The North Africa Journal: January 11, 2018- The new year started off on the wrong foot for North African nations, and the seeds of discontent for the years to come have been sown. The year 2017 ended with a lot of drama and lingering crises that promise to stick around again this year and next. In the Maghreb countries, there is a sense of permanent unrest as the populations continue to express their anger over economic issues, social inequalities, and corruption. Libya remains entrenched in its internal civil war, and there is no progress that’s hinting on an improvement ahead. And the Egyptians are stuck between deadly terror groups that continue to launch attacks on civilian targets, and a government that maintains repression as standard policy. General Sisi’s re-election this year will promise more status-quo ahead for the Egyptians.