MENA stands for Middle East and North Africa, a regional term to group countries across the Middle East and the northern part of Africa. The MENA region typically includes countries such as Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, UAE, Qatar, Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia. These African states in MENA often reinforce Arab identity over African continental identity. The rise of Pan-Arabism under leaders like Gamal Abdel Nasser and institutional ties through the Arab League strengthened this alignment. Morocco’s 1984 withdrawal from the African Union symbolized tensions with African continental politics, while persistent colorism and racial hierarchies in parts of North Africa further complicate identification with Sub-Saharan Africa.

On the 28th of December, the people of Iran took to the streets to protest against the decline of their economy due to corrupt leadership of the Iranian regime, they poor standard of living as local shop owners could no longer purchase goods because of the devaluation of their currency which affected importation of basic necessities.

They protest had lasted for weeks now and report has it that the Iranian regime has killed over 20,000 people and counting to supress the protesters, The organization of Islamic countries has shown massive support to protesters by accepting refugees into member countries(e.g Quatar), they have also enforced boycotts against delegates from Iran from attending meeting, and are actively sponsoring counter media narrative against the regime using media channels like Al Jazeera.