Gulf of Guinea: Turbulent tides
Date first published: 06/01/2022 Key sectors: commercial shipping Key risks: political violence; kidnap & ransom Risk development Piracy incidents in the Gulf of Guinea surprisingly declined in 2021 following initial concerns of growing maritime insecurity in the region. 2021 saw the deployment of several foreign naval assets to the region as countries worldwide recognised the coast’s […]
Ones to Watch, 10 January 2022
Americas: Brazil’s Petrobras set to finalise Braskem stake sale in February, delays still possible Sectors: oil and gas; petrochemicals Key Risks: business risks; asset sale delays In Brazil, on 7 January state-owned oil company Petrobras announced plans to complete the sale of its 36.1 per cent stake in petrochemical firm Braskem in February, although further […]
European Union: COVID-19 protest outlook 2022

Date first published: 30/12/2021 Key sectors: media; all Key risks: civil unrest; terrorism; public health policy Risk development In 2021 violent protests against measures designed to combat the COVID-19 pandemic erupted in dozens of European Union (EU) member states. As 2021 draws to a close, several European countries have reported record-high daily COVID-19 cases […]
Ones to Watch, 04 January 2022
Americas: Prime Minister’s assassination attempt highlights Haiti’s deepening instability risks Sectors: all; cargo transport; retail; overland travel Key Risks: political instability; targeted attacks; gang-related violence; disruptive unrest In Haiti, political instability and rampant gang-related violence will remain extremely high risks in 2022, as demonstrated by the assassination attempt on Prime Minister Ariel Henry on 1 […]
Worldwide: The world economy in 2022

Date first published: 23/12/21 Key sectors: all Key risks: COVID-19; inflation; debt Risk development In a baseline case a continued recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic could lead global growth to expand by more than 4.5 per cent in 2022 – down from 2021 – but still ahead of 2019. There were hopes that by the end of 2022 that the global economy would have […]
Ones to Watch, 29 December 2021
Americas: Barbados Prime Minister Mottley aims to secure re-election in January snap vote Sectors: all Key Risks: political instability; policy continuity; civil unrest In Barbados, Prime Minister Mia Mottley of the Barbados Labor Party (BLP) is aiming to secure re-election in a snap vote to strengthen her mandate only weeks after the former British colony […]
Hong Kong SAR: Patriots only!

Date first published: 16/12/2021 Key sectors: all Key risks: political instability; civil unrest Risk development The much-delayed Legislative Councils (LegCo) election is set to take place on 19 December, marking the first major election since the Chinese and local governments implemented a series of electoral changes that drastically remade Hong Kong’s political system. The […]
Ones to Watch, 20 December 2021
Americas: Tensions risk escalating as 13 killed over land disputes in southern Guatemala Sectors: land ownership; transport; overland travel Key Risks: violent clashes; disruptive unrest In Guatemala, tensions risk increasing after 13 people were killed during violent clashes over land disputes in Chiquix village, Nahuala municipality, Solola department between 17 and 18 December. The police […]
Russia – Ukraine: To invade or not to invade

Date first published: 13/12/2021 Key sectors: all Key risks: war on land; political instability; sanctions; trade Risk development In the first week of November, Ukraine and United States (US) officials warned of a Russian military build-up near its border with Ukraine after it amassed a force of up to 100,000 troops in the area. The build-up […]
Ones to Watch, 13 December 2021
Americas: Far-right and far-left to face off on 19 December presidential runoff Sectors: all Key Risks: political instability; policy uncertainty; governability; civil unrest In Chile, far-right former congressman Jose Antonio Kast and far-left lawyer Gabriel Boric will face off in a highly polarised presidential runoff on 19 December. Recent polls suggest that Boric maintains a […]
Honduras: Shift to the left

Date first published: 02/12/2021 Key sectors: all Key risks: policy uncertainty; political stability; regulatory changes Risk development Leftist opposition candidate Xiomara Castro won the presidency and is set to end 12 years of centre-right Partido Nacional de Honduras (PNH) rule. Although the official results are still to be announced, two days after the 28 […]
Ones to Watch, 6 December 2021
Americas: Opposition against Venezuela’s Maduro set to further weaken Sectors: all Key Risks: political instability; economic risks; civil unrest In Venezuela, on 5 December Foreign Minister of the US-backed interim government Julio Borges announced his resignation in another blow to President Nicolas Maduro’s opposition, signalling growing divisions within the latter. Borges, exiled in Colombia, stated […]