News


Syria's New 'Militarized' Oil Companies

Jan 23, 2019 | Vanand Meliksetian

The victory of Assad’s Russian-backed forces in the Syrian civil war provides a once in a lifetime opportunity for the Russian energy sector. The Russian…


The Sahel Is Engulfed by Violence. Climate Change, Food Insecurity and Extremists Are Largely to Blame

Jan 23, 2019 | Robert Muggah and Jose Luengo Cabrera

While adverse climate conditions in Sahel are sparking violence, proliferating jihadi insurgencies are also creating no-go areas, turning a bad situation even worse. Climate risks,…


Liberia: Liberia’s Community Forestry becoming a Front for Deforestation: Report

Jan 23, 2019 | Ashoka Mukpo, Mongabay

A report released by Global Witness late last year alleges that Liberia’s forestry laws are being “hijacked” by logging companies. These logging companies can potentially…


Afghanistan: 'The Snow Leopard Project' Puts Spotlight on Afghanistan's Wildlife

Jan 23, 2019 | Barabara J. King, NPR

In the city of Kabul, Afghanistan, there is a "green, leafy oasis" called Shahr-e Naw Park — a place that briefly became a staging ground…


Timor-Leste: Oil Plan Stalled as East Timor President Vetoes State Budget

Jan 23, 2019 | Oki Raimundos, Associated Press

East Timor's president has vetoed the government's budget, possibly jeopardizing plans to develop the Greater Sunrise oil and gas field, seen by leading East Timorese…


Colombia: UN Envoy Urges Colombia to Act Quickly to Protect Leaders

Jan 23, 2019 | Edith M. Lederer, Tribune

The new UN envoy for Colombia urged the government on Wednesday to swiftly implement its plan to protect social leaders, saying seven leaders were killed…


Afghanistan: 1,000 Tons of Fish Produced Every Year from Helmand River

Jan 23, 2019 | Afghanistan Times

As many as 1,000 tons of fish is produced every year from the Helmand River in southern Afghanistan, said officials on Wednesday. Agriculture Directorate of…


Conflict Minerals: ERG to Pilot Blockchain-Based Solution to Trace Cobalt in DRC

Jan 23, 2019 | Mining Technology

Eurasian Resources Group (ERG) will pilot a blockchain-based solution to trace cobalt originating from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Initially, the solution, which is…


Lebanon: Livelihoods EU Aid Volunteer

Jan 22, 2019 | Concern Worldwide

The EU Aid Volunteers initiative provides an opportunity to European citizens and long-term residents, from a wide range of backgrounds and with a diversity of…


Algeria: Livelihoods Officer in Tindouf - Senior EU Aid Volunteer

Jan 22, 2019 | Danish Refugee Council

The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is leading an exciting new EU project aiming at recruiting and deploying volunteers as part of the European Union Aid…


Nigeria: Livelihood Project Manager

Jan 22, 2019 | INTERSOS

INTERSOS is an independent humanitarian organization that assists the victims of natural disasters, armed conflicts and exclusion. Its activities are based on the principles of…


DRC: WASH Program Manager

Jan 22, 2019 | Samaritan's Purse

Samaritan’s Purse is a nondenominational evangelical Christian organization providing spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world. Since 1970, Samaritan’s Purse has helped…


Sierra Leone: Head of Project - Cocoa, Coffee, LANN+

Jan 22, 2019 | Welthungerhilfe

Welthungerhilfe is one of the large and respected private organisations in the field of development cooperation and humanitarian aid in Germany. It carries out projects…


Mali: Programme Development Manager, Livelihoods and Food Security

Jan 22, 2019 | Norwegian Refugee Council

The Norwegian Refugee Council is a humanitarian, non-governmental organisation that protects the rights of people affected by displacement. 

NRC has operated in Mali since 2013. From…


Building a More Resilient Afghanistan

Jan 22, 2019 | Frederica Ranghieri and Ankur Nagar

Within low-income countries Afghanistan is second, surpassed only by Haiti, in the number of fatalities from natural disasters during 1980–2015. Its low levels of economic…


Iraq/Kurdistan: Disagreement over KRG Share Prevents Iraq from Voting on Budget

Jan 22, 2019 | Rudaw

Due to lack of an agreement over the share of the Kurdistan Region’s share of Iraq’s budget for 2019, the parliament in Baghdad won’t vote…


Solar Power and the Yemeni Civil War

Jan 21, 2019 | Austin Bodetti

Little about Yemen would suggest that it represents the next frontier for renewable energy. Since 2015, conflict and crises have left Yemenis no time to…


Myanmar: Internal Peace, International Pressure and China’s Stance on Myitsone

Jan 21, 2019 | Hsan Moe Tun, Eleven Myanmar

In recent days, there was a hullabaloo among the public on the suspended Myitsone Dam project after the statement issued by the Chinese embassy in…


South Sudan: South Sudan Starts Repairs, Pumping Oil from Wells Damaged in the Civil War: Minister

Jan 21, 2019 | Katharine Houreld and Denis Dumo, Reuters

South Sudan has begun to repair and pump oil from wells damaged in the civil war and will ramp up production by the end of…


Myanmar: Amended Land Law Could Criminalise Millions, Obstruct Peace Talks

Jan 21, 2019 | John Liu, Myanmar Times

With less than two months before the newly amended Vacant, Fallow and Virgin Lands Management (VFV) Law goes into force, millions in ethnic rural areas…


Afghanistan/Turkey: Turkey to Become Main Market for Afghanistan’s Saffron

Jan 20, 2019 | TOLOnews

Turkey which reportedly needs up to 300 tons of saffron a year will turn into a major customer of Afghanistan’s saffron, said Ali Arghon Chin, of…


Gaza: Ticking Time Bomb: The Water Crisis Which Threatens Chances for Peace in the Middle East

Jan 20, 2019 | Bel Trew, Independent

Climate change and crumbling infrastructure are causing water shortages in Gaza, which could soon make the enclave uninhabitable. 


Is China Deliberately Sowing Discord over the Myitsone Dam?

Jan 19, 2019 | Irrawaddy

Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar Hong Liang recently visited Kachin State and claimed that some Kachin leaders support the Myitsone Dam project. In particular, the Chinese…


Iraq/Kurdistan: Black Gold: Afrin’s Olive Trees Thrive in Erbil

Jan 19, 2019 | Dilbixwîn Dara, Rudaw

The Kurdistan Region is growing its olive groves using trees and expertise imported from Afrin. Afrin is famous for its olive trees. The oil is…


The Pentagon Calls Climate Change a National Security Threat. Trump Isn't Listening

Jan 18, 2019 | Alex Ward

The Pentagon released a short report this week detailing how a changing climate is a national security threat and makes the military’s job around the…


Nigeria: Farmers-Herders Conflicts: Buhari, Atiku Campaign Manifestos Lack Solutions

Jan 18, 2019 | Hassan Adebayo, Premium Times

Nigeria may continue to walk a violent tightrope as measures towards addressing the country’s farmers-herdsmen conflict, considered a threat to national survival, are not in…


Conflict Minerals: International Project Launched to Use Blockchain to Track DRC Cobalt

Jan 18, 2019 | Mining Technology

US-based automobile manufacturer Ford, US technology major IBM, South Korean cathode manufacturer LG Chem and China-based Huayou Cobalt have teamed up to launch a blockchain…


Climate Change: ‘Conflict and Climate Nexus’ Unpacked at Nairobi High-Level Round Table

Jan 18, 2019 | Julie Arrighi, Climate Centre

The first of a 2019 series of high-level round tables on the interconnected vulnerabilities and impacts of climate and conflict was held in the Kenyan…


Timor-Leste: East Timor Approves Use of Petroleum Fund for Sunrise Acquisition

Jan 18, 2019 | Rick Wilkinson, Oil & Gas Journal

East Timor President Fransisco Guterres has approved a decree allowing use of the country’s petroleum fund for the $650-million acquisition of the Royal Dutch Shell…


Colombia: African Descent Families Occupy Mine to Demand Rights

Jan 18, 2019 | Richard Solly, Independent Catholic News

On Wednesday, 16 January 2019, 50 people from the community of Roche staged a non-violent occupation of part of the vast Cerrejon coal mine -…