The root causes of piracy must be understood and addressed if progress is to be lasting. By Awet Weldemichael and Abdisalam Hassan Since its explosion in 2007, piracy has become another reason for the negative news coverage Somalia has been receiving the past two decades. However, this year has been a turning point in the fight against piracy and many are celebrating the decline in... Continue Reading
Piracy is not just a military issue but also a social, economic and political one. By Francesco Valdiserri Years of naval counter-piracy operations have so far failed to strategically defeat Somali pirates. The presence of more warships and armed guards on civilian ships has pushed pirates to adapt to the evolving situation. It was in this context that, on March 23, 2012, the Council... Continue Reading
By James Wan Former residents of the Chagos Islands have lost their latest legal bid for the right to return following a European ruling. What next for the islanders? Former residents of the Chagos Islands, located in the middle of the Indian Ocean, have lost their latest legal bid for their right to return home. The islanders’ fight to go back to the archipelago – from which... Continue Reading
By Carol Mann and Alphonse Maindo Legislation to regulate mining in the DRC may be a step in the right direction, but many problems remain. The pervasive militarism, prevalent sexual violence and vast mineral wealth in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) are linked. It was with this in mind that, on August 22, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) – the body which regulates... Continue Reading
By Joan Nimarkoh Following another food crisis in the Western Sahel, is there hope of a new policy direction tackling the causes as well as symptoms of food insecurity? The Western Sahel region is facing its third humanitarian crisis in less than a decade and it seems that the cycle of famine in the area is set to continue. This year, millions of dollars will be spent on alleviating the... Continue Reading
