The Nigerian government has long framed Borno State as a potential alternative to its south-eastern oil fields, amid speculation of significant oil reserves in the region. Yet, with Boko Haram’s ongoing insurgency there, coupled with a recent kidnapping in the area, the region is more likely to become a second Niger Delta than an answer to Nigeria’s…
With President Donald Trump’s withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, more commonly referred to as the Iran Deal, and summit with North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un, in Singapore, the US leader has shown a significant lack of consistency on the issue of nuclear proliferation. The president’s apparent preference for “going it alone” has…
South Africa has experienced a significant increase in reported kidnappings, with targets now including middle to upper-income businesspersons. Gabrielle Reid investigates the nature of these attacks and how South Africa’s worsening criminal underworld has offered the perfect environment for the growth of this lucrative crime.
Last week marked the end of Ethiopian Prime Minster Abiy Ahmed’s first 100 days in office. The new leader, appointed on 2 April, has embarked on a vigorous reform campaign, seeking to open up Ethiopia’s political and economic environments. Plans to privatise key sectors of the economy, including the aviation and telecommunications sectors, together…
Following the kidnapping of six Indian contractors in May, Saif Islam highlights some of the common sense security measures organisations should employ when operating in Afghanistan.
The Government of National Accord is encouraging international businesses and embassies to return to Libya, but such calls belie the fact that insecurity persists in most parts of the country. Westerners and foreign nationals in Libya still face a significant threat of kidnapping and wrongful detention, writes Saif Islam.
The spate of alleged Islamist militant attacks in Mozambique’s northern Cabo Delgado Province since October last year have raised concern regarding the safety of communities in the area. As the region also hosts significant liquefied natural gas deposits, the emerging militant threat could have dire consequences for Mozambique’s fledging oil and gas…
Lara Getz examines the impact of Libya’s militias in perpetuating instability for businesses and governments operating here.
Growing demands for genuine and lasting economic reform and an end to corruption are two major characteristics of recent anti-austerity measures in Jordan. Lily David and Kate Benn explore what this means for Jordan and regional stability.
With the UAE set to permit full ownership of companies for foreign investors, Matt Bailey looks at the implications for the nation’s free zones.
In a statement released on 9 May, the Sahel-based Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) threatened to attack Western companies operating in the Sahel, calling their operations ‘legitimate targets’ in its mujahedeen. Unsurprisingly, the group identified France and its allies as likely targets given the ongoing French counterterrorism intervention in…
Emboldened by the recent recovery of commodity prices, several African governments are leading a new wave of regulatory overhaul aimed at increasing control over their natural resources.