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    • Arab Spring | 57 articles
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Author: Ryan Cummings

by Ryan Cummings

Ryan Cummings is a Director at Africa-focused political risk management consultancy Signal Risk.
More articles by this author → Follow @Pol_Sec_Analyst

  • Côte d’Ivoire, Prioritizing Counterterrorism, Now Faces Terror Threat

    Terrorist Attack Near Ferkessedougou
    July 28, 2020by Ryan Cummings

    The threat facing Côte d’Ivoire is tied to its geographical proximity to established terrorism epicenters and its domestic and foreign policy standing.

    Analysisafrica, terrorism
  • The Calm Before a Spike in Coronavirus Cases in Africa

    Coronavirus Testing Nigeria
    May 7, 2020by Ryan Cummings

    The difference in death tolls and fatality rates between countries in North America and Europe, and Africa, has raised questions as to what factors explain the discrepancy.

    Analysisafrica, coronavirus
  • Security, Violence Could Impact Outcome of Nigeria’s Election

    February 14, 2019by Ryan Cummings

    Questions around domestic security will continue to be of concern to the elected government, who will need to be aware that the consequences of insecurity could define Nigeria’s socio-political stability well beyond election day.

    Analysisafrica, elections
  • Gabon Coup Attempt a Potential Early Warning Sign

    January 16, 2019by Ryan Cummings

    While the coup attempt appears to have been carried out by an isolated group of soldiers, it is indicative of growing frustration with the Bongo administration.

    Analysisafrica
  • Tenuous Security Situation and Need for Funds Fuel Abductions in Cameroon

    November 8, 2018by Ryan Cummings

    The recent abduction of students and teachers happened in an area at the epicenter of a secessionist insurgency in Cameroon’s Anglophone region.

    Analysisafrica
  • Nigeria Claimed Victory Over Boko Haram. How Did More Girls Get Kidnapped?

    March 6, 2018by Ryan Cummings

    The mass abduction in Dapchi on February 19 provides important insights on the trajectory of Boko Haram’s near decade-long insurgency against the Nigerian state.

    AnalysisNigeria, terrorism
  • Is DRC’s Democracy Headed for a Kabila Coup de Grace?

    July 18, 2017by Ryan Cummings

    With DRC President Kabila becoming increasingly emboldened in his actions to extend his political longevity, it would be difficult to believe that travel and financial embargoes alone will sway the incumbent from delivering the coup de grace to his country’s hopes of achieving a democratic transfer of power in the near-term.

    Analysisdemocracy, democratic republic of the congo, justice
  • Risky Political Maneuvers Seek an End to Guinea-Bissau Impasse

    June 2, 2017by Ryan Cummings

    ECOWAS has issue a stern warning to the country’s paralyzed polity, voicing its grave concern regarding what it sees as “a deteriorating socio-political situation in the country.”

    Analysisafrica, democracy
  • Elections and Economics Add to Africa’s 2017 Security Challenges

    January 24, 2017by Ryan Cummings

    Successes in 2016 were counterbalanced by a number of sociopolitical and economic grievances that will continue to afflict the continent in 2017.

    Analysisafrica, peace and security
  • Feeding Nigeria’s Hungry Could Starve a Boko Haram Revival

    November 18, 2016by Ryan Cummings

    As shown by the recent announcement on farmers, Boko Haram’s resurgence comes amid a shift in military strategy from reclaiming insurgent-held territories to repopulating and defending these from further rebel attacks.

    Analysisfood security, Nigeria
  • Next →

This week

  • How the UN Can Help Ensure Non-State Armed Groups Protect Civilians

    April 16, 2021by Luciana Vosniak

    The UN is strategically positioned to engage with non-state armed groups in many issues relevant to civilian protection.

    Analysishumanitarian…
  • A Decade of Developments in Peace Operations

    April 14, 2021by Paul D. Williams

    A closer look at the last decade of peace operations highlights ten macro-level trends.

    Analysis

Trending

  • Human or Machine? Lessons from the Use of Technology in the Monitoring Mission to Ukraine

    April 12, 2021by Andreas Wittkowsky

    Peace operations, as well as humanitarian and development actors, are increasingly using technological means, which raises the question of how much of a “human touch” is still essential.

    Analysiseurope, technology
  • Impunity and Police Brutality Characterize Rise in Femicides in Mexico

    April 7, 2021by Gema Kloppe-Santamaría

    The recent murder of a woman refugee in Mexico sheds light on the violence experienced by women, undocumented migrants, and the economically disenfranchised.

    Analysisamericas, police
  • Key Global Events to Watch in April

    April 1, 2021by the Global Observatory

    A list of key upcoming meetings and events that have implications for global affairs compiled by the Global Observatory.

    Key Events
  • The Exclusion of Women’s Voices from Afghan Peace Talks Remains the Norm

    March 30, 2021by Masooma Rahmaty

    As the peace talks gain momentum again, ensuring that women’s voices are sufficiently represented in peace efforts should be a top priority.

    AnalysisAfghanistan, asia, peace processes
  • Growing Insurgency in Mozambique Poses Danger to Southern Africa

    March 26, 2021by Philip Obaji Jr.

    A lack of concrete action could turn southeast Africa into an unstable region akin to parts of West Africa.

    Analysisafrica, terrorism
  • To End Violence Against Women, We Need to Imagine New Futures

    March 25, 2021Marie Berry and Milli Lake

    Any conversation about eliminating violence against women needs to look clearly at the police as a source of insecurity and violence in women’s lives.

    Analysispolice, women peace and…
  • Looking Beyond Conflict to Address Climate Change Impacts in the Women, Peace and Security Agenda

    March 19, 2021by Evyn Papworth

    An understanding of the gendered insecurities entrenched by natural disasters points to the need to expand the scope of the WPS agenda in order to address the structural violence of the climate crisis.

    Analysisclimate change, women peace and…
  • Rising Politicization Risks Splitting Somali National Army

    March 17, 2021by Colin Robinson

    The developing electoral crisis over the past few months has led to greater misuse of forces.

    Analysis
  • Securing a Plan for Ending the War in Afghanistan

    March 16, 2021David Cortright and Madhav Joshi

    The alternative to a negotiated peace agreement and new security arrangements is a continuation of the present war with its devastating human consequences.

    AnalysisAfghanistan, asia
  • Climate Change Must Be Tackled as a Global Security Risk

    March 10, 2021Joshua Busby, Morgan Bazilian, and Florian Krampe

    We live in an age where challenges to peace and security come not only from agents intentionally trying to do us harm, but also from climate change and pandemics.

    Analysisclimate change, security counci…
  • Where is UN Counterterrorism Headed 20 Years After 9/11? 

    February 26, 2021Eric Rosand and Alistair Millar

    Our knowledge of the threat of violent extremism and how to address it will continue to increase. The size of the UN’s bureaucracy should not have to grow with it.

    Analysisterrorism, united nations
  • Regional Special Forces Pose Threat to Peace and Security in Ethiopia

    February 22, 2021by Bereket Tsegay

    The peace and security arrangement between federal and regional states has allowed special forces to instigate conflicts in unique ways.

    Analysisafrica, peace and secur…
  • The Tigray Conflict in Ethiopia: Post-War Ramifications and International Response

    January 25, 2021by Jon Abbink

    Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and his government are wary of the interference, complaints, and demands made by the international community.

    Analysisafrica, conflict
  • How Will Sino-Indian Competition Impact India’s Tenure on the Security Council?

    July 2, 2020by Waheguru Pal Singh Sidhu

    India’s election to the Council was the easy part. It’s tenure, however, will be more challenging.

    Analysissouth asia
  • The Impact of COVID-19 on the Protection of Cultural Heritage

    June 17, 2020by Nadia Al-Said

    While there is a pressing need to invest in the future given the pandemic’s impact, this is not fully possible without incorporating cultural heritage.

    Analysiscoronavirus, cultural herita…
  • UN Peacekeeping and the Protection of Civilians in the COVID-19 Era 

    May 22, 2020by Namie Di Razza

    Protection threats are expanding and aggravating in the time of the pandemic.

    Analysispeacekeeping, protection of…
  • Examining the Longer-Term Effects of COVID-19 on UN Peacekeeping Operations

    May 13, 2020by Cedric de Coning

    Some new practices are specific to the pandemic and will change over time, while others are likely to be more lasting.

    Analysiscoronavirus, peacekeeping
  • Will Lessons from Cholera in Haiti Be Applied to COVID-19?

    May 6, 2020Adam R. Houston and Beatrice Lindstrom

    While the UN is making efforts to apply lessons from the cholera epidemic, there are reasons to question whether the reforms are adequate.

    Analysispeacekeeping
  • How Has the WHO Responded to the COVID-19 Pandemic?

    April 30, 2020by Lucia Mullen

    What is clear from the range of interventions and steps taken is that the WHO has been involved in almost all aspects of the response.

    Analysis
  • How Has the UN Mission in Kosovo Delivered on Action for Peacekeeping?

    January 22, 2020by Pushkar M. Sharma

    UNMIK has made remarkable progress in realizing the A4P agenda as it works to consolidate peace in Kosovo and offers valuable lessons for peacekeeping globally.

    Analysispeacekeeping

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The Global Observatory provides timely analysis on peace and security issues by experts, journalists, and policymakers. It is published by the International Peace Institute. The views expressed here represent those of the contributors and not IPI.

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