Index Shows Rising Conflict and Political Violence in 48 Countries
Over the past six months, levels of conflict and political violence have risen significantly in 48 countries, according to the latest index released by global risk analytics company Maplecroft.
Maplecroft’s bi-annual Conflict and Political Violence Index (CPVI) assesses the risk and severity of conflict and the impact of the violence on society for 197 countries. It says that the latest CPVI “highlights the destabilising effects of popular revolutions and regime change as a key factor in the surge in risk”.
In the 2014 CPVI Ukraine shows the greatest fall, with a drop of 52 places to 35th most at risk. Ukraine’s increase in risk is attributed to violence during the popular uprising in Kiev, which spurred the removal of president Viktor Yanukovych. However, with Russian-backed separatist violence in East Ukraine ongoing, Maplecroft expects the country’s ranking to fall further in 2014.
Sixteen countries are rated as ‘extreme risk’ in the CPVI, including: the Central African Republic (ranked 2nd most at risk), South Sudan (4th), Somalia (6th), DR Congo (7th), and Libya (8th) all of which saw significant increases in risk. Syria, ranked 1st, retains its status as the country with the highest levels of conflict and political violence, while Iraq (3rd), Afghanistan (5th), Sudan (9th), and Pakistan (10th) complete the bottom 10 countries.
‘Arab Uprisings’ Cast Long Shadow over MENA
“Over the longer term, analysis of conflict and political violence trends offer an essential barometer for global organisations and governments looking to monitor security risks to investments, populations and the dynamic geopolitical landscape,” said principal political risk analyst at Maplecroft, Charlotte Ingham. “Since 2011, we have identified 76 countries that have seen a significant increase in the risk in the CPVI.”
Many countries witnessing the largest upswing in risk have experienced political upheaval due to societal unrest over civil and political rights and government corruption, resulting in rising human rights violations by security forces, conflict and deteriorating security environments. This is most evident in Middle East and North African (MENA) countries that witnessed ‘Arab uprisings’ in 2011, including Syria, which fell from 69th in 2010 to 1st in 2014, Libya (110th to 8th), and Egypt ( 45th to14th), all of which are classified as ‘extreme risk’ in the index.
Syria’s ranking in the CPVI, reflects not only the severity of the conflict, which has left an estimated 150,000 dead since 2011, but also the impact on its society. The country is now ranked by Maplecroft as highest risk for sexual violence in conflict, child soldiers and internally displaced people and refugees.
Violence Impacting Investors in Growth Economies
Many of the world’s key growth markets also feature in the ‘high’ and ‘extreme risk’ categories of the CPVI, including Colombia (11th), Nigeria (15th), Philippines (17th), India (18th), Bangladesh (21st), Thailand (23rd), China (25th), Indonesia (29th) and Turkey (31st).
Of particular concern, is Nigeria, now Africa’s largest economy. The country is rated as ‘extreme risk’ in the CPVI for the fifth year running, due to persistent insecurity, including increasing risks of kidnapping and piracy.
Violence in the country creates significant challenges for companies in terms of ensuring the safety of employees and facilities, as well as increasing their insurance and security costs. While the Islamist terror threat is likely to remain largely focused on the north-east, the Abuja bus station attack in April 2014, which left at least 75 people dead, demonstrates the ability of Boko Haram to carry out isolated attacks in the central or southern regions of the country.
“Societal unrest and its repression by state security forces acting with impunity are early indicators of political risk – including societally induced regime change and resource nationalism – and have the ability to destabilise the business environment readily,” said Maplecroft chief executive (CEO) Alyson Warhurst. “More frequent risk monitoring is therefore becoming a business imperative.”