CA-Obs

Africa’s chance to reshape the world

...The African Union’s 39th Ordinary Session, which took place in Ethiopia from 14–15 February, concluded with a resounding assertion that the continent should take unified action in the face of a wo...

Posted on 05 Mar 2026

Author(s): Nathalia Dukhan

Global Organized Crime Index, EUR-Obs

Global Organized Crime Index 2025 – Europe Overview

Global Organized Crime Index 2025 - Europe Overview

...Levels of organized crime have remained stable across Europe while increasing in most other regions, according to the 2025 Global Organized Crime Index. Europe remains the second-lowest continent for ...

Posted on 25 Feb 2026

NAM-Obs

A year into the FTO designation

...A year into the FTO designation...

Posted on 21 Feb 2026

SA-Obs

Will South Africa’s plans to deploy the army to curb violence in high-crime areas have any durable effect?

...In his State of the Nation Address on 12 February 2026, President Cyril Ramaphosa put organized crime at the top of his agenda, and announced that South Africa would once again be deploying its army ...

Posted on 19 Feb 2026

Author(s): Vanja Petrovic, Darren Brookbanks

EUR-Obs

Smoke rings: Changing dynamics of Europe’s illicit tobacco trade since 2022

Smoke rings

...The illicit tobacco trade in Europe has undergone profound changes over the past five years. While smoking rates have steadily declined across the continent, illicit tobacco consumption has paradoxica...

Posted on 16 Feb 2026

Author(s): Maria Khoruk, Sarah Fares

UN Cyberwatch

Deadlock for UN cybercrime treaty: Familiar issues derail discussions in Vienna

...Despite being adopted by consensus, with broad support from member states, the UN Convention against Cybercrime has hit an early stumbling block. A clear divide over the participation of non‑state s...

Posted on 10 Feb 2026

Author(s): Ian Tennant

Eco-Solve

Getting organized: EU directive is a chance for states to tackle environmental crime as organized crime

...In a bleak year for international cooperation, the 2025 G20 summit in South Africa reached a rare point of agreement: environmental crime can no longer be sidelined. In November, leaders issued their ...

Posted on 09 Feb 2026

Author(s): Simone Haysom

Global Organized Crime Index, Gold Watch, SA-Obs

Beyond security: Critical mineral supply chains will be the defining challenge for the African Mining Indaba 2026

...The global shift towards renewable energy and digital technologies has sparked a new scramble for resources. Critical minerals such as copper, cobalt, nickel and lithium – essential to renewable ene...

Posted on 06 Feb 2026

Author(s): Marcena Hunter