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.
The March 2019 mass shootings at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, highlight concerns regarding an apparent shift of the far-right terrorist threat from local to global. Tim Geschwindt and Rob Attwell examine this growing threat, particularly the role of online forums for extremist networking.
Indigenous communities affected by environmental degradation have consistently protested companies extracting Peru’s copper, gold and oil resources. Erin Drake explores the commercial impact of such demonstrations on companies operating in Peru’s extractives industry.
Leader of the Libyan National Army Khalifa Haftar’s latest assault on Tripoli has made his ambitions of leading Libya clear. Yet, in the absence of a swift military victory and the LNA’s failure to unify Libya’s myriad stakeholders, the move on Tripoli has severely jeopardised chances for a political settlement, writes Bilal Bassiouni.
Following the effective collapse of the Islamic State caliphate across Syria and Iraq in February 2019, the terrorist group appears to have extended its reach to new territories including the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sri Lanka. In the space of one week, Islamic State took credit for terror attacks in both countries. Markus Korhonen places these…
Earlier this week, Volodymyr Zelensky, a well-known comedian with no political experience, won the Ukrainian presidential election. Though Zelensky’s campaign was light on policies, his outsider status and anti-corruption rhetoric appealed to an electorate tired of the same establishment politicians. His transition from populist TV star to effective…
Security operations against Colombia’s left-wing ELN militants may have reduced their numbers, but the group continues to bomb oil pipelines and kidnap local and foreign workers. Erin Drake explores the impact of the ELN’s operations on the country’s oil sector.
Spurred by false rumours on social media, lynch mobs in India have assaulted or killed dozens of people in a number of recent incidents across the country. Markus Korhonen explores concerns over the potential for misinformation and fake news to spark communal violence in the run-up to this year’s parliamentary elections.
Mass protests in February and March in Algeria, reminiscent of the 2011 Arab Spring, may have ended President Abdelaziz Bouteflika’s political career, but they are unlikely to challenge the existing political order, writes Bilal Bassiouni.