The emergence of several high-profile cases in 2018 has raised concerns that abduction by state actors is becoming an increasingly common practice. In this article, we highlight some of the most notable instances of state-sanctioned disappearances in the past year, and provide an insight into what we can expect 2019.
Several significant elections are scheduled to take place around the world in 2019, and we review a number of these in this article. From Nigeria to Indonesia, Ukraine and Libya, the outcome of the 2019 electoral season will not only determine the sociopolitical and economic trajectories of individual countries, but also impact domestic and regional…
In this article, we examine the main kidnapping trends and incidents of 2018 from around the world, and look at some emerging trends likely to persist in 2019.
The murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in October with the apparent approval of Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman has drawn widespread condemnation from politicians and business in the west. The reputational damage will delay MbS’s flagship economic projects, but the Kingdom’s long-term foreign investors haven’t been driven away.
As government forces prepare a final offensive on the last-standing rebel stronghold in Syria, humanitarian agencies will be eager to re-enter the country to provide much-needed assistance to those severely affected by the conflict. Yet, despite the anticipated reduction in fighting amid the extension of government control, NGO operations in Syria will…
Vision 2030 still represents an unprecedented opportunity for economic and social change in the kingdom, but the continual delays to one of the crown prince’s key initiatives undermines the sustainability of such radical reform.
Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest crude exporter, has suspended all its oil shipments through the Bab Al Mandeb Strait at the southern tip of the Red Sea, following an attack on two vessels by Yemeni Houthi fighters. This article assesses how the ongoing conflict in Yemen impacts the region’s maritime and oil and gas operations.
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.
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.
The dismissal of Rex Tillerson as the US Secretary of State, and the nomination of the hawkish Michael Pompeo as his replacement, is not expected to re-escalate the Qatar-GCC diplomatic crisis, but it could prolong it, writes Saif Islam.