• French soldiers in Gao, Mali. In February 2022, France said it was withdrawing its troops from Mali after almost a decade fighting against insurgents. AFP
    French soldiers in Gao, Mali. In February 2022, France said it was withdrawing its troops from Mali after almost a decade fighting against insurgents. AFP
  • The Sahel region is now home to some of the most violent and dangerous terrorists. The presence of French-led troops largely failed to tackle the insurgents. AFP
    The Sahel region is now home to some of the most violent and dangerous terrorists. The presence of French-led troops largely failed to tackle the insurgents. AFP
  • Kenyan soldiers on patrol after a 2015 attack by in Garissa, which killed almost 150. AP
    Kenyan soldiers on patrol after a 2015 attack by in Garissa, which killed almost 150. AP
  • French defence minister Florence Parly dines with armed forces personnel, celebrating New Year's Eve in 2017, in Tessalit, Mali. AFP
    French defence minister Florence Parly dines with armed forces personnel, celebrating New Year's Eve in 2017, in Tessalit, Mali. AFP
  • Kenyan troops during a firefight with Al Shabab in Nairobi in 2013. AFP
    Kenyan troops during a firefight with Al Shabab in Nairobi in 2013. AFP
  • An armed member of the Al Shabab extremist group at a rally on the outskirts of Mogadishu, Somalia. AP
    An armed member of the Al Shabab extremist group at a rally on the outskirts of Mogadishu, Somalia. AP
  • Kenyan troops use a wall as cover in the firefight with Al Shabab. AFP
    Kenyan troops use a wall as cover in the firefight with Al Shabab. AFP
  • A British RAF Chinook transport helicopter at the Operation Barkhane base in Gao, Mali. The French-led operation against Islamist groups in Africa's Sahel region began in 2014.
    A British RAF Chinook transport helicopter at the Operation Barkhane base in Gao, Mali. The French-led operation against Islamist groups in Africa's Sahel region began in 2014.
  • French ground crew work on a Gazelle combat helicopter at their base in Gao, Mali. In June 2021, France's President Emmanuel Macron said Operation Barkhane would end soon.
    French ground crew work on a Gazelle combat helicopter at their base in Gao, Mali. In June 2021, France's President Emmanuel Macron said Operation Barkhane would end soon.

Middle East no longer region most affected by terrorism, global report finds


Patrick Ryan
  • English
  • Arabic

The Middle East and North Africa is no longer the region most affected by terrorism, a global report has found.

The weakening of ISIS in the region has played a key role in the improved performance in the Global Terrorism Index, which measured the amount of terrorist-related incidents over the course of 2021.

Sixteen countries in the region improved their score from the previous year, with three showing no change in performance.

Only Algeria recorded an increase in the number of terrorist-related deaths.

The Sahel is becoming the new epicentre of terrorism; it has the fastest growth rate in terrorism, with multiple systemic factors aggravating the situation
Steve Killilea,
Institute for Economics and Peace

“Fatalities in the Mena region accounted for 39 per cent of the total global deaths from terrorism between 2007 and 2021,” the report said.

“However, since the defeat of ISIS the region’s share of the global total has dropped substantially.

“It accounted for only 16 per cent of global deaths, behind South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa in 2021.”

The annual report is put together by the Institute for Economics and Peace, a global think tank with headquarters in Sydney.

The number of deaths worldwide from terrorism in 2021 was 7,142, which represented an annual fall of 1.2 per cent.

The 2021 figure was a third of the deaths recorded in 2015, the report said.

“Terrorist attacks are becoming less deadly in the region with less than one person killed on average per terrorist attack in 2021,” authors said.

“This is the region’s lowest lethality rate in the last decade.

“In contrast, sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia recorded more deaths than Mena.”

The UAE was named as one of the most secure countries, with no terrorist incidents reported during 2021.

The largest improvement in the region was in Syria, where 488 terrorism deaths were recorded, 236 fewer than in 2020.

“All countries in the Middle East improved or had no change, except for Algeria,” said the founder and executive chairman of the IEP, Steve Killilea.

“And that's where deaths from terrorism rose from three to five. So it's a minor, minor increase.”

The Sahel accounted for about half the terrorism-related deaths of 2021 (48 per cent).

The report said the Sahel region was the new focus of terrorism concern, being home to the “world’s fastest growing and most-deadly terrorists”.

“The report highlights the changing dynamics of terrorism,” said Mr Killilea.

“It is becoming more centred in conflict zones, underpinned by weak governments and political instability.

“The Sahel is becoming the new epicentre of terrorism; it has the fastest growth rate in terrorism, with multiple systemic factors aggravating the situation.”

Another trend the report noted was that the number of politically related terrorist incidents had overtaken those carried out in the name of religion in western countries.

“In Europe and the US, politically motivated terrorism has overtaken religiously motivated attacks,” said Mr Killilea.

“It's now vital that counterterrorism initiatives are not curtailed because of decreases in government expenditure due to the economic downturn.”

Attacks in the West have declined significantly, the report revealed, dropping by 68 per cent in 2021, from the peak of 2018.

In total there were 113 attacks in Europe in 2021, and seven in the US.

Another reason for the downturn in Western countries was the coronavirus outbreak, Mr Killilea said.

“The decline of terrorism in the West coincided with the Covid-19 pandemic,” he said.

“Restrictions on freedom of movement, public gatherings, travel and an immediate threat to personal health may help to explain this fall.”

He also gave a warning of the perils of an upsurge in terrorist activities, once the effect of the pandemic began to recede.

“Once the emergency measures are removed and societies start to live with Covid, there is the possibility of an uptick in terrorism activity,” he said.

"This would require addressing the underlying issues of alienation, fear and lack of trust in government.”

Attacks in the UK halved in 2021 to 12, representing the lowest number since 2008, with only one being religiously motivated.

Seven terrorist attacks were recorded in France, down by 72 per cent from the 25 of 2020.

The report said terrorists’ methods were being aided increasingly by advancements in technology.

“As technology has advanced, so has the technology used by terrorists, including the use of missiles and drones, extending the reach of their attacks and reducing their casualties,” it said.

“Smartphones and encryption are other newer technologies that also extend their networks, making the spreading of propaganda and recruiting easier.”

Maestro
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Results
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Two-step truce

The UN-brokered ceasefire deal for Hodeidah will be implemented in two stages, with the first to be completed before the New Year begins, according to the Arab Coalition supporting the Yemeni government.

By midnight on December 31, the Houthi rebels will have to withdraw from the ports of Hodeidah, Ras Issa and Al Saqef, coalition officials told The National. 

The second stage will be the complete withdrawal of all pro-government forces and rebels from Hodeidah city, to be completed by midnight on January 7.

The process is to be overseen by a Redeployment Co-ordination Committee (RCC) comprising UN monitors and representatives of the government and the rebels.

The agreement also calls the deployment of UN-supervised neutral forces in the city and the establishment of humanitarian corridors to ensure distribution of aid across the country.

MATCH INFO

Barcelona 2
Suarez (10'), Messi (52')

Real Madrid 2
Ronaldo (14'), Bale (72')

Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
'Panga'

Directed by Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari

Starring Kangana Ranaut, Richa Chadha, Jassie Gill, Yagya Bhasin, Neena Gupta

Rating: 3.5/5

hall of shame

SUNDERLAND 2002-03

No one has ended a Premier League season quite like Sunderland. They lost each of their final 15 games, taking no points after January. They ended up with 19 in total, sacking managers Peter Reid and Howard Wilkinson and losing 3-1 to Charlton when they scored three own goals in eight minutes.

SUNDERLAND 2005-06

Until Derby came along, Sunderland’s total of 15 points was the Premier League’s record low. They made it until May and their final home game before winning at the Stadium of Light while they lost a joint record 29 of their 38 league games.

HUDDERSFIELD 2018-19

Joined Derby as the only team to be relegated in March. No striker scored until January, while only two players got more assists than goalkeeper Jonas Lossl. The mid-season appointment Jan Siewert was to end his time as Huddersfield manager with a 5.3 per cent win rate.

ASTON VILLA 2015-16

Perhaps the most inexplicably bad season, considering they signed Idrissa Gueye and Adama Traore and still only got 17 points. Villa won their first league game, but none of the next 19. They ended an abominable campaign by taking one point from the last 39 available.

FULHAM 2018-19

Terrible in different ways. Fulham’s total of 26 points is not among the lowest ever but they contrived to get relegated after spending over £100 million (Dh457m) in the transfer market. Much of it went on defenders but they only kept two clean sheets in their first 33 games.

LA LIGA: Sporting Gijon, 13 points in 1997-98.

BUNDESLIGA: Tasmania Berlin, 10 points in 1965-66

MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League, last-16, second leg (first-leg scores in brackets):

PSG (2) v Manchester United (0)

Midnight (Thursday), BeIN Sports

Paris Can Wait
Dir: Eleanor Coppola
Starring: Alec Baldwin, Diane Lane, Arnaud Viard
Two stars

ABU DHABI CARD

5pm: UAE Martyrs Cup (TB) Conditions; Dh90,000; 2,200m
5.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) Handicap; Dh70,000; 1,400m​​​​​​​
6pm: UAE Matyrs Trophy (PA) Maiden; Dh80,000; 1,600m​​​​​​​
6.30pm: Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak (IFAHR) Apprentice Championship (PA) Prestige; Dh100,000; 1,600m​​​​​​​
7pm: Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak (IFAHR) Ladies World Championship (PA) Prestige; Dh125,000; 1,600m​​​​​​​
8pm: Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown (PA) Group 1; Dh5,000,000; 1,600m

Dubai Rugby Sevens

November 30-December 2, at The Sevens, Dubai

Gulf Under 19

Pool A – Abu Dhabi Harlequins, Jumeirah College Tigers, Dubai English Speaking School 1, Gems World Academy

Pool B – British School Al Khubairat, Bahrain Colts, Jumeirah College Lions, Dubai English Speaking School 2

Pool C - Dubai College A, Dubai Sharks, Jumeirah English Speaking School, Al Yasmina

Pool D – Dubai Exiles, Dubai Hurricanes, Al Ain Amblers, Deira International School

Schedule for show courts

Centre Court - from 4pm UAE time

Johanna Konta (6) v Donna Vekic

Andy Murray (1) v Dustin Brown

Rafael Nadal (4) v Donald Young

 

Court 1 - from 4pm UAE time

Kei Nishikori (9) v Sergiy Stakhovsky

Qiang Wang v Venus Williams (10)

Beatriz Haddad Maia v Simona Halep (2)

 

Court 2 - from 2.30pm

Heather Watson v Anastasija Sevastova (18)

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (12) v Simone Bolelli

Florian Mayer v Marin Cilic (7)

 

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Updated: March 02, 2022, 5:04 AM