WE ARE EXPANDING
WE ARE GOING SOUTH
Recently, we have expanded our business into the emerging market in the Sahel, and we expect to continue to focus on growing our business in Central African countries.
In many of these emerging markets, we may be faced with several risks that are more significant than in the other countries in which we have a history of doing business.
States – whether classified as strong or fragile – and nations still matter in the Sahel, but local and country dynamics are better understood in the broader regional context.
In order to assess the risks in this region, it is indispensable to implement a comprehensive transnational approach, whose importance is increasingly confirmed by security threats that do not stop where state borders are drawn.
To meet the growing demand for political and security consultancy in the Sahel, we have decided to extend our business by opening a new department.
This new department will offer an extensive range of analysis products for our customers.
Our particular focus will be on Nigeria, Mali, Sudan, Niger, Tchad and Somalia.
We will provide written reports on a daily to weekly basis and Special Reports on the critical threats, all in a format that you can easily issue to colleagues, re-badged as your corporate product.
Our reporting is not just a re-hash of the news but is actionable analysis on which clients can make strategic business decisions. In addition to our regular analysis, we also produce bespoke reports which answer client-specific issues or concerns.
POLITICAL INSTABILITY &
INSECURITY IN THE SAHEL
Political instability has plagued some of the Sahel’s countries for years. In Mali, the military coup of March 2012 brought an abrupt halt to 20 years of stable democracy. In its aftermath, terrorists who had occupied most of the northern region started heading south, intent on taking control of the whole country. In January 2013 a French-led and Chad-supported intervention stopped their advance. The conflict compounded the security and humanitarian crisis, in part by disrupting supply routes and causing food shortages.
The crisis in neighboring Darfur, Sudan, and the presence of an armed rebellion in the east did damage to Chad’s security that will last for many years. A report issued by the International Crisis group states that during Niger’s 50 years of independence the country has seen two armed rebellions, four coups, seven governments, but also periods of promising democratic change.
In a region with porous borders, a political or security crisis in one country is often a significant threat to neighbors. These borders have benefited criminal networks and drug traffickers. The UN Office for Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has estimated that significant illicit flows linked to illegal activities in the Sahel amounted to $3.8 billion annually.
It is important to appreciate the value of understanding the political and security risks that your company can face as you expand into new territories. We provide the analysis and tools to help manage these risks.
Our services are designed to facilitate your decisions through the provision of a comprehensive report on relevant political and security risks. Not all potential risks are equal to our customers.
In contrast to other consultancies we do not incorporate a general 'traffic lighting' scheme to indicate threats in different countries.
The risks in the Sahel differ significantly from one place or client to the next. This is why our consultancy remains driven by our aspiration to deliver solid and exclusive advice and concrete results to our customers.
We will offer you solutions for
- Political risk analysis
- Strategic region risk forecasting
- Security analysis / threat assessments
- Security and political risk maps
NIGERIA
In 2017 we started to expand our business to Nigeria. Although Nigeria has been experiencing a recession since 2016 it stays Africa’s largest economy and is also Africa’s largest country by population. It is also Africa’s biggest oil producer. Nigeria is a multinational state inhabited by numerous ethnic groups and religions. Since the end of colonial rule in 1960 and after civil war from 1967-1970 Nigeria has alternated between democratically elected civilian governments and military dictatorships until it eventually achieved a stable democracy in 1999.
There are several conflicts threatening security in Nigeria. The most known threat is the Boko Haram group which terroristic attacks killed many people in the last years. But other conflicts like the Fulani-herder conflict and militancy in the Niger-Delta are also severe security issues which result in many killings, economic and humanitarian problems. In the last years kidnapping of foreign citizens, mostly by criminals, were also an issue for international companies and NGO’s. CRCM’s individual security risk and threat analysis can deliver reliable advice for anyone who wants to do business to Nigeria.
Everyone who wants to invest in Africa’s largest economy must also pay attention to several challenges of the Nigerian market. High inflation, bureaucracy and widespread corruption make it difficult to do business in Nigeria and are hard to fight for the government, especially when economy slips into recession.
CRCM’s political and individual security risk and threat analysis is an asset for companies which are involved in Africa’s biggest market.
Tweets on Nigeria
NIGER
Tweets on Niger
With our expansion to the Sahel, Niger is one of the most important countries for which we offer our risk and threat security analysis. Niger is developing country with 80% of the country lying in the Sahara Desert. Most of the approx. 21 Million people live in the far south and west of the country. Niger is one of the poorest countries in the World, according to the Human Development Index. Due to Niger’s central location and wide unpopulated desert areas, Niger is a main transit hub for migrants who want to reach Europe via Libya. Lately the European Union (EU) has started a Migration Partnership with Niger to fight illegal migration and create alternatives for Niger’s economy. Niger’s security and economic situation are challenging for foreign companies. Especially the mining Industry is vital for the country’s exports and government finances. Several international companies are involved in Niger’s Mining industry. In 2011 Niger also started oil production in the Tenere Desert. CRCM’s political and security risk and threat analysis is a severe help not only for companies but also for NGO’s that are active in Niger. From terroristic attacks in border regions to severe crime hot spots and corruption there are several risks that must be considered before acting in the region.