a geographic area; prefer specific countries; titles often refer to the Maghreb or Maghrib, the Arabic name for Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia & sometimes Libya collectively: check text for possible specificity, otherwise index under AFRICA, NORTHERN

The geographical area of Africa comprising ALGERIA; EGYPT; LIBYA; MOROCCO and TUNISIA. It includes also the vast deserts and oases of the Sahara. It is often referred to as North Africa or the Maghreb.