Ethiopia: Protests Shift from Oromia to Somali Province

Africa, Analysis, Civilians At Risk, Conflict Monitoring, Political Stability, Rioting And Protests, Violence Against Civilians
The week beginning 22 April saw a significant increase in riots and protests in Ethiopia (see Figure 1). Unlike riots and protests in recent months, which have mostly been centred in the Oromia region and Oromo demands for self-determination, this spike in protest activity was focused in the Somali region (see Figure 2), where regional president, Abdi Illey, is battling to retain both control of the region and control of his party, the Ethiopian Somali People’s Democratic Party (ESPDP).  …

Rebel Infighting in Northern Syria: The War of Abolition

Analysis, Civilians At Risk, Conflict Monitoring, Focus On Militias, Middle East, Political Stability, Violence Against Civilians
Rebel infighting is not a new phenomenon in Syria’s civil war and is endemic of the weakness and disunity of the rebel and Islamist camp in the Syrian civil war. ACLED data shows a major increase in infighting over the past months in the north of the country as the “war of abolition” escalates.…

Turkey’s Air War in Iraq

Analysis, Civilians At Risk, Conflict Monitoring, Middle East, Political Stability, Remote Violence, Violence Against Civilians
Since the beginning of 2017, Turkish military forces have been responsible for the vast majority of the remote violence reported in the Iraqi governorates bordering Turkey. This is largely due to their ongoing conflict with the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which maintains bases in northern Iraq (Iraqi News, December 25, 2017).…

5 Hidden Conflicts in Asia

Analysis, Asia, Civilians At Risk, Conflict Monitoring, Ethnic Militias, Focus On Militias, Infographics, Islamic State, Islamist Violence, Political Stability, Pro-Government Militias, Remote Violence, Resources, Rioting And Protests, Unidentified Armed Groups, Vigilante Militias, Violence Against Civilians
In this series of infographics, ACLED’s Research Analyst, Melissa Pavlik, explores 5 hidden or under-reported conflicts across Asia. 5. Gau Rakshak Cow Vigilantism in India (2016-Present) 4. India’s Naxalite-Maoist Insurgency (2016-Present) 3. …

Regional Overview – Middle East 30 April 2018

Analysis, Civilians At Risk, Conflict Monitoring, Current Hotspots, Middle East, Remote Violence, Rioting And Protests, Violence Against Civilians
The number of political violence events recorded in Iraq, Israel, Lebanon, and Palestine dropped this week, while the number of events in Bahrain and Turkey rose considerably. Meanwhile Syria is seeing a renewed focus by various forces on fighting the Islamic State, while fighting remains roughly static in Yemen.…

Regional Overview – Africa 30 April 2018

Africa, Analysis, Boko Haram, Civilians At Risk, Conflict Monitoring, Current Hotspots, Remote Violence, Rioting And Protests, Violence Against Civilians
Key trends in Africa on the week of April 22nd include the growing Ambazonian insurgency in Cameroon, the continued use of pro-government militias to counter rebellion in Sudan’s Darfur, and the repression against citizens’ resistance against bad governance practices across a number of contexts in Eastern and Southern Africa.…