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by Toby Collins
August 3, 2011 (LONDON) – The new Terrorism Risk Index (TRI) ranks South Sudan as, internationally, the country fifth most at risk of acts of terrorism.
- Terrorism Risk Index: grey-No data; green-low risk; yellow-medium risk; orange-high risk; red-extremely high risk (Maplecroft)
The index is published by Maplecroft, a British organisation which advises businesses on the risks involved in their investments.
South Sudan takes it place below Somalia (1), Pakistan (2), Iraq (3),Afghanistan (4) and above (5), Yemen (6), Palestinian Occupied Territories (7), DR Congo (8), Central African Republic (9), Columbia (10), Algeria (11), Thailand (12), Philippines (13), Russia (14), Sudan (15), Iran (16), Burundi (17), India (18), Nigeria (19) and Israel (20).
The index factors in terrorist activities within the last 12 months, as well as the state’s historical propensity to terrorism.
Maplecroft states, “The country is rated as ‘extreme risk’ primarily due to the intensity of terrorist attacks, with an average of 6.59 fatalities per terrorist incident, almost three times that of Somalia at 2.23.”
This is the first time South Sudan has made it onto the list as it achieved statehood only this year.
It cites the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and rebel factions of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army as guilty of terrorism.
The LRA of north Uganda have been terrorising South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Central African Republic since the 1990s. They are infamous for the violence of their attacks upon civilians, which involve, rape, mutilation, abduction and murder. They are particularly active in Western Equatoria state.
George Athor’s rebel, South Sudan Democratic Movement, has been responsible for hundreds of deaths, particularly in Jonglei and Upper Nile states.
Lam Akol’s Sudan People’s Liberation Movement – Democratic Change is alleged to have close ties with militias operating mainly in Lake’s and Upper Nile states.
One of the rebel movement with the most blood on its hands was the South Sudan Liberation Army, which operated mainly in Unity state, but is reported to have committed to a ceasefire on Wednesday. The SSLA were predominantly from the Nuer ethnic group, fighting against what they saw as the hegemony of the Dinka.
The Mapelcroft report concedes that although the number of deaths per attack is high, the number of overall deaths is relatively low.
Security is a key concern for the future of South Sudan. Without it, all systems of the state are impeded and investors will be reticent to commit to what would otherwise be, in mind of the resources available, a good bet.
(ST)
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