The kidnapping and killing of three foreign nationals in April and a major terror attack in June that killed at least 160 people are indicative of Burkina Faso’s fragile security environment, and the government has limited resources to tackle the crisis, writes Saif Islam.
Socially conservative countries in the Gulf, particularly Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), have recently relaxed certain local laws to attract more tourists and foreign investors and appease local populations. While taking advantage of these measures, travellers and expatriates should still be fully cognisant of prevailing local laws…
Vessels will continue to face a significant threat of kidnap for ransom in the region as pirates adapt their capabilities and tactics in response to ongoing security operations in the Gulf of Guinea, writes Darren Davids.
The Colombian government’s inability to implement tax reforms with the hope of boosting economic growth and investor confidence, coupled with protests and widespread supply-chain disruptions, will likely sustain political and economic instability ahead of elections in 2022, writes Erin Drake.
In the wake of recent hostilities between Israel and Hamas in the Palestinian territories in May, there have been increased solidarity protests for the Palestinian cause across the globe. It appears that now more than ever the world is watching how conflicts immersed in wider human rights issues will be handled going forward, writes Gabrielle Reid.
As protest action persists, the deterioration of public order has buttressed gangs and allowed opportunistic criminal activity to thrive, writes Erin Drake.
In recent years, bomb threats targeting airliners have usually turned out to be hoaxes, but their impact on airlines and travellers can be significant, writes Darren Davids.
Against the backdrop of a deteriorating security environment characterised by gang violence and persistent civil unrest, the prevalence of kidnapping in Haiti has increased dramatically. Markus Korhonen looks into the kidnapping business in Haiti, and explains why the underlying conditions promise little reprieve from this threat looking forward.
The resurgence of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria has coincided with a recent spate of attacks in Europe writes Darren Davids. While intelligence agencies have been able to foil large scale plots, the Islamic State will be increasingly relying on radicalised lone attackers.
The recent resumption of anti-government protests in Algeria is reflective of ongoing popular frustrations with the lack of political reforms in the country. However, divisions within the protest movement could prevent the latest demonstrations from coalescing into a major uprising that challenges government authority, writes Saif Islam.
As ongoing government efforts double down on identifying, monitoring and preventing violent far-right attacks, Erin Drake considers whether such groups will look for alternative ways – like terrorist-type attacks – to air their grievances.
Following the recent kidnapping of two foreign nationals in a militant-controlled area of Colombia, Erin Drake considers whether such cases remain isolated, or if the pandemic, coupled with ongoing insecurity, will create the opportunities for renewed kidnapping activity in 2021.