2015 may have seen multilateral trade negotiations stall and Africa excluded from new mega-regional trade deals, but African exporters can draw hope from the signing of the continent's own trade deal – a step forward in continental integration and, possibly, industrialisation and growth, writes India Barker.
The migrant crisis in Europe has prompted several EU states to raise controls at their internal borders, undermining a borderless Europe promised by the Schengen Agreement. Amid increasing pressure on Europe's boundaries, Lara Sierra-Rubia assesses the potential costs associated with suspending the agreement.
The Kenya Defence Forces' highest loss in the recent Al Shabaab attack at El Adde has again rallied calls for a Kenyan withdrawal, but the military force stillhas a significant role to play in Somalia, writes Gabrielle Reid
Despite boasting an abundance of mineral wealth, several security risks andregulatory challenges have deterred large overseas mining entities fromoperating in Myanmar, writes Mandira Bagwandeen
The Islamic State's recent attack in Jakarta demonstrates that the group has gained increasing support in Indonesia, despite strict counter-terrorism efforts by the government, writes Mandira Bagwandeen
This article originally appeared in InSight Crime on 9 February 2016:http://www.insightcrime.org/news-analysis/rio-olympics-prospects-for-next-round-favela-occupations
Sunette Klopper draws attention to the potential large events have of propagating diseases, sometimes intentionally.
As relations once again deteriorate between Saudi Arabia and Iran, the lasting effect is likely to be an extension of regional conflicts, writes Julian Karssen
The Cologne assaults on New Year's Eve have sparked debate over Germany's policy towards refugees. Lara Sierra-Rubia explores how the assaults are likely to cause the German government to implement more stringent immigration policies.
Rousseff's potential impeachment is unlikely to bring the change needed to reform Brazil's economy and combat widespread government corruption, writes Lloyd Belton.
China's anti-corruption campaign will be watched closely by the private sector in 2016, writes Mandira Bagwandeen.