Report: South Sudan at greater terror risk than PA

Terrorism Risk Index ranks Somalia first while newest state takes Palestinian territories’ place at number five. Israel ranks 20

Reuters

Somalia is most at risk from terrorist attack, followed by Pakistan, Iraq and Afghanistan and the new nation of South Sudan, according to a ranking by global analysts Maplecroft, published on Thursday.

South Sudan, which came into being last month on secession for the north, replaced the Palestinian Territories at number five due to the high average number of people killed per attack in violence there.

Scene of terror attack in Pakistan (Photo: AFP)

The consultancy’s latest Terrorism Risk Index said 20 states were at “extreme risk”. Apart from the top five, the list includes Yemen (6), Palestinian Territories (7), Democratic Republic of Congo (8), Central African Republic 9, Colombia (10), Algeria (11), Thailand (12), Philippines (13), Russia (14), Sudan (15), Iran (16), Burundi (17), India (18), Nigeria (19) and Israel (20).

A Maplecroft statement said increased dangers seen in Yemen and Uganda were caused by 

A Maplecroft statement said increased dangers seen in Yemen and Uganda were caused by al-Qaeda associated violence, those in Iran stemmed from attacks by Sunni Muslim rebel group Jundollah and those in Egypt and Libya originated in terrorist and criminal attempts to exploit Arab Spring political unrest.

Nigeria is beset by militant raids in the Niger Delta, by sectarian violence and by radical Islamist attacks in the north.

The top four rankings were unchanged from Maplecroft’s previous survey issued in November 2010 but The UK-based company’s index rates 198 countries on the number, frequency and intensity of terrorism attacks, plus the likelihood of mass casualties occurring. While based on historical data, it is intended as a forward-looking assessment.

Maplecroft defines terrorism as the calculated and purposeful use of violence employed to influence the attitudes and behaviour of people and governments, and takes its raw data from the US National Counter-terrorism Center’s Worldwide Incidents Tracking System.

South Sudan got its rating “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.”

At least seven rebel militias are fighting the new government’s forces which are trying to establish stability after winning separation as part of the climax to a 2005 peace deal ending decades of civil war with Khartoum.

Somalia heads terrorism risk, South Sudan in top 5-survey

August 3rd, 2011 at 1:35 pm

* South Sudan sails into top terrorism rankings-survey   By William Maclean LONDON, Aug 3 (Reuters) – Somalia is most at risk from terrorist attack, followed by Pakistan, Iraq and Afghanistan and the new nation of South Sudan, according to a ranking by global analysts Maplecroft. The consultancy’s latest Terrorism Risk Index also assesses threats to be rising in Yemen, Iran, Uganda, Libya, Egypt and Nigeria. A Maplecroft statement said increased dangers seen in Yemen and Uganda were caused by al Qaeda-associated violence, those in Iran stemmed from attacks by Sunni Muslim rebel group Jundollah and those in Egypt and Libya originated in terrorist and criminal attempts to exploit Arab Spring political unrest. Nigeria is beset by militant raids in the Niger Delta, by sectarian violence and by radical Islamist attacks in the north. The top four rankings were unchanged from Maplecroft’s previous survey issued in Nov. 2010 but South Sudan, which came into being last month on secession for the north, replaced the Palestinian Territories at number five due to the high average number of people killed per attack in violence there. The UK-based company’s index rates 198 countries on the number, frequency and intensity of terrorism attacks, plus the likelihood of mass casualties occurring. While based on historical data, it is intended as a forward-looking assessment. The survey’s reporting period of April 2010 to March 2011, partly overlaps with the June 2009 to June 2010 data used in its previous ranking. It defines terrorism as the calculated and purposeful use of violence employed to influence the attitudes and behaviour of people and governments, and takes its raw data from the U.S. National Counter-terrorism Center’s Worldwide Incidents Tracking System. QAEDA OFFSHOOTS SEEN STOKING RISKS Maplecroft sees 20 states at “extreme risk”. Apart from the top five, these are Yemen 6, Palestinian Territories 7, Democratic Republic of Congo 8, Central African Republic 9, Colombia 10, Algeria 11, Thailand 12, Philippines 13, Russia 14, Sudan, 15, Iran 16, Burundi 17, India 18, Nigeria 19 and Israel 20. There was an increased risk from regional offshoots of al Qaeda including Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, the survey said, adding that a spate of revenge attacks by militants in Pakistan following the killing of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden there in May showed his death had not led to a short-term fall in militancy. On Somalia, Maplecroft said that despite suffering some losses in Mogadishu, the Islamist militant group al-Shabaab continued to hold much of south and central Somalia and “launch some of the most devastating attacks in the capital” in its fight against a Western-backed interim government. South Sudan got its rating “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.” At least seven rebel militias are fighting the new government’s forces which are trying to establish stability after winning separation as part of the climax to a 2005 peace deal ending decades of civil war with Khartoum. NORWAY LOW DOWN THE SCALE Despite its elevated risk ranking, the statement said, “South Sudan’s death toll of 211 from terrorist attacks pales in comparison to the top four countries. Over the same period Somalia suffered 1,385 deaths, Pakistan 2,163 deaths, Iraq 3,456 deaths and Afghanistan 3,423 deaths, which together account for over 75 percent of the world’s 13,492 fatalities. Iran continued to experience a small but lethal number of mass-casualty attacks including a twin suicide bombing in Zahedan in July 2010, which collectively killed at least 28. One of the largest changes in rankings was Uganda, which jumped 20 places to 22 following bombings in Kampala in July 2011 that killed 79 people. The attack marked the first strikes on foreign soil by al Shabaab. The only Western European country seen at high risk was Greece, assessed at 27, down from 24, due to violent left-wing groups. The next most at risk was Britain, rated at 38, up from 46, while France was at 45, barely changed from 44. The survey period did not cover an attack in Norway by anti-Muslim zealot Anders Behring Breivik, who killed 77 people in Oslo and a nearby island. After the attack, some analysts argued that terrorism monitoring had been skewed towards the threat of violence from Muslim groups, ignoring the danger posed by far right westerners. The survey rated Norway at a lowly 112. (Reporting by William Maclean; Editing by Myra MacDonald)

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PaanLuel Wël is the founder and editor-in-chief of PaanLuel Wël Media Ltd, a news website that covers news, opinions, analysis, history, culture and literature of South Sudan and the world. Founded in July 2011 by PaanLuel Wël to create a platform for free expression and constructive dialogue, the website features articles from various contributors, including columnists, commentators, poets, authors, activists and academics. PaanLuel Wël believes that media can play a vital role in informing, educating and empowering the people to participate in nation-building and social transformation. He also believes that media can foster a culture of dialogue, tolerance and diversity among different communities and groups, and hopes to inspire and mentor the next generation of South Sudanese writers and journalists.

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