Political Risk in The Gambia: Crime, Terrorism, Monetary Instability, Small Business Flight, and Protectionism

Journal of Political Risk, Vol. 1, No. 4, August 2013.

Figure 1 is a bar graph titled "Comparison of Gambia and Sierra Leone on the Ease of Doing Business in 2013" showing one upward trend in red and a downward trend in blue.

Figure 1: Comparison of Gambia and Sierra Leone on the Ease of Doing Business in 2013. Data Source: World Bank. [1]

Anders Corr, Ph.D.
Publisher

Naheed Vadsaria
Field Researcher

Political risk in the tiny West African state of “The Gambia” is high.  Named after the small river around which its borders fluctuate, the country hosts a dictatorship established in a 1994 coup. The country also hosts Hizbollah operatives who conduct international financial transactions, and is one of the top African cocaine transshipment points to Europe. Local businesses are considering fleeing to Sierra Leone to escape a raft of seemingly arbitrary and protectionist laws promulgated by the President for potentially personal reasons.

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Political Risk to the Mining Industry in Tanzania

Journal of Political Risk, Vol. 1, No. 2, June 2013.
Two line graphs plotted on the same set of axes showing upward trends, titled "Tanzania Mining Growth 1998-2012"

Data Source: African Economic Outlook, National Accounts of Tanzania Mainland.

Ilan Cooper 

Nathan Stevens

Long considered an anchor of East African stability, Tanzania has recently made headlines for aggressive expansion of its mining and extractive industries. In what might be considered growing pains, economic prosperity has strained government and civilian relations, and is increasingly testing the governance skills of Tanzania’s Ministries. Adverse investment laws, widening religious conflict, and proliferation of small arms and light weapons, however, tarnish Tanzania’s image as a peaceful and prosperous republic. Continue reading