The 2009 Failed States Index - FSI Wire Archive

SPAIN
An earthquake kills nine and forces thousands to sleep outdoors.
YEMEN
13 are reported dead after security forces open fire on protesters.
EGYPT
Crime wave complicates transition to democracy.
THAILAND
Villagers return home after border clashes ease
MEXICO
Drug cartel kingpin Benjamin Arellano Felix is extradited to face charges in the United States.
SYRIA
More deaths and mass arrests recorded as protests against the Syrian government continue
MEXICO
Protesters march against drug-related violence as mass graves are found.
NIGERIA
Elections pushed back by one week due to logistical issues.
PORTUGAL
Portugal becomes third country to seek EU bailout.
IVORY COAST
Fighting spreads as pro-Ouattara forces surround Abidjan and key military officials end their support for Gbagbo.
PAKISTAN
Ten die in suicide attack on radical religious leader.
GEORGIA
Police blame Russia after finding three bombs outside government buildings.
EAST TIMOR
The police have taken back responsibility for security from the UN for the first time since 2006.
SIERRA LEONE
The army was deployed for the first time in two weeks of crisis.
MALAYSIA
At least 75 people killed in earthquake near the Lao and Thai borders.
SYRIA
Government pledges reforms after days of violence.
YEMEN
President Saleh announces he will hold elections by January 2012 instead of September 2013.
ISRAEL/WEST BANK
A bomb kills one and injures dozens in Jerusalem's first militant attack in years.
BENIN
Benin has confirmed election of President Boni Yayi but opposition leader says he will not accept the result.
YEMEN
Yemen's crisis worsens as top military officers defect.
LIBYA
Airstrikes are ordered to enforce a no-fly zone.
IVORY COAST
At least six women shot dead by security forces while marching in support of Ouattara
EGYPT
Prime Minister resigns in what is seen as the army's response to protesters' demands
PAKISTAN
Second minister killed after supporting changes to controversial blasphemy law
CHINA
Wen Jiabao reduces goals for economic growth and says government will focus on addressing rising inequality
IVORY COAST
Clashes between Ouattara and Gbagbo supporters threaten to reignite civil war.
GREECE
IVORY COAST
Cocoa farmers protest EU sanctions intended to force Laurent Gbagbo to give up claims to the presidency.
BAHRAIN
Anti-government protests spread to Bahrain, prompting a military crack-down.
SOMALIA
Al-Shabaab militants detain pirate leaders over a disagreement on the rebel group's cut of ransom payments.
SUDAN
Dozens killed in fighting between factions of the army
COLOMBIA
Government returns land to farmers displaced during the conflict.
KUWAIT
Interior Minister resigns over death of a man in police custody as opposition calls for protests.
EGYPT
Opposition politician Mohamed ElBaradei returns to Egypt as anti-government protests escalate.
YEMEN
Protesters called for an end to the 32-year rule of President Ali Abdullah Saleh.
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
Tensions rise as three of five presidential candidates call for Sunday's election to be annulled.
BANGLADESH
Angry investors clash with police in Dhaka after the stock exchange's biggest one-day fall in history.
DEM. REP. OF THE CONGO
Opposition parties are angry over proposed electoral changes to elect the president in one round.
ALGERIA
Violent protests erupt over economic conditions and policies.
COLOMBIA
More than 300 people have died and another 2 million have been affected by massive flooding
GHANA
The first oil begins to be pumped from offshore deposits announced three years ago.
VENEZUELA
Hugo Chavez pushes the lame-duck legislature for increased legal authority.
IVORY COAST
Tensions rise as Constitutional Court rejects electoral commission's declaration of win by opposition candidate
EGYPT
Opposition Muslim Brotherhood withdraws from Sunday's run-off election, citing election rigging ruling party
SOMALIA
Fighting in Mogadishu leads to spike in civilian casualties, allegedly caused by peacekeepers.
HAITI
Anti-UN protests erupt over accusations that UN peacekeepers started the cholera outbreak
DEM. REP. OF THE CONGO
Nearly 200 prisoners break out of a prison in northwest DRC
BRAZIL
Police arrest 22 as part of an 18-month effort to break an international drug smuggling network.
HAITI
Health workers struggle to stem a cholera epidemic that has spread to crowded Port au Prince.
ZIMBABWE
Senators from Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's party disrupted a session of Parliament in protest.
BURMA
Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi is scheduled to be released from house arrest
COLOMBIA
Police raid the National Narcotics Office amid problems over seized drug assets.
GREECE
Greek police dismantle a bomb intended for the French embassy in Athens.
CUBA
Despite other reforms regarding cultural exchanges and the Catholic Church, Cuba continues harassment of dissidents
BURMA
Cyclone Giri blasts western Burma, killing dozens and destroying thousands of home and buildings.
BENIN
Benin has been hit by the worst flooding in 40 years, displacing more than 600,000 people.
KENYA
Authorities arrest the mayor of Nairobi over allegations of corruption regarding the sale of land for a graveyard.
UGANDA
The Constitutional Court has dismissed treason charges against opposition politician and presidential candidate
SUDAN
A UN-backed demobilization campaign has started in southern Sudan as part of the 2005 peace agreement.
FRANCE
Hundreds of thousands of French workers went on strike in protest of new labor law.
PAKISTAN
Militants set ablaze NATO fuel tankers, intended to supply NATO operations in Afghanistan.
BOSNIA
Partial vote count in the presidential elections suggests political deadlock over Serb succession could continue.
IRAQ
Estimated oil reserves are revised upwards by 24 percent, giving Iraq the fourth largest reserves globally.
TAJIKISTAN
Islamic militants attack a military convoy, killing at least 23 soldiers.
BANGLADESH
Competing with China and India for access to waterways, Bangladesh braces for potential agricultural disaster
MEXICO
Left with few alternatives to stop attacks on journalists, a Mexican newspaper asks drug cartel for advice.
GUINEA
Campaigning for the presidential run-off election is suspended after violent clashes.
EL SALVADOR
Public transportation halted by gangs in protest of a new law making membership in a gang a criminal offense.
SUDAN
Disagreements over border demarcation and lagging election prep could delay referendum on South Sudan independence.
SOUTH AFRICA
Amid criticism, South Africa intends to expel Zimbabwean migrants at year’s end:
ISRAEL/WEST BANK
On the eve of peace talks, four Israelis are shot dead in the West Bank
AFGHANISTAN
Run on one of the Afghanistan's biggest banks
PAKISTAN
Flooding that started nearly a month ago has affected an estimated 17 million people.
CHINA
Infrastructure has not kept up with the country's economic expansion, shown by a recent 9 day, 60 mile traffic jam.
BENIN
President Boni could face impeachment over possible links to a financial scandal.
NEPAL
Transit strike cripples Nepal as indigenous group calls for new Constitution
CAMEROON
UNICEF Reports over 150 dead in Cameroon cholera outbreak
UKRAINE
After painful recession, Ukraine records robust GDP growth in 2010
UGANDA
The LRA has launched a campaign of mass abductions to replenish its ranks.
COLOMBIA
Car bomb in Bogota raises fears of renewed fighting
MOROCCO
Police in Morocco break up militant group accused of terrorist plot
NIGERIA
President Jonathan is serious about combating corruption.
KENYA
While the voting process was a success, ethnicity still rules Kenyan politics
RUSSIA
Drought, fires, and crop failure add to the country's demographic woes.
KENYA
Constitutional referendum approved without violence
AUSTRALIA
Ruling Labour Party split, allegations ahead of August 21 vote
ITALY
Berlusconi survives no-confidence vote, but allies are split and new elections in the offing
HONDURAS
Honduras government faces criticism for failing to investigate the deaths of 7 journalists
MAURITANIA
Mauritania Initiates New Campaign to Combat Al Qaeda on Eastern Border
LATVIA
Boosted by Strong Exports, Lithuania Finally Emerges from Recession
HAITI
IMF Cancels Haiti Debt, Easing Budgetary Burden
TURKEY
Turkish Government Charges 102 Military Officers in Connection with 2003 Coup Plot
MOLDOVA
Russia Suspends Financial Assistance to Moldova's breakaway Transdniestria Region
NEPAL
Political deadlock continues in Nepal as no candidate wins majority in latest election
BOLIVIA
Record cold kills 18 and causes widespread disruptions in Bolivia
CAMEROON
Military officials in Cameroon work towards developing new measures to reduce HIV/AIDS in the army
IVORY COAST
Improved rains mean recovery for Ivory Coast's cocoa crop
ANGOLA
Substantial new oil find in Angola could provide a major revenue stream
UKRAINE
International concern grows over Ukraine's crack down on HIV/AIDS treatment facilities
INDIA
A new report finds eight Indian states contain more poor people than 26 African countries combined.
IRAN
Iran's government shuts down for two days due to power shortages, while considering an end to oil & gas subsidies
PHILIPPINES
A typhoon across the northern part of the Philippines causes considerable damage
KENYA
MPs vote to raise their salaries, making them some of the world's best paid politicians and sparking public anger.
PAKISTAN
At least 35 were killed in an attack on a Sufi shrine in Lahore.
GUINEA
Tensions rise in Guinea as vote counting is extended
ANGOLA
The Kimberley Process has prevented diamonds from funding rebel groups, but human rights abuses continue.
ERITREA
Many young people are desperate to emigrate, but the government has taken harsh measures to stop them.
COLOMBIA
Juan Manuel Santos of the ruling Social National Unity Party is elected president.
KIRGIZSTAN
A new UN estimate puts the number of people displaced by the recent violence at 400,000.
DEM. REP. OF THE CONGO
Peacekeepers begin to withdraw as part of a small reduction in troops there, despite ongoing instability.
MEXICO
More than 200 people were killed in drug-related violence last week--the worst week in Calderon's war on drugs.
KIRGIZSTAN
A new UN estimate puts the number of people displaced by the recent violence at 400,000.
KAZAKHSTAN
Ethnic violence, which has killed 77, has prompted the government to plead for Russian assistance.
AFGHANISTAN
An estimated trillion in minerals has been discovered, which could fundamentally alter the economy.
AFGHANISTAN
An estimated trillion in minerals has been discovered, which could fundamentally alter the Afghan economy.
SUDAN
Kenya is providing aid to Southern Sudan in anticipation of the region's referendum on independence next year.
KIRGIZSTAN
Senior official in the interim government resigns, citing doubts about the new government's commitment to democracy
SLOVENIA
Slovenians vote to take border dispute with Croatia to international arbitration, avoiding further confrontation.
SOUTH AFRICA
Street lights in Cape Town must be left on all day to deter the theft of electric cables.
PAKISTAN
Militants accuse India of diverting water from rivers, causing drought in Pakistan's agricultural heartland.
JAMAICA
A government failure to provide jobs and services allows crime bosses to take over by doing so.
ETHIOPIA
Prime Minister Meles Zenawi is expected to win election, which opposition leaders have criticized as flawed.
JAMAICA
State of emergency is declared after violence over a gang leader's planned extradition to the U.S.
IRAN
President Ahmadinejad was heckled during a speech by a crowd dissatisfied with economic conditions.
MADAGASCAR
A rebel police faction clashes with army and police over the political crisis that brought Andry Rajoelina to power
MONGOLIA
An unusually severe winter kills 17 percent of the country's livestock with serious human consequences.
KIRGIZSTAN
Ethnic riots break out as the interim government's control over the country remains tenuous.
KIRGIZSTAN
Amid political unrest, drug traffickers take control in southern Kyrgyzstan
IVORY COAST
International Crisis Group warns that violence could return if more peacekeepers and police are not deployed.
ALBANIA
Protests escalate over last year's elections, which many believe were rigged.
CHINA
A new industrial zone focused on green technology hopes to boost investment in solar energy.
UKRAINE
Proposed merger of the Russian and Ukrainian state gas companies creates anger in Ukraine
CAMEROON
Police in Yaounde clash with journalists protesting the death in prison of a newspaper editor.
VENEZUELA
Despite oil exports, the country is in the grips of an economic crisis and suffers from chronic power shortages.
SUDAN
Widening divisions within the SPLM could lead to instability as South Sudan's referendum on secession approaches.
NIGER
Drought threatens some areas with total crop failure, which could lead to a food crisis worse than that of 2005.
SIERRA LEONE
A program to provide free healthcare to pregnant women, new mothers and young children could save many lives.
NIGERIA
The chairman of the ruling PDP party has been charged with fraud and would be forced to resign if convicted.
THAILAND
Prime Minister Abhisit refuses demands to dissolve parliament; threatens to retake their encampment by force
TANZANIA
Considerable progress has been made toward eradicating malaria, but further international support is needed.
ZAMBIA
European flight ban caused by volcanic ash hurts Zambian farmers, who must throw out exports intended for Europe.
BELARUS
Belarus's decision to protect the deposed Kyrgyz leader increases tensions with Russia
GABON
Government signs according with striking oil workers on improved conditions and wages
SUDAN
Intl observers find that the presidential elections were seriously flawed, but still a step toward democracy
DEM. REP. OF THE CONGO
Renewed fighting in South Kivu interrupts national exams for local students.
CYPRUS
Hopes for reunification take a hit with Nationalist win in presidential elections.
BURMA
Three explosions in Rangoon during a New Year celebration kill at least nine people.
CHINA
An earthquake in the Qinghai province kills over 600 and injures thousands.
KIRGIZSTAN
Deposed Kyrgyz president resigns and leaves the country, reducing tensions.
NIGERIA
Nigeria pushes for more local participation in the oil industry
SOMALIA
The Shabab Islamist militant group has slowly been losing influence and power.
SRI LANKA
Fractured opposition likely to result in easy reelection for controversial Sri Lankan president
TURKMENISTAN
European Bank for Regional Development begins new strategy to promote growth and transparency in Turkmenistan
GUINEA-BISSAU
Army seizes Prime Minister in second coup in last 13 months
SERBIA
Government of Serbia moves towards reconciliation with condemnation of Srebrenica massacres
UGANDA
Almost 1 million at risk of severe food insecurity in Karamoja region of Uganda
EL SALVADOR
IMF Approves 0 million loan to help stabilize the economy in El Salvador
SENEGAL
military involved in heavy fighting with separatists in Casamance region
AFGHANISTAN
Hezb-e-Islami, Afghanistan's second largest insurgent group, met with President Karzai for peace talks.
YEMEN
President Saleh has declared the war with northern Shi'ite rebels is over
IRAQ
Election board rejects Al-Maliki request for recount of the recent election results
SUDAN
The government signs a cease-fire with another Darfur rebel group, the second this month.
NIGERIA
Acting President Goodluck Jonathan dissolves the cabinet.
ITALY
UN human rights commissioner criticizes Italy's treatment of Roma and other migrants.
SOUTH AFRICA
An opposition party has called for a vote of no confidence in President Jacob Zuma.
SOMALIA
A Sufi group has joined the government in order to fight al-Shabab.
THAILAND
After days of peaceful protests, violence broke out when 3 grenades exploded at a Bangkok army base.
MADAGASCAR
A tropical storm kills 36 and makes 38,000 homeless.
SRI LANKA
Largest Tamil party gives up its demands for a separate Tamil homeland in favor of a "federal" solution.
NIGERIA
Hundreds have been killed near Jos in what are thought to be reprisals for ethnic violence in January.
TAJIKISTAN
OSCE criticizes Tajik elections; Opposition challenges results.
BURMA
Although no date has been set yet, the country prepares to hold its first elections in two decades.
IRAQ
bomb blasts kill at least 14 and disrupt early voting in parliamentary elections. General voting begins March 7.
CHILE
The military is called out to prevent looting and lawlessness after the devastating earthquake.
TOGO
As polls open for the presidential election, voters hope that this time their votes will be counted.
UGANDA
300 are missing and feared dead after a mudslide.
SOMALIA
Militants have prevented the UN World Food Program from distributing aid to hundreds of thousands of displaced.
TURKEY
Senior military officers are arrested for allegedly plotting a coup against the Muslim-led government.
IRAN
The government closed the most influential critical newspaper and magazine, expanding government control of media.
VENEZUELA
A Spanish judge accused the Venezuelan government of cooperating with two foreign rebel groups, the FARC and ETA.
SUDAN
The government has signed a peace agreement with the JEM, a major rebel group in Darfur.
AFGHANISTAN
President Karzai has taken control of the formerly independent commission to that monitors electoral fraud.
CHINA
The Communist Party issues a new ethics code in an attempt to control corruption.
NIGERIA
Pres Yar'Adua returns from but announces that Jonathan will remain acting president for the time being.
IVORY COAST
Police fire on demonstrators protesting President Gbagbo, killing several.
BELARUS
A crackdown on the Polish minority could jeopardize relations with the EU.
ZIMBABWE
The EU extends sanctions for another year, indicating a lack of confidence in the unity government.
NIGER
President Tandja is reportedly being held by soldiers in what may be a coup attempt.
UKRAINE
The results of the presidential election have been suspended after a challenge by candidate Yulia Tymoshenko.
NEPAL
The government faces severe challenges integrating 19,000 Maoist rebels into the army and civilian life.
KENYA
Witnesses to the post-election violence in Kenya have been threatened to prevent their giving testimony.
ZIMBABWE
Mugabe threatens to quit Kimberley Process after investigations of human rights abuses in diamond mines.
KENYA
President Kibaki and Prime Minister Odinga each suspend different ministers over corruption allegations.
BANGLADESH
A new card system for distributing subsidies to farmers could reduce corruption and improve efficiency.
INDIA
A daylight ambush by Maoist rebels kills 24 police officers; anti-government forces are gaining strength.
CHINA
Internet restrictions in Xinjiang force local business owners to travel hundreds of miles to connect with customers
SRI LANKA
Defeated presidential candidate Fonseka has been arrested in what could begin a crackdown on the opposition.
UKRAINE
Pro-Moscow Yanukovych wins presidential election; opposing candidate Tymoshenko plans to challenge results.
IRAN
An announcement that Iran could begin enriching uranium is likely to prompt stronger sanctions against the regime.
CHINA
Just 22 months after a devastating earthquake, many affected areas have made a huge recovery.
RUSSIA
A major protest in Kaliningrad catches the Kremlin off-guard, but authorities suppress rally in Moscow.
IRAQ
A ban on candidates with links to the former Baath Party has been lifted, prompting mixed reactions from Iraqis.
NORTH KOREA
Restrictions on private markets have been eased in the face of widespread public anger.
IVORY COAST
Infrastructure breakdowns could mean severe electricity shortages for this and other West African countries.
SRI LANKA
There is anxiety in Tamil areas over the results of last week's presidential election.
UGANDA
Success in fighting AIDS is in jeopardy as the infection rate rises and US aid declines.
BURMA
A new study calls attention to potentially dangerous nuclear activities and suspicious military ties to North Korea
YEMEN
Al Qaeda has been able to integrate into local society, providing a new model of how to expand
SUDAN
Ethnic clashes kill 15, the latest episode of violence before presidential and legislative elections in April
PAKISTAN
Drone attacks kill a Filipino militant, showing that tribal areas have become a global meeting place for terrorists
CHINA
Despite the global economic downturn, China showed strong economic growth in 2009.
SRI LANKA
With peace in the north, many newly-registered Tamils prepare to vote in presidential election next week.
VIETNAM
The government cracks down on democracy advocates, charging them with attempting to overthrow the Communist state.
VENEZUELA
Mismanagement and droughts have resulted in chronic blackouts.
BURKINA FASO
The government has begun working with farmers to improve practices, hoping to reduce impact of climate change
NEPAL
The peace process is being undermined as actors on both sides fail to carry out their promises.
SOMALIA
Battles in the interior between 3 Muslim militias have killed more than 130 in recent days and displaced thousands.
KENYA
Police in Nairobi shoot at supporters of an itinerant Muslim preacher who the government hopes to deport.
NIGERIA
Clashes between Christians and Muslims in the Central Region have killed at least 20 and displaced thousands.
CAMBODIA
New roads are bringing together a country scarred by civil war.
ANGOLA
An attack on Togo's football team in Angola's Cabinda enclave kills three.
YEMEN
President Saleh has promised to crack down on al Qaeda militants operating in Yemen.
MALI
A branch of al Qaeda demands the release of 4 of its members in exchange for a Frenchman kidnapped in November.
KENYA
Witnesses are being beaten and threatened to prevent their testifying about Kenya's 2007/08 post-election violence.
SUDAN
2,500 killed in Southern Sudan last year, threatening peace process in the run-up to April election.
PHILIPPINES
Natural disasters, separatist movements, political violence, and private militias targeting May election campaigns.
IRAQ
Election workers have been targeted by insurgents in an attempt to disrupt the March parliamentary elections.
ERITREA
The national soccer team defects to Kenya, joining thousands of their fellow citizens seeking asylum abroad.
MADAGASCAR
Acting president Rajoelina dismisses the prime minister, appointed in a power-sharing agreement in October.
CHINA
Social unrest was on the rise in 2009 after decades of building resentment.
YEMEN
Somali refugees have been forced to fight on behalf of rebels in northern Yemen.
SUDAN
Tensions increase as the country nears the "endgame" on the peace agreement.
COLOMBIA
Two rebel groups, the FARC and the ELN, announce they may unite against the government.
ITALY
Berlusconi supporters are using the recent assault to condemn adversaries.
MEXICO
Drug cartels have begun stealing oil from pipelines, incurring huge losses for the government.
BURMA
Opium production has soared, helping militant groups to buy arms.
TURKMENISTAN
A new natural gas pipeline opens to China, reducing Turkmenistan's dependence on gas sales to Russia.
GUINEA
ECOWAS proposes sending an intervention force to Guinea to prevent instability there from threatening the region.
INDIA
The federal system expands the number of states to deal with communal grievances.
DEM. REP. OF THE CONGO
UN peacekeepers are told not to conduct operations with the Congo’s military for fear of human rights abuses.
PHILIPPINES
An armed group has taken 75 hostages, demanding all charges against them be dropped in exchange for release.
GUINEA
President Camara is recovering in Morocco after being shot by an aide in an assassination attempt.
VENEZUELA
Serious scandal and the risk of bank failures could plunge the country into financial meltdown
IRAN
The regime faces growing opposition, marked by frequent demonstrations, and a worsening economy.
INDIA
Progress is being made in dealing with separatists in the restive northeast region.
BURMA
Supreme Court agrees to hear appeal by opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi of 18-month extension of her house arrest
BOLIVIA
Exit polls indicate a reelection victory for Evo Morales, in a vote praised as fair and transparent.
SOMALIA
A suicide bomb kills four Somali ministers and at least 15 others at a graduation ceremony in Mogadishu.
NIGERIA
Pres Yar'Adua urged to step down over concerns about his health after receiving medical treatment in Saudi Arabia.
SWAZILAND
Torrential rains end decades of drought, easing water shortages, but flooding could threaten food security.
NORTH KOREA
A surprise currency re-denomination designed to stamp out the private sector causes panic, and markets close.
IRAQ
Disagreement over the electoral bill means it will not be possible to hold parliamentary elections in January.
HONDURAS
A conservative businessman is elected president in polls whose legitimacy is in question after June coup.
CHINA
58 people are charged with taking bribes to cover up a mine explosion that killed 35.
BURUNDI
Former rebel leader Agathon Rwasa will run in presidential elections in 2010.
PHILIPPINES
21 politicians and journalists recently abducted in Mindanao have been found dead.
DEM. REP. OF THE CONGO
Tens of thousands of people have fled ethnic violence in Equateur province.
IRAN
The increasing number of executions is seen as a government effort to intimidate the political opposition.
AZERBAIJAN
President Aliyev threats military force to resolve dispute with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh if negotiations fail.
IVORY COAST
Concerns over logistics and voter registration push back elections yet again.
IRAQ
A vice president vetoes part of a key election law, which could lead to the delay of January's election.
COMOROS
The main opposition leader is arrested for criticizing the president.
DEM. REP. OF THE CONGO
The leaders of the FDLR rebel group have been operating freely in Europe.
ERITREA
As political isolation, food shortages, and reliance on remittances grow, tens of thousands of Eritreans want out.
KENYA
Whether in the countryside, the slums, or elite college campuses, communities battle for power.
ZAMBIA
The media are under fire from Zambia’s rulers for graphically documenting health care failures
ITALY
Berlusconi and allies rush new legislation to parliament after the constitutional court strips him of immunity.
BOSNIA
New international approach could end the mandate of the High Representative, but instability may follow.
ANGOLA
There could be an influx of revenue from a major new oil find.
SOMALIA
Spain calls for an EU naval blockade of three Somali ports that are used by pirates.
BRAZIL
A storm shuts down the Itaipu hydropower dam, causing up to one fifth of the population to lose power.
YEMEN
Fighting continues between Houthi rebels and the government, allegedly with Saudi involvement.
EL SALVADOR
Landslides caused by heavy rains kill over 130 people and leave thousands homeless.
IRAQ
Parliament passes a critical election law, averting constitutional crisis and paving the way for January elections.
MADAGASCAR
Rival political leaders reach agreement on a power-sharing government after months of disagreement.
ZIMBABWE
Military secures another illicit financial base to cement its power, but international action might curb profits.
IRAN
The Revolutionary Guards move to gain influence over the media, cementing their power in the country.
AFGHANISTAN
Deteriorating security situation prompts UN to temporarily relocate staff while it implements new security measures.
NICARAGUA
Hurricane Ida makes landfall and is expected to result in extensive damage to infrastructure.
SRI LANKA
The government has stepped up its mine clearance operations in order to facilitate the return of displaced persons.
GUINEA
The political crisis has contributed to the eruption of ethnic tensions in the Forest Region.
ZIMBABWE
Violence and intimidation against the opposition MDC has increased since their disengagement from unity government.
AFGHANISTAN
Karzai wins another term after officials cancel a runoff. The government's legitimacy is still in question.
SRI LANKA
The government continues to release displaced Tamils from camps in the North.
AFGHANISTAN
Ethnic politics complicate the war against the Taliban.
SUDAN
Next year's elections could be destabilizing; some opposition parties announce plans for boycott.
IVORY COAST
Despite a long period of disarmament and an arms embargo, those from both sides of the 2002 civil war are rearming.
SOMALIA
Debit cards have been introduced in Hargeisa, capital of the breakaway region of Somaliland.
SOMALIA
Al Shabaab threatens to attack Uganda and Burundi, which have peacekeepers in Somalia
NIGERIA
Militants declare a cease-fire in order to allow talks with the government to progress.
TUNISIA
Pres Ben Ali is reelected to 5th term with 90 percent of vote. Opposition groups decry lack of political freedom
MOLDOVA
Presidential elections are postponed in an atmosphere of political deadlock.
ITALY
A European parliament resolution to censure Italy for lack of media freedom failed by only three votes.
SRI LANKA
Nearly 6,000 Tamil refugees are allowed to return home in first wave of resettlements planned for next few weeks.
ZIMBABWE
Political rift in government widens and milk war develops between major multinational and the country's first lady.
ETHIOPIA
Government requests food aid to alleviate hunger caused by drought, population growth, conflict, & land policies.
NORTH KOREA
A UN investigation of human rights abuses will take place in December.
GUINEA
French nationals are urged to leave amid growing instability and violence.
AFGHANISTAN
A panel investigating electoral fraud finds that Hamid Karzai did not receive enough valid votes to avoid a runoff.
MADAGASCAR
Suspension of foreign aid following political crisis has allowed the illegal trade in endangered species to thrive.
ZIMBABWE
Opposition party boycotts cabinet meetings, illustrating widening rift in the transitional government.
YEMEN
BURMA
The ruling general announces plans for a general election in 2010.
ANGOLA
Expulsion of Angolan refugees from DRC and Congolese workers from Angola could result in humanitarian disaster
DEM. REP. OF THE CONGO
LRA rebel attacks are spreading in the North, causing hundreds of thousands of people to flee.
PAKISTAN
A string of recent bombings show the Taliban has been able to regroup.
ARMENIA
An agreement is signed with Turkey to establish diplomatic ties after a century of hostilities.
INDIA
Maoists have called a strike in five states, protesting against "police atrocities."
GUINEA
A Chinese firm will invest billions in infrastructure in exchange for "strategic partnership" in mining operations.
MADAGASCAR
Another power sharing agreement temporarily defuses a crisis in Madagascar, but its durability is questionable.
KENYA
The power sharing agreement has not resolved the underlying conflict; ethnic groups are rearming for 2012 election.
ERITREA
A minerals boom could help the ailing agricultural economy.
NIGERIA
Up to 15,000 militants have disarmed during the two-month amnesty, although one faction plans to resume fighting.
MALDIVES
A cabinet meeting will be held under water to call attention to the threat posed by rising sea levels.
NIGERIA
Top rebel leaders accept government amnesty offer, but problems that started the insurgency haven't been addressed.
PAKISTAN
A suicide attack targets UN building in Islamabad, leading the UN to request relocation to more secure quarters.
SENEGAL
Six soldiers are killed in the Casamance region, where violence has been increasing despite a 2004 peace agreement.
CHINA
The revival of ethnic identity could either help democratization or lead to social instability.
KENYA
In standoff with President Kibaki, Kenya’s parliament rejects the reappointment of anti-corruption chief.
EGYPT
After the government ordered all pigs to be slaughtered over swine flu fears, food waste piles up in the streets.
ANGOLA
Enthusiasm for Chinese investment in oil sector wanes; promised infrastructure projects fail to meet expectations.
GABON
Opposition parties reject the terms of a re-count of votes from the contested presidential election.
GUINEA
As death toll rises from a crackdown on opposition supporters, African and European governments consider sanctions.
EGYPT
The continuing crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood could lead to the radicalization of its more moderate members.
SWAZILAND
Prison guards are accused of using excessive force on demonstrators awaiting release of prominent opposition leader.
IRAQ
Political alliances continue to shift, posing new questions for the upcoming election.
GUINEA
Troops open fire on an opposition rally, killing at least 58
HONDURAS
A state of emergency is called and two media organizations are forced to close.
CUBA
The government allows private farmers to grow crops on unused state land for a profit.
UNITED STATES
Many skilled foreign workers are returning to their countries of origin, causing "brain drain" in key industries.
TAJIKISTAN
The president hopes to spark interest in the country’s hydroelectric potential at the UN Summit on Climate Change.
GAMBIA
President Yahya Jammeh threatens to kill human rights workers for "destabilizing" the country.
INDIA
India considers laws to curb carbon emissions ahead of UN climate change conference, policy it previously resisted
BHUTAN
A strong earthquake kills several and damages infrastructure.
PHILIPPINES
Troops clash with Abu Sayyaf rebels, seizing one of their main strongholds.
THAILAND
Damming of the Chao Phraya River has put local populations at risk of flooding.
NIGER
President Mamadou Tandja detains opposition leaders who oppose extending his term ahead of legislative elections.
SIERRA LEONE
Deepwater oil deposits are confirmed off the shore of Sierra Leone.
NIGERIA
Rebel group MEND announces it will extend its ceasefire by 30 days.
AFGHANISTAN
First full tally gives Karzai 54 percent of votes. Fraud investigations and recounts will determine final results.
UGANDA
Buganda ethnic protests break out, culminating in riots in Kampala.
IRAN
An ally of opposition leader Mir Hossein Musavi is released from prison.
PAKISTAN
Many are killed in a stampede as they wait for free flour, a sign of pressured caused by rising commodity prices.
SENEGAL
Despite the economic crisis in Europe, it still holds a large appeal for would-be Senegalese migrants.
LIBERIA
President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf suspends the Education Minister and pledges to crack down on corruption.
SOMALIA
Best practices for ship security are adopted in an attempt to thwart piracy.
INDIA
The unveiling of a poet's statue stirs ethnic tensions in Bangalore.
LEBANON
Saad Hariri abandons his attempt to form a unity government after 10 weeks.
MEXICO
The worst drought in over 50 years has exacerbated the country's recession and may even lead to a food crisis.
HONDURAS
U.S. threatens not to recognize election results in Dec 09 if the ousted president is not first allowed to return.
KENYA
Almost all senior police officials are replaced, bringing hope for major reforms.
AFGHANISTAN
Karzai receives majority of votes, enough to avoid run-off. Accusations of fraud abound for all major candidates.
AFGHANISTAN
NIGERIA
A banking crisis based on corruption rocks the country as five ousted bank chiefs are indicted.
AFGHANISTAN
A controversial election and a rethink of U.S. strategy are moving the country toward a turning point in the war.
GABON
Violence erupts after Ali Ben Bongo, son of former President Omar Bongo, is named winner of presidential election.
CHINA
New protests break out in Xinjiang in Western China.
SAUDI ARABIA
An assassination attempt on the anti-terror chief shows the threat of terrorism is still a viable one.
NORTH KOREA
The UAE has seized a shipment of embargoed North Korean arms bound for Iran.
AFGHANISTAN
Female voter turnout falls sharply in the recent election due to security concerns.
GABON
Three candidates claim victory in Sunday's presidential elections. Official results have yet to be announced.
BOSNIA
14 years after the war, ethnic divisions remain and only an international presence holds the country together.
NIGERIA
Pervasive corruption in the financial industry has put the country on the brink of a banking crisis.
BURMA
Fighting reported in the Northeast, ending a two-decade ceasefire between an ethnic militia and the government.
INDONESIA
The terrorist network responsible for the Jakarta bombings is larger and more sophisticated than originally thought.
HAITI
Security has improved significantly as the police, with UN assistance, make progress against gangs.
UGANDA
With drilling now in sight, ethnic tensions are sparked over how to share future oil revenues.
SUDAN
Thousands flee attacks by Ugandan LRA rebels in Southern Sudan.
HONDURAS
Supreme court has rejected a deal brokered by Oscar Arias that sought to reinstate ousted President Manuel Zelaya
YEMEN
The military claims to have killed more than 100 rebels as violence continues.
NIGERIA
Global economic downturn has slowed brain drain among skilled workers; some migrants have even chosen to return.
AFGHANISTAN
Journalists are ordered not to report incidents of violence during the election for fear of reducing voter turnout
ARGENTINA
Reports that it has altered bad economic data begin to affect the government's legitimacy.
MALDIVES
Despite rising sea levels that threaten islands, the president cancels trip to UN climate talks amid budget crisis
ERITREA
Strong efforts are being made to expand educational opportunities in remote areas.
UZBEKISTAN
The government is accused of bringing politically motivated charges against a journalist.
DEM. REP. OF THE CONGO
A human rights leader has been arrested as part of a campaign of intimidation against journalists and activists.
MEXICO
Customs inspectors have been replaced with newly trained agents in attempt to crack down on tax evasion, smuggling.
KENYA
The unregulated gem trade has failed to benefit miners, who receive little compensation and face attacks.
IRAN
Group of fmr MPs have asked Assembly of Experts to investigate if Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei is fit to rule.
ZIMBABWE
Doctors at state hospitals have gone on strike, and hospitals could close if their demands are not met.
ETHIOPIA
Below average rainfall in the southern region is expected to lead to food shortages this year.
GEORGIA
Russia announces that it will increase its military presence in the Georgian breakaway region of Abkhazia.
DEM. REP. OF THE CONGO
Military campaigns to disarm the FDLR rebel group in eastern Congo have not succeeded; a new approach is needed.
CHINA
Typhoon Morakot forces 1 million to flee; hundreds are missing.
MADAGASCAR
Politicians involved in the political crisis reach power sharing agreement. Elections will take place in 15 months.
SUDAN
Google expands its Google Earth coverage of the genocide in Darfur.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
As the country worries about climate change, rising sea levels are already displacing island residents.
KIRGIZSTAN
Families suffer as the global recession reduces remittances, which form a major part of the economy of Kyrgyzstan.
MADAGASCAR
UN officials are attempting to mediate the ongoing political crisis that began in March.
NIGER
President Mahamdu Tandja plans to amend constitution to run for a third term, despite regional opposition.
SRI LANKA
The first Tamil refugees are allowed to return home after being held in government camps.
BURMA
Access to potable water has increased since last year as the country recovers from Cyclone Nargis.
KENYA
45,000 people are to be evicted from settlements that have contributed to deforestation and water shortages.
NIGERIA
The former agricultural exporter can now barely feed its population. Lower rainfall could trigger major food crisis.
RUSSIA
Militant attacks in Chechnya and Ingushetia undermine Russian claims that the region’s insurgency is near defeated.
BANGLADESH
USD130 million World Bank loan is approved for solar energy infrastructure and increased access to electricity.
GUINEA-BISSAU
Malam Bacai Sanha is declared the winner in a presidential run-off vote that took place without reports of violence.
ECUADOR
A lawsuit over environmental damage caused by oil production exposes weak rule of law and judicial corruption.
NIGERIA
The leader of an Islamic sect responsible for recent violence in the north is reported to have been killed.
ECUADOR
A lawsuit over environmental damage caused by oil production exposes weak rule of law and judicial corruption.
SOLOMON ISLANDS
A planned UN program aims to rehabilitate former militants involved in the 1998 and 2003 conflicts.
SYRIA
A leading human rights lawyer has been arrested.
SRI LANKA
Despite a growing refugee crisis and human rights concerns, the country is able to secure IMF loan.
NIGERIA
As many as 150 people may have been killed after Islamist militants stage attacks on police stations in the north.
IRAQ
A Kurdish-Arab conflict may be the next challenge facing the country.
ITALY
New anti-immigration laws make life difficult for illegal migrants
IRAN
Political turmoil in the Islamic Republic could have an impact on Hezbollah, which receives support from Iran.
KENYA
The Shabab, a radical Islamist group from Somalia, has crossed into eastern Kenya.
NEPAL
Political infighting threatens to derail Nepal’s fragile peace process.
GAMBIA
Gambia's free press suffers a setback from frequent detention, torture, and unfair trials of journalists.
MALI
A former Tuareg rebel group agrees to help the country's army fight Al-Qaeda.
BULGARIA
A report by a panel of EU experts finds that Bulgaria is unwilling to tackle corruption and adopt reforms.
VENEZUELA
Cocaine trafficking through Venezuela has skyrocketed in recent years.
HONDURAS
Disagreement within Honduras over whether President Zelaya should be reinstated could prove destabilizing.
RUSSIA
A prominent human rights activist is murdered in Chechnya.
PAKISTAN
Despite a 2007 law banning the sale of kidneys, the practice continues.
REPUBLIC OF CONGO
President Sassou-Nguesso is reelected to another seven-year term in disputed elections.
HONDURAS
A curfew is reimposed after the government accuses supporters of ousted President Zelaya of causing disturbances.
IRAQ
A second consecutive year of drought threatens crops and drinking water supplies.
AZERBAIJAN
An agreement is reached to construct a pipeline carrying Caspian gas to Europe through Turkey, bypassing Russia.
KIRGIZSTAN
Some fear that Central Asia's "island of democracy" could be backsliding into authoritarianism.
MAURITANIA
Saturday’s election is set to return the country to constitutional rule after an August 2008 coup.
BURMA
Imprisoned opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi may be losing influence with the younger generation.
UNITED STATES
A wave of Somali-migrants, returning home to join radical groups, prompts fears of terror against the U.S.
SOMALIA
The U.S. sends military assistance to the struggling government
CHINA
Ethnic violence erupts as Uighurs continue to protest in the Western province of Xinjiang.
INDONESIA
Peaceful presidential elections were held. Incumbent President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono looks likely to win.
SOUTH AFRICA
Government faces a test as the African Union sides against the arrest of Sudanese President al-Bashir by the ICC.
SRI LANKA
Government orders international relief organizations to cut back their activities after defeat of the Tamil Tigers.
GHANA
World Bank approves 5 million in loans to Ghana, part of a .2 billion package over three years.
UGANDA
Government accuses opposition of starting a new rebel group.
NIGERIA
Despite government offers of amnesty for militants, another rebel attack makes peace seem less likely.
IRAN
Click here for post election unrest statistics and map.
PAKISTAN
Pro-Taliban militants scrap peace deal with government; more violence looms.
KIRGIZSTAN
Several Islamist militants are killed in a fight with security forces.
SOLOMON ISLANDS
The country prepares for an intense drought.
HAITI
Senate elections were held to fill 11 seats that were vacant for over a year. The President's party gained 5 seats.
BURMA
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will visit to discuss the detention of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
NIGER
Pres Tandja declares state of emergency, dissolves constitutional court, parliament, in attempt to seek a 3rd term.
RUSSIA
Reports of human rights abuses in the North Caucasus contradicts Russia's claim that the region has stabilized.
NORTH KOREA
Four short-range missiles have been fired into the sea with more tests expected in the coming days.
LIBERIA
Truth commission concludes its public hearings and moves on to the next difficult phase of peace and reconciliation.
HONDURAS
President Manuel Zelaya was ousted on Sunday in Central America's first military coup since the end of the Cold War.
GUINEA-BISSAU
Elections to replace Pres. Vieira, assassinated in March, took place Sunday. Few expect greater stability to follow.
ZIMBABWE
The military took over diamond fields in Zimbabwe last year and has been using revenue to enrich the ruling party.
ZIMBABWE
Doubled harvest for 2009 in Zimbabwe will still not be enough to address massive food insecurity
NIGERIA
Ceasefire in the Niger Delta and possible amnesty to militants for recent attacks.
PAKISTAN
Violence spreads to Kashmir with suicide bombing in the region.
NIGERIA
Militants claim to have blown up a Shell Oil well-head in the Niger Delta despite a recent ceasefire.

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