In the Northern Triangle — comprising Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala — violent extortion is endemic, affecting public and private sectors alike. Erin Drake reviews the drivers of extortion and the threat it poses to companies operating in this region.
Maoist militants in Asia continue to fund their operations through so-called “revolutionary taxes,” underscoring the persistent threat of far-left extortion in the Philippines, India and Nepal, writes Rob Attwell.
The ongoing fighting in Tripoli has not only killed and injured thousands of people in and around the Libyan capital but has also exacerbated the threat of wrongful detention faced by foreign nationals, writes Saif Islam.
Despite the overthrow of long-serving president Omar Al Bashir in April, protesters continue to call for the Military Transitional Council to hand over power to a civilian administration. With negotiations faltering on several occasions, it appears that Sudan is on the brink of a political crisis for the second time this year. The road to stability…
On 21 and 22 May 2019, thousands of supporters of opposition leader Prabowo Subianto rioted in central Jakarta after he rejected the results of the recent general election. With the current tensions in mind, Rob Attwell explains how a combination of deep societal divisions and political polarisation is contributing to a worsening security environment…
Amid the protracted conflict in the eastern DRC, local militias have started to attack Ebola treatment centres in Butembo and Beni, North Kivu, killing medical staff and forcing the closure of several facilities. Erin Drake considers the threat to health workers and medical treatment facilities in this conflict area.
The recent attack on the Chabad of Poway synagogue in California once again highlights that while the US’s counter-terrorism agencies remain primarily focused on Islamist-inspired terrorism, the threat posed by far-right extremists is growing and deserves proportional attention, writes Tim Geschwindt.
Rakhine State in Myanmar saw two kidnappings in two months targeting Christian pastors. Rising religious nationalism in multiple Asian countries exacerbates the threats to individuals engaged in missionary and religious charity work in Asia, writes Rob Attwell.
Islamic State has responded to its territorial losses in Iraq with a return to its insurgent roots, which, along with security vulnerabilities present in the country, could intensify the threat of kidnapping, writes Saif Islam.
In the context of the ongoing political and economic crisis, Timothy Geschwindt examines the consequences of a deteriorating security environment in Venezuela.
While militant-linked kidnappings of foreign nationals have declined elsewhere in the world, Burkina Faso and the wider Sahel have experienced a visible increase since 2015. Gabrielle Reid examines the rise of Islamist militancy and kidnap-for-ransom activity in Burkina Faso.
In this article, we look at three prominent case studies from different parts of the world to demonstrate the nature and extent of the security risks facing commercial operators in the oil and gas sector.