Sub-Saharan Africa

Snapshot: Easter risks

Easter, the most important Christian festival, brings significant security and travel risks, spanning everything from potential terrorist attacks on places of worship to striking airline cabin crew disrupting holiday plans. Here are some.

Read more

Snapshot: Insurance impact of U.S. State Department terrorist designation

The US Department of State's latest designation of ISIS-affiliated groups and individuals in the Middle East, Africa and Asia could impact insurance for organisations operating in affected territories.

Puntland’s growing importance, a destabilising factor for Somalia

The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s blacklisting of local businessman Mohamed Mire Ali Yusuf and his business ventures – Liiban Trading and Al-Mutafaq Commercial Company – this month was the latest evidence of Washington’s growing anti-terrorist interventions in Somalia. According to the U.S. Treasury, Mire Ali and his businesses have assisted, sponsored, or otherwise financed Islamic State in Somalia (ISS) through his business activities in the port city of Bosaso in the northern semi-autonomous region of Puntland. The group is led by Abdul Qadir Mumin, a veteran Islamist fighter who defected from Harakat al-Shabaab al-Mujahideen a few years ago.

The implications of South Africa’s water crisis

South Africa faces a water crisis caused by years of drought and poor water management, affecting everything from social relations to wine production. Allan & Associates considers the short- and medium-term implications for businesses and travel to the country.

Nigeria powers on, but will it take off?

Nigeria’s geopolitical and socio-economic outlooks, while improving, are far from ideal. While the economy is growing again, long-running issues relating to security, corruption and infrastructure constraints continue to hamper business activity. Presidential and legislative elections in 2019 will increase political ambitions and competition in the next year which will create further challenges. President Muhammadu Buhari, who is frail and has not yet disclosed if he will seek a second term, is likely to be assessed on several of these issues, which he campaigned on in 2015.