News


Crunching the Numbers on Climate Change, Conflict, and Food Aid

Dec 31, 2014 | Sarah Meyerhoff

Two studies push back on recent analyses that claim to demonstrate empirical links between food aid and conflict and climate change and conflict.

This summer, Nathan…


Who is Setting Libya’s Oil on Fire?

Dec 31, 2014 | Ali Ibrahim

Those worried about the slump in the oil market—which has seen prices of crude oil fall to their lowest levels in years—may owe a debt…


South Sudan: ‘Silent Emergency’ in South Sudan as Protracted Conflict Displaces Millions of Cattle – UN

Dec 31, 2014 | United Nations

As South Sudan’s livestock owners flee the country’s conflict, a “silent emergency” has emerged threatening the very fabric of society and further undermining social stability,…


Liberia: Plan to Resell Oil Block 16 Contract Exposed

Dec 31, 2014 | Heritage

It can be recalled that recently, the  53rd  Legislature  ratified the controversial Production Sharing Contract (PSC) of Liberia offshore Oil Block 16 between the Government…


Timor-Leste: Sanitation Specialist

Dec 30, 2014 | BESIK

Aurecon is currently seeking the services of a Sanitation Specialist to facilitate the development of a National Plan for Rural Sanitation Improvement (Roadmap) towards 2030.…


Solomon Islands: Social Scientist

Dec 30, 2014 | WorldFish

WorldFish, a member of the CGIAR Consortium, is an international, nonprofit research organization. CGIAR is a global partnership that unites organizations engaged in research for a…


Afghanistan: Programme Manager AUP

Dec 30, 2014 | Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC)

NRC is starting a new regional integrated programme responding to the needs of Afghan displacement affected communities in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran. The overall programme…


The Egypt-Ethiopia Dispute Over the Nile Basin Can Evolve into a Strategic Partnership

Dec 30, 2014 | Goitom Gebreluel

Ethiopia and Egypt have successfully managed to end their millennia-long rivalry over the river Nile. Ethiopia’s announcement in 2011 of its intention to construct Africa’s…


South Sudan: South Sudan Claims Oil Still Flows, Experts Disagree

Dec 30, 2014 | John Tanza, Voice of America

South Sudan Foreign Minister Barnaba Marial Benjamin said Tuesday that oil production, the backbone of the country's economy, has not been affected by the year-old…


Liberia: For Ratification of Block 16 Oil Contract: Lawmakers Bribed Over US$3M?

Dec 30, 2014 | Heritage

Recently, the Legislature ratified the Block 16 Oil Contract few days after    the Executive Branch of the  Government of Liberia(GOL)  headed by President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf…


Iraq: Basra Leaders Pushing for Regional Autonomy

Dec 30, 2014 | Ali Abu Iraq and Ben Lando, Iraq Oil Report

Leaders in Basra are making a renewed push to form a region akin to the autonomous Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) – a move that would…


Iraqi PM: Baghdad Unable to Export Oil Without Kurds

Dec 29, 2014 | Mewan Dolamari, Basnews

The Iraqi Prime Minister has said that without reaching an agreement with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), Baghdad cannot export oil from fields in the…


Iran/Iraq: Iran Approves $15 Billion Plan to Develop Oilfields With Iraq

Dec 29, 2014 | Kambiz Foroohar, Blomberg

Iran’s cabinet approved a four-year $15 billion plan to jointly develop oilfields with Iraq that will increase the nation’s production capacity by 550,000 barrels a…


South Sudan: UN Boosts Food Assistance As ‘Very Critical’ Nile Corridor Reopens

Dec 29, 2014 | United Nations

A barge carrying a shipment of food destined for thousands of people in South Sudan has crossed over from neighbouring Sudan, reopening a long-closed river…


Business's Bribery Shifts Country Dividends To A Privileged Few

Dec 28, 2014 | J. Yanqui Zaza, The Perspective

For big business to get its sweet heart deal, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf paid $31,000, predictably, to each Liberian Senator, to approve an Oil Agreement…


DRC: 15 Killed in Illegal Mine in Democratic Republic of Congo

Dec 28, 2014 | Press TV

At least 15 people have suffocated to death while working in an illegal mine in the southeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Mayor Deoda Kapenda…


Iraq: Iraq Pins Hope on Privatisation as Oil Price Falls and War Against ISIL Takes Its Toll

Dec 28, 2014 | The National

Iraq plans to divest state-owned enterprises as part of a major privatisation push to diversify income and revenues in light of lower oil prices and…


Iraq: Belgian Jet Fighters Destroy ISIL-Used Oil Refinery in Iraq

Dec 28, 2014 | Kuwait News Agency

Two Belgian F-16 fighter jets have destroyed an oil refinery which was being used to supply fuel for ISIL vehicles in western Iraq. According to…


Libya: Libyan Militias Set Fire to Storage Tanks in Renewed Push for Oil, Foreign Minister Says

Dec 28, 2014 | New York Times

Libya’s foreign minister said Sunday that militant groups were making a renewed push to seize oil resources, after an assault on eastern terminals set storage…


China, Viet Nam, South China Sea: China, Vietnam to Address Maritime Disputes without Using 'Megaphone Diplomacy:' Xinhua

Dec 27, 2014 | Pete Sweeney, Reuters

Senior Chinese and Vietnamese officials have agreed to settle their maritime disputes without resorting to "megaphone diplomacy", the official Xinhua news service said on Saturday.

The…


China, Viet Nam, South China Sea: China, Vietnam to Address Maritime Disputes without Using 'Megaphone Diplomacy:' Xinhua

Dec 27, 2014 | Pete Sweeney, Reuters

Senior Chinese and Vietnamese officials have agreed to settle their maritime disputes without resorting to "megaphone diplomacy", the official Xinhua news service said on Saturday.

The…


Resource Curse: Africa’s Rich Oil: The New Political Scramble and Core Causes for Conflict around the Continent (Part 2)

Dec 26, 2014 | Josephus Moses Gray, GNN Liberia

The African continent which is blessed with riches is drawing new interests from powerful and influential countries and companies around the globe owing to its…


South Sudan: CNPC, S. Sudan in MoU to Boost Oil Production

Dec 26, 2014 | Daily Times NG

China National Petro­leum Co has entered an agreement with South Sudan to boost production of existing oilfields in the young African state. This is according…


Iraq/Kuwait: Kuwait Energy Announces Second Oil Find in Iraq

Dec 25, 2014 | Trade Arabia

Kuwait Energy, an independent oil and gas exploration and production company, said a consortium led by the company, has made its second oil discovery in…


Libya: Fighters Clash With Troops Defending Oil Sites

Dec 25, 2014 | New York Times

Islamist militia fighters killed at least 22 soldiers on Thursday during a surprise attack in which they used speedboats in a bid to seize some…


Iran/Iraq: Iran Calls for Boosting Oil, Gas Cooperation with Iraq

Dec 24, 2014 | Umid Niayesh, Trend

Iran and Iraq can boost cooperation in oil and gas sector, the Islamic Republic’s Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani said, Iran’s Fars news agency reported Dec.…


Iraq: Oil Price Drop Causes $43 bln. Cut in Iraq's Budget

Dec 24, 2014 | Middle East Monitor

On Tuesday, Iraq's cabinet approved the country's 2015 budget, which included a $43 billion reduction from last year.

Ahmed Haji Rashid said: "The drop in oil…


Falling Oil Prices and the Consequences for Sub-Saharan Africa

Dec 23, 2014 | Amadou Sy, Brookings Institution

Yesterday, in reaction to the recent, dramatic drop in oil prices, Africa Growth Initiative Nonresident Fellow Rabah Arezki and International Monetary Fund Chief Economist  Olivier…


Iraq: Baiji Refinery ‘More Than a Year’ From Re-start

Dec 23, 2014 | Iraq Oil Report

Iraq's largest oil refinery still faces enormous obstacles before it can resume operations, one month after Iraqi forces regained control of the city of Baiji…


Iraq/Kurdistan: Plunging Oil Prices Hurt Iraqi Kurds' Bid for Independence

Dec 23, 2014 | Peter Schwartzstein, National Geographic

The Kurdish capital is built on oil. From the high-rise apartment blocks that ring the broad outer boulevards, to the streetside jungle gyms and gleaming…