ramzes III. u hramu Medinet Habu spominje svoju pobjedu nad Filistejcima odnosno „Narodima sa mora“ (P-r-s-t; „Peleset“). Asirski kralj Sargon II. u 8. stoljeća pr. Kr. za isti narod odnosno geografsko područje rabi ime Palashtu ili Pilistu. Naziv „Palestina“ kasnije upotrebljavaju i Grci u geografskom pojmu Sirija-Palestina što je helenizirani naziv za zemlju Filistejaca, te Rimljani posebno nakon vladavine Hadrijana koji je kao dio kazne nakon gušenja Drugog židovskog ustanka provinciji Judeji promijenio ime u Sirija-Palestina. U moderno vrijeme „Palestina“ se odnosila i na britanski mandat; iako je on originalno pokrivao teritorije današnjeg Izraela, Palestinske samouprave i Jordana, ubrzo je podijeljen na Palestinu i Transjordan kako bi namirili svog saveznika Šarifa od Meke. Od tada se i politički pojam Palestina uvriježio samo za područje zapadno od rijeke Jordan. Saudijska Arabija Saudijska Arabija, službeno Kraljevina Saudijska Arabija država je na Arapskom poluotoku u Jugozapadnoj Aziji. Na zapadu dugom obalom izlazi na Crveno more, a na istoku na Perzijski zaljev. Graniči na sjeveru s Jordanom, Irakom i Kuvajtom; na jugu s Jemenom, na jugoistoku s Omanom te na istoku s Ujedinjenim Arapskim Emiratima i Katarom. Ima morsku granicu s Bahreinom s kojim je povezana mostom. Islamski vjerski reformator Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab udružio je oko 1750. godine snage s vladarom mjesta Diriyah u središnjoj Arabiji, Muhammadom ibn Saudom, čiji su nasljednici do početka 19. stoljeća s potporom širokih slojeva oduševljenih novim vjerskim vođom osvojili većinu Arapskog poluotoka. Veza dinastije Saud s vehabijskom interpretacijom islama ostat će jedno od ključnih obilježja saudijske države i u budućnosti. Sirija Sirija, službeno Sirijska Arapska Republika je država u jugozapadnoj Aziji na Bliskom Istoku. Na zapadu 180 km dugom obalom izlazi na istočno Sredozemlje, a graniči na sjeveru s Turskom, na istoku s Irakom, na jugu s Jordanom, na jugozapadu s Izraelom te na zapadu s Libanonom. Ujedinjeni Arapski Emirati Ujedinjeni Arapski Emirati su država na obali Perzijskog zaljeva i Omanskog zaljeva. Nalaze se na istoku Arapskog poluotoka u Jugozapadnoj Aziji. Graniče na jugu i zapadu sa Saudijskom Arabijom, te na istoku s Omanom. Sastoje se od sedam emirata: Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah i Umm al-Qaiwain. Svi su smješteni na jugoistočnoj obali Zaljeva osim Fujairah koji izlazi na more na obali Omanskog zaljeva, na istočnoj obali poluotoka Musandam.