Home > Islam and Maghreb Region Maghreb: the history of a region and its problems The Maghreb is an Arabic term used to describe countries that are located in the northern part of Africa. It includes the predominantly Islamic countries with the exception of Egypt and Sudan. Due to a long period under French occupation,these countries are often considered to be liberal . A liberality that completely shaped the history of this region into the 1980's . Today,many of these countries do not share the same values or have the same understanding of politics. They have unresolved territorial disputes such as the west-Sahara. They have Libya as a territorial and political troublemaker. They are all vulnerable to the advance of Islamic movements that often undermine the legitimacy of states. They are weak because of population growth, economic problems and a huge foreign debt. They all have problems with the cultural difference between westernerly-oriented elites and traditionally impoverished masses who seek refuge in Islam.One of the Main problem for the Maghreb countries is to find solutions to the troubled and ambiguous relationship between modernity and Islam. The advent of Islam in the Maghreb According to oral tradition, Islam first came to Africa with Muslim refugees fleeing persecution in the Arab Peninsula. This was followed by a military invasion, some seven years ago after the death of the Prophet Muhammad (PBH) in 632 under the command of Arab General Amir, Ibn al-Asi. It quickly spread West from Alexandria in the North Africa, known as Mahgreb today expect Egypt ,Nubia and Ethiopia that constituted where Christianity had a relative dominance.. In the early century of its existence, Islam in Africa had tremendous influences over people and nations. Many reforming movements and dynastic clashes were succeeding each other in the region. In that particular period of time, Islam became a driving force behind political, economic and social promotion. In the Sub Saharan Africa , Islam rulers expanded north as well as south. In the last quarter of 11th century, Islam dominated the Mediterranean .As a matter of fact, from the 16 to 19th centuries, much of the Mahgreb was under the Ottoman Empire. In 1880's, Islam had firm roots in one third of the continent.