Duque security plan dashes Colombia peace hopes

2019 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Security Policy ◽  
Police Academy ◽  
Armed Groups ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Peace Dividend ◽  
Human Rights Abuse ◽  
Bomb Attack ◽  
The Government ◽  
Extrajudicial Killings

Significance The move follows Duque's cancellation of peace talks with the National Liberation Army (ELN) on January 18, after a bomb attack on a Bogota police academy that killed 22. On February 6, Duque announced a new Defence and Security Policy (PDS) ruling out any prospect of bilateral ceasefires with non-state armed groups and launching a renewed focus on hardline security strategies. Impacts A return to open war will undermine hopes of an economic ‘peace dividend’ following the peace process with the FARC. An increase in militarised security policies and forcible coca eradication will lead to more human rights abuse and extrajudicial killings. Increased violence will breed contempt for the government among rural communities, making the removal of armed groups more difficult. With Venezuela’s crisis looking set to worsen, Colombia’s security situation shows little prospect of improvement in the coming years.

Politics undermine eastern Congo security gains

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Entry Point ◽  
Armed Groups ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Human Rights Abuse ◽  
International Donor ◽  
Rebel Group ◽  
Eastern Congo ◽  
The Government

Significance MONUSCO on February 11 had already halted its support for the planned offensive, linking its decision to concerns over human rights abuse allegations against two Congolese generals tasked with leading the operations. Tensions between the government and its main international partners come at a time of growing instability in the eastern provinces, threatening to reverse gains made since the 2013 defeat of the main rebel group in the Kivu provinces, the M23 Movement. Impacts The UN is the international donor community's main entry point into DRC, making it a key diplomatic pawn. MONUSCO is unlikely to withdraw completely given the range of security and development functions it offers. However, its offensive role against armed groups through the Force Intervention Brigade (FIB) will become increasingly political.

Information security governance for e-services in southern African developing countries e-Government projects

2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 26-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Avinash Ramtohul ◽  
K.M.S. Soyjaudah
Keyword(s):  
Information Security ◽  
Emerging Economies ◽  
Security Policy ◽  
Software Integration ◽  
Security Measures ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Security Governance ◽  
Single Sign On ◽  
Information Security Governance ◽  
The Government

Purpose – Highly sensitive information pertaining to citizens and government transactions is processed in an electronic format, making information security a critical part of e-Government applications and architectures. Information security measures should ideally span from authentication to authorisation and from logical/physical access control to auditing of electronic transactions and log books. The lack of such measures compromises confidentiality, integrity and availability of information. Today, most e-Government projects in developing countries in Southern Africa Developing Community (SADC) face challenges in two main areas, namely, information security and application software integration. This paper aims to discuss and analyse the information security requirements for e-Government projects and proposes an information security governance model for service-based architectures (SBAs). Design/methodology/approach – The current state of information security in emerging economies in SADC countries was researched. The main problems identified were the lack of software integration and information security governance, policy and administration. The design consists of three basic layers: information security governance defined at the strategic level of the government; information security policy/management defined at the management/operational level; and information security measures, implemented at the technical level. This section also proposes a policy for implementing public key infrastructures to protect information, transactions and e-services. A Token-Ring-based mechanism for implementing Single-Sign-On has also been developed as part of this study. Findings – The main problems identified were the lack of software integration and information security governance, policy and administration. These challenges are causing e-government projects to stagnate. Practical implications – The proposed approach for implementing information security in e-Government systems will ensure a holistic approach to ensuring confidentiality, integrity and non-repudiation, allowing e-Government maturity to progress from “interaction” to “online transaction” stage in emerging economies. Originality/value – Research has not focused on developing a solution for emerging economies which are facing difficulties in integration software applications to deploy end-to-end e-services and to produce an underlying identity management architecture and information security governance to secure the e-services developed and deployed using an SBA. The work produced in this paper is specific to SBAs in e-government environments where legacy systems already exist. The work includes: information security governance defined at the strategic level of the government; information security policy/management defined at the management/operational level; and information security measures implemented at the technical level. This section also proposes a policy for implementing public key infrastructures to protect information, transactions and e-services. A Token-Ring-based mechanism for implementing Single-Sign-On has also been developed as part of this study.

Myanmar's partial ceasefire faces precarious future

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Ethnic Groups ◽  
Armed Groups ◽  
National Elections ◽  
Content Type ◽  
National League ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Military

Subject Outlook for Myanmar's ceasefire process after eight ethnic armed groups agreed to sign up. Significance Myanmar's government will sign a ceasefire agreement on October 15. Despite the deal's "nationwide" title it covers only eight of 15 ethnic armed groups, raising security and political concerns ahead of national elections on November 8. Impacts The government will push for current non-signatory ethnic armed groups to join the ceasefire. The National League for Democracy will foster links with ethnic groups, anticipating the post-election period. The military vote may be used to manipulate the election's result.

Myanmar armed groups eye leverage through 2020 poll

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Peace Process ◽  
The State ◽  
General Election ◽  
Armed Groups ◽  
Content Type ◽  
China And India ◽  
Ethnic Parties ◽  
National League ◽  
Step Down ◽  
The Government

Subject Situation regarding Myanmar's ethnic armed organisations. Significance The government and military in Myanmar and leaders of ten ethnically based guerrilla groups that have signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) last week pledged to step up their commitment to the peace process, to transform the NCA into a lasting settlement. Several other armed groups are still in conflict with the state, notwithstanding occasional ceasefires. State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) will very likely retain control over the civilian part of government following this year’s general election, but ethnic parties will probably make parliamentary gains at its expense. Impacts Suu Kyi is very unlikely to face pressure to step down even if the NLD’s parliamentary majority is heavily reduced. Even with increased seat share in parliament, ethnic parties will struggle to influence policy. China and India will double down on their support for the Myanmar military.

Drug violence set to rise in Ecuador

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Peace Process ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
Penal Code ◽  
Border Region ◽  
Right Wing ◽  
Armed Groups ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Police Station ◽  
Bomb Attack ◽  
Drug Violence

Significance The kidnappings follow a series of violent incidents in the area, including a bomb attack on March 20 that killed three soldiers and the bombing of a police station on January 27 that injured more than 20. The violence comes as armed groups in neighbouring Colombia fight for control of lucrative drug networks in the wake of that country’s peace process with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). Impacts Right-wing politicians and parties will use the escalation in violence to call for a strengthening of the police, military and penal code. Supporters of the former President Rafael Correa will benefit if Moreno is unable to contain violence to the border region. Escalating violence will unnerve investors but it is unlikely to reduce inward investment unless the conflict spreads south.

Myanmar talks have not lessened two-track deal risks

2017 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Civil Society ◽  
Ethnic Minority ◽  
Peace Process ◽  
Armed Groups ◽  
Economic Interests ◽  
Content Type ◽  
North Eastern ◽  
The Government

Significance The talks are part of the effort to end decades of fighting between Myanmar's military (Tatmadaw) and various ethnic minority armed groups (EMAGs). Impacts Myanmar's government will need further Chinese support to bring north-eastern EMAGs back into the peace process. Vested economic interests will likely complicate reaching any peace deal. The government will have difficulty securing new NCA signatories while managing ties with the FPNCC. Pressure will grow for greater civil society involvement in the Panglong process, including media, hitherto barred.

Armed opposition disputes threaten Ethiopian stability

2019 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Ethnic Violence ◽  
Armed Groups ◽  
Credible Commitments ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Federal States ◽  
Entire Country ◽  
The Government ◽  
Two Sides

Significance The development was met with silence from the OLF leadership and little fanfare from the government, even though the two sides had been involved in rising conflict over recent months, with disarmament at the centre of the dispute. Impacts If the OLF remains militarily active, other returned armed groups could reassess their options. The lack of credible commitments between former armed groups and the government could undermine the agreements between them. Rebel activism along ethnic lines could deepen inter-communal mistrust and lead to ethnic violence and further displacements. Deepening violence in Oromia, the largest of Ethiopia’s ethnic federal states, could destabilise the entire country.

Myanmar’s ethnic parties will unite as polls approach

2019 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Ethnic Minorities ◽  
Peace Process ◽  
Refugee Crisis ◽  
Armed Groups ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Ethnic Parties ◽  
Political Landscape ◽  
National League ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Military

Subject Myanmar's political landscape ahead of next year's elections. Significance As the next general election appears on the horizon, parliament last month began debating possible amendments to the constitution. State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD), which controls the civilian portion of government, wants to reduce the military’s reserved parliamentary quota. Meanwhile, the NLD faces increased criticism from parties representing the country’s ethnic minorities. Impacts There is unlikely to be any progress in the country's peace process, aimed at ending conflicts between the military and ethnic armed groups. The military-aligned Union Solidarity and Development Party will aim to enhance its internal organisation. As attention turns to the polls, the government will devote even fewer resources than currently to resolving the Rohingya refugee crisis.

Colombia’s peace deal may face dangerous delays

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
House Of Representatives ◽  
Fast Track ◽  
Right Wing ◽  
Court Ruling ◽  
Armed Groups ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Peace Dividend ◽  
The Right

Significance The move follows emergency negotiations in the aftermath of the public’s shock rejection of the original deal on October 2. While both the Senate and the House of Representatives voted unanimously in favour of the agreement, they did so without the participation of the right-wing Democratic Centre (CD) party, which walked out of both votes in protest. Impacts A court ruling that another plebiscite is needed to fast-track implementation laws may yet endanger the deal. The presence of non-state armed groups other than the FARC will ensure continued violence regardless of the deal. The bad press that followed the plebiscite will dampen investor interest, limiting any peace dividend.

Burundian constitutional reform will deepen crisis

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Presidential Election ◽  
Basic Needs ◽  
Constitutional Reform ◽  
Refugee Crisis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
International Donors ◽  
The Government ◽  
Extrajudicial Killings ◽  
Ruling Party ◽  
Constitutional Changes

Subject Burundi constitutional reform Significance President Pierre Nkurunziza's third term has been marred by accusations of state-sponsored extrajudicial killings, a regional refugee crisis and international ostracism. Recently, he has launched a campaign to amend the constitution to allow him to run for the presidency again. The government has also hinted at other significant constitutional changes and restructurings of laws governing parties and politics. This would further contract Burundi’s democratic space, already in peril since a 2015 coup attempt and contested presidential election. Impacts Nkurunziza’s plans will face little opposition either from non-partisans within the ruling party or from the formal opposition. Despite deteriorating conditions, most international donors will provide only minimal levels of aid to meet basic needs. Without significant intervention, assassinations and disappearances linked to the regime will likely continue.

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