The IMF predicts 2.9% GDP growth in 2011 rising marginally to 3.3% in 2012 – not enough to balance rising unemployment for the young educated population.

In 2012, Egypt will continue to struggle with the fallout from the uprising that ended President Hosni Mubarak's three-decade rule in February 2011 but left his defence minister, the military chief Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, in charge.

However long it takes, organising the political transition will be a mainly Libyan affair. Western cheerleaders for the revolutionaries will keep their distance as the new authorities try to consolidate power in 2012.

The opposition has sent a chill through the political environment by accusing the government of repression, discrimination and running a military regime disguised as a democracy.

A political earthquake rocked the Moroccan landscape ahead of legislative elections planned for 25 November.

The ruling National Congress Party (NCP) is prepared to do what is necessary to remain in power, which means fighting a multi-front war and fending off popular protests in Khartoum.