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.
The security environment in the aftermath of the February coup in Myanmar remains unpredictable. Ongoing demonstrations and a frequently violent response from security forces means the situation is prone to rapid change. Markus Korhonen describes some of the threats foreign nationals face, and offers practical advice for those remaining in Myanmar amidst…
Militant groups in the Democratic Republic of Congo have increasingly targeted aid and other NGO workers in eastern DRC. Darren Davids writes that the weak security environment allows militant groups to act with impunity, including carrying out kidnappings
As international and domestic stakeholders become increasingly optimistic over potential political stability in Libya, increasingly systemic insecurity could impede peace. With limited and inaccurate crime statistics unable to paint a clear picture of crime rates in Libya, GABRIELLE REID explores how little we may actually know about the state of crime…
Amid a reported increase in maritime piracy in the Gulf of Mexico, Erin Drake considers the drivers of such attacks, and whether the economic impact of Covid-19 has contributed to the expansion of maritime crime in the area.
Ongoing anti-government protests across Asia are likely to persist and potentially intensify in 2021 as the authorities struggle to satisfy the protesters’ demands, especially amid the lingering impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, writes Saif Islam.
Ahead of several elections in 2021, Erin Drake considers the prospects for the commercial operating environment in Latin America, amid widespread socio-economic protests against right-leaning governments.
Russia’s apparent reduced willingness to pursue military options in its neighbourhood suggests a shift in how it conducts its foreign policy. Cvete Koneska argues that this should not be read as a sign of Russia in retreat; instead, we can expect Russia to employ a more diverse toolbox to achieve its foreign policy objectives.