The recent coup d’état attempt in Gabon came as a surprise to many who have viewed the country as a beacon of stability among its central African neighbours. However, inherent vulnerabilities were present in Gabon’s political structures. These continue to exist, indicating an unstable political future for Gabon, writes Joschka Opitz.
On 15 January, four gunmen stormed the dusitD2 hotel and office complex in Nairobi, Kenya, in the first complex terrorist attack in the city in six years. Al Shabaab’s latest assault points to the persistent terrorism threat in Kenya, writes Gabrielle Reid.
As key players debate the impact of climate change on the international stage, domestically, governments across the globe are being put to the test in their responses to natural hazards.
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…
Following the widely contested presidential election result in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tristan Puri provides an overview of the current political uncertainty in the country. This briefing note highlights the threats presented to foreign investors by the possibility of escalating violence, potential further sanctions on DRC officials, and…
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.
Cameroon has regularly failed to attract the same levels of foreign direct investment as its Central African peers, despite boasting one of the most diversified and stable economies in the region. Following recent in-country research, our sub-Saharan Africa team provides an overview of three key operational risks to investors in the market.
Following yet another kidnap for ransom targeting humanitarian workers in Somalia, Gabrielle Reid examines this persistent threat to the efforts of aid workers assisting the most vulnerable in the country.
New legislation in Tanzania, Uganda and Mozambique will lead to worsening restrictions for freedom of the press and freedom of expression in these jurisdictions, increasing the threat of detention against journalists and political commentators, writes Gabrielle Reid.
While Boko Haram’s previous efforts to control large areas of terrain were undermined by domestic and regional military efforts, a spate of recent attacks against towns and military barracks could point to a renewed campaign to seize territory in northern Nigeria. Gabrielle Reid looks into the prospects for a renewed territorial campaign by the Islamic…
In August, president Joseph Kabila and the ruling Parti du Peuple pour la Reconstruction et la Démocratie (PPRD) backed Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary as the party’s candidate in the long awaited December 2018 elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The somewhat unexpected announcement ended prolonged speculation that the incumbent would seek…
Following his first 12 months in office, João Lourenço’s administration has been characterised by a strong anticorruption movement, dismantling the former regime and attempting to revive the Angolan economy. However, is this stance sustainable and is it a true indication of reform in the country.