Month: April 2023

Reclaiming Al Shabaab’s Revenue

Cutting off al Shabaab’s estimated $100 million in extortion-generated annual revenue will require restoring the integrity of Somalia’s compromised financial, judicial, and intelligence agencies.

Despite setbacks, al Shabaab remains a resilient and destabilizing threat in Somalia. In the past year, it was linked to 2,553 violent events and 6,225 fatalities. This represents nearly a doubling in the number of incidents since 2019. Fatalities involving al Shabaab have increased by 120 percent during this period.

‘A New World Order’? The Iran-Russia-China Axis During the Biden Administration

The Biden Administration has created a vacuum of leadership on the global stage.

If the US further pulls out of Asia, the Indo-Pacific, the Middle East, Ukraine, Latin America — anywhere — the vacuum created will surely be filled by the new axis of China-Russia-Iran. A US pull-out is, most probably, just what they are hoping and waiting for.

Leveraging Lives: Serbia and Illegal Tunisian Migration to Europe

Summary

In 2020–2022, Tunisian illegal migrants traveled through Serbia to reach Western Europe, as an alternative
to the hazardous, more monitored Mediterranean route. This was driven by push factors in Tunisia, including deteriorating economic conditions and government acquiescence, and pull factors in Europe, namely smuggling networks and Serbian authorities looking the other way. While the route was sealed for Tunisians in November 2022, as long as transit states can use illegal migration to secure geopolitical leverage, such actions will continue.

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The Balkans and the Black Sea

Changes in the Balkan illegal migration route. Toward a resumption of the flows?

Numerous signals point out how that the Balkan route is not entirely closed and that its potential role of illegal access to Europe is still relevant. Due to the geopolitical position of the region, it flows to Europe irregular migrants from Africa, the Middle East and Asia. A key role in controlling this corridor is played by Turkey, which is partially capable of fine-tuning these flows with a liberal policy towards migrants and refugees coming from Muslim countries and a laissez faire approach toward their smuggling out of the country. This produces a net strategic return for Ankara.

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Global Study on Firearms Trafficking 2020

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

UNODC has carried out its most comprehensive collection of data on firearms trafficking to date, gathering details from survey responses and other sources in 81 countries for 2016-17. These data give a unique insight into the patterns of trafficking globally, regionally and nationally, providing a vital resource for law enforcement, policymakers and public bodies seeking to reduce the damage caused by the illicit circulation of firearms.

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EU Drugs Action Plan 2021-2025 2021/C 272/02

INTRODUCTION

The EU Drugs Strategy 2021-2025 (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Strategy’) provides the overarching political framework and priorities for the European Union’s drugs policy for the period 2021-2025. The framework, aim and objectives of the Strategy serve as the basis for the EU Drugs Action Plan from 2021 to 2025 (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Action Plan’).

The EU’s fight against organised crime

Law enforcement authorities from EU member states work together to combat serious and organised crime in Europe.

How the EU fights serious and organised crime

Organised crime is a major threat to European citizens, business and institutions, as well as to the European economy. In 2019, criminal revenues in the main criminal markets amounted to 1 % of the EU’s GDP, i.e. €139 billion.

Crime groups are present in all EU countries and often operate across borders. 70 % of criminal groups are, in fact, active in more than three member states.

Tunisia’s xenophobic plans backfire on its fragile economy

President Kaïs Saied’s attempt to scapegoat black migrants is costing the country socially, economically and diplomatically.

In a 21 February national security council address, Tunisian President Kaïs Saied accused sub-Saharan African immigrants of fostering ‘violence, crime and unacceptable practices.’