Algeria — August 2015 Update

Africa, Analysis, Civilians At Risk, Political Stability, Remote Violence, Rioting And Protests, Violence Against Civilians
Despite its relative stability in a precarious regional context, a recurrence of violence in July has raised concerns over Algeria’s unresolved problems. A critical socio-economic situation is putting Algeria’s peripheral regions – where conflict activity has remained high since the beginning of 2015 (see Figure 1) – under constant pressure, exacerbating popular grievances and igniting long-lasting tensions.…

Human Rights, Rule of Law, and Political Conflict in Africa

Africa, Civilians At Risk, Conflict Monitoring, Current Hotspots, Governance, Government Repression, Human Rights, Political Stability, Violence Against Civilians
Human rights abuses can range from physical violence to denials of peaceful assembly or freedom of expression. Amnesty International (2015) highlights shortcomings in justice and accountability, where crimes such as gender-based violence go unpunished; this impunity can have further negative ramifications within effected societies (ACLED, 18 February 2015).…

South Sudan — July 2015 Update

Africa, Analysis, Civilians At Risk, Focus On Militias, Peacekeeping, Political Stability, Remote Violence, Rioting And Protests, Violence Against Civilians
Levels of political conflict in South Sudan decreased in June 2015. Though the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), which has overseen multiple peace negotiations aimed at ending the 18-month conflict, may be tempted to refer to this drop in conflict as a sign of progress, the decrease is more likely due to the onset of the rainy season in South Sudan (Africa Confidential, 15 May 2015).…

Burundi — July 2015 Update

Africa, Analysis, Civilians At Risk, Conflict Monitoring, Ethnic Militias, Focus On Militias, Local-Level Violence, Political Stability, Pro-Government Militias, Rioting And Protests, Unidentified Armed Groups, Violence Against Civilians
The political crisis in Burundi is entering its 14th week and though aggregate levels of political violence have decreased since May when mass rioting and protests took hold of the capital, the forms of political violence employed by the varying sides of the political divide have become more lethal (see Figure 1).…