Jacob Sims

Jacob Sims

Jacob Sims is a columnist for The Diplomat and a founding partner of Operation Shamrock, which is a global public-private coalition working to disrupt Southeast Asia’s organised cybercrime epidemic. He also acts in a formal advisory capacity to numerous other leading organisations and governments in the global fight against modern slavery. Jacob previously served in…

Artistic wooden map of Africa against dark corrugated background.

DRC Crisis: What to know

Author: Camila Mateos Betancourt In a world where tensions evolve across different regions, keeping up with global events can be overwhelming. At The International Risk Podcast, we believe it is crucial to bring attention to issues that may not always dominate news feeds or social media timelines. Explore our episodes on the situation in El…

Bram Verelst

Bram Verelst

Bram Verelst works at the Institute for Security Studies as Senior Researcher on Conflict Prevention, Management and Peacebuilding in the Great Lakes Region. Before joining the ISS, Bram worked as a research fellow at the Department of Conflict and Development Studies, Ghent University, Belgium and as a political analyst for the Belgian Ministry of Defence,…

Episode 211: Conflict in the DRC: M23 and Regional Instability with Bram Verelst

!!! Please note that this episode was recorded before M23 captured Bukavu, the second-largest city in eastern DRC. This week on The International Risk Podcast, Dominic Bowen sits down with Bram Verelst to examine the escalating conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the resurgence of the M23 rebellion. As the group captures key…

German election and international risk

German Election Results: The Future of Defence Spending and The International Risks

Germany’s recent federal election has ushered in a period of political upheaval, with significant implications for defense spending, fiscal policy, the risk environment, and international relations. The Christian Democratic Union (CDU), led by Friedrich Merz, secured a plurality with 28.5 percent of the vote, while the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) achieved a historic second…

Episode 210: El Salvador: The Impact on Women, Girls, and Children of Bukele’s Mass Imprisonment of Gang Members with Juanita Goebertus Estrada

Coordinated and Produced by Elisa Garbil Dive into the impact on women, girls, and children of Bukele’s mass imprisonment. We are joined by Juanita Goebertus Estrada who is the Director of the American Division at Human Rights Watch. She tells us about: Juanita Goebertus Estrada is the Director of the American Division at Human Rights Watch. Between 2018…

Juanita Goebertus Estrada

Juanita Goebertus Estrada

Juanita Goebertus Estrada is the Director of the American Division at Human Rights Watch. Between 2018 and 2022, Juanita was a Congresswoman in Colombia, dedicating her term to the implementation of the Peace Agreement between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). Previously, she was head of the transitional justice group at the…

Episode 209: China, Africa, and the Green Energy Puzzle: Risks and Opportunities with Fikayo Akeredolu

In this episode of The International Risk Podcast, we explore China’s evolving role in Africa’s energy landscape with Fikayo Akeredolu, a DPhil candidate at Oxford specializing in the political economy of energy in Nigeria. We discuss: Join us as we analyze the opportunities and challenges shaping Africa’s energy future and the strategic role China plays in this…

Honduras

Honduras: History, Crime, and Consequences

Written by Elisa Garbil – 17.02.2025 History Honduras is situated between Guatemala, El Salvador, and Nicaragua. Most of the population tends to live in the mountains, which is generally quite isolated. It is a developing nation, with significant economic and social challenges, as well as climate challenges as it tends to have occasional violent tropical…