Articles by Steven Gilchrist

According to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), 1 in 4 women in Nigeria are sexually abused before they turn 18. Furthermore, the majority of sexual abuse cases in Nigeria are not prosecuted. According to Reuters, coronavirus-related lockdowns led to an increase in domestic violence and sexual assaults worldwide.  The increase of domestic violence and sexual assaults has been particularly noticeable in Nigeria. President Muhammadu Buhari declared a nationwide state of emergency in June 2020 because of the ongoing rape, domestic and sexual violence epidemic in the country. In 2018, the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey noted that 30% of girls and women between 15 - 49 reported being sexually abused. Nigeria is the most populous nation in Africa. In 1960, the country gained independence from Great Britain. From 1967 to 1970, Nigeria endured a civil war. Facts about Nigeria: Population: 225,082,083 (2022 est.) Land Area: 356,669 sq miles Languages: English (official), Ha...

Since December 2012, the Central African Republic (CAR) has been embroiled in a civil war. In March 2013, the 5th coup in CAR's history took place. The coup, led by a mostly Muslim rebel group, displaced then President Francois Bozize.  Since 2017, Russia has played an increasingly pivotal role as a foreign partner for the CAR's government. Russia has been aligned with the President of CAR Faustin-Archange Touadera. In addition to assisting President Touadera's government, Russia's involvement with CAR serves as a potential link for expanded economic, military, and political influence in Central Africa. Russia seeks to expand its influence in other surrounding countries such as: Burundi, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and the Republic of Congo.  In early 2018, Russia donated military equipment to the Central African Republic. Russia has argued for reducing sanctions against CAR's diamond industry imposed by the United Nations. A peace agreement was ...

Located in eastern Africa, Ethiopia is the second most populated nation on the African continent. Ethiopia is also the oldest independent country in Africa. On November 4, 2020 a conflict started when Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed ordered a military attack against regional forces in the Tigray section of Ethiopia. Tigray is the northernmost regional state in Ethiopia. Tigray is the 5th most populated of the 11 regional states in Ethiopia. The regional states are divided by ethnicity. The orchestrated military offensive was the result of a long-standing feud between the Ethiopian government and influential political leaders in Tigray.  The Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) has been designated a terrorist organization by the Ethiopian government. Opposition forces in Tigray have formed the Tigray Defense Forces (TDF) which includes TPLF and non-TPLF members. The ongoing conflict has left and estimated 10,000 people dead and over 350,000 people on the brink of starvation. ...

Located in southeastern Africa, Zimbabwe is a landlocked nation with a population of approximately 15 million people. A former colony of Great Britain, Zimbabwe's independence was officially recognized on April 18, 1980. Currently, there are 16 official languages spoken in Zimbabwe. In 2003, the Zimbabwean economy collapsed. This economic collapse led to millions of Zimbabweans fleeing the country. The economic problems resulted in about 3/4 of Zimbabwe's citizens to live on less than $1 (U.S.) dollar/day. Modern Zimbabwe has one of the highest inflation rates of any nation in the world. In 2019, inflation in Zimbabwe drastically increased. Furthermore, in 2020, export revenues declined due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The World Food Program estimates that over 2 million Zimbabweans are at risk for food insecurity caused by frequent droughts, fuel shortages, lack of clean drinking water, power outages, and poverty. Facts about Zimbabwe: Chief of State: President Emmerson Dambudzo ...

On August 30, 2021, United States military forces withdrew from Afghanistan. The withdrawal of U.S. troops concluded the longest war in American history. On August 26, 2021, 13 U.S. service members were killed and 18 were injured in an attack at a security checkpoint at Kabul airport. The U.S. service members killed in the attack were the first American military personnel killed in action in Afghanistan since February 2020. At least 170 Afghan civilians were also killed in the attack.    Prior to the conclusion of the war, a  December 2019 report from The Washington Post indicates that more American contractors died during the war in Afghanistan than American troops. The report suggests that the U.S. government did not keep an accurate count of the number of American contractors who died during the war in Afghanistan. The Washington Post report estimates that 3,814 U.S. civilian contractors have died since the beginning of the war in Afghanistan in October 2001. The estim...

The United Nations has described ongoing social unrest in Burma (also known as Myanmar) involving the Rohingya community as a “textbook example of ethnic cleansing.” The Rohingya Muslims represent the largest percentage of Muslims in Burma. In August 2017 the Burmese army attacked several Rohingya Muslims, the majority of whom live in the Rakhine state. The coordinated attacks against Rohingya civilians caused over 740,000 people to leave the southeast Asian country into Bangladesh as refugees. Contrary to the reports by the United Nations pertaining to violence against the Rohingya, Burmese officials deny targeting civilians. Burmese officials have countered these claims by saying that the Burmese military has been targeting their efforts to fight against the Rohingya militant group known as the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA). The Rohingya refugees started fleeing to Bangladesh on August 25, 2017 after ARSA militants launched attacks against more than 30 police posts. The S...

The nuclear armed nations of Pakistan and India have been locked in a contentious border dispute since 1947. In that year, India and Pakistan gained independence from Great Britain. Since achieving independence, India and Pakistan have fought three wars in 1947, 1965, and 1999. The most recent chapter in the ongoing dispute occurred in February 2019 when an Indian Air Force pilot was shot down and captured by the Pakistani military. The pilot’s MiG-21 jet was shot down while flying in the disputed Kashmir region (which is located to the north of India and to the east of Pakistan).   The Indian Air Force’s response stemmed from a suicide bombing attack on February 14, 2019. The attack took place in the Indian controlled section of Kashmir. More than 40 Indian troops were killed when a suicide bomber drove a car full of explosives into a group of Indian soldiers. The Pakistani government denied any involvement in the attack. Nonetheless, the Indian government retaliated by conduc...

According to Mexican government officials, approximately 61,637 people have been reported as disappeared and have not been found in Mexico since the 1960s. Although the cases involving disappeared individuals go back for decades, government records indicate that over 97% of the people were reported as missing since 2006. In that year, Mexico’s government initiated a strategy to reduce drug trafficking and criminal enterprises. The current situation in Mexico is one the worst crises of “the disappeared” in Latin American history. Approximately 40,000 people went missing during Guatemala’s 36-year civil war. An estimated 30,000 people disappeared from 1976 to 1983 during Argentina’s “dirty war.” In 2017, Mexican officials recorded the more than 7,000 cases. In 2019, between 5,000 to 9,000 people disappeared and were not found, according to Mexico’s National Search Commission. According to officials, there are various reasons for the forced disappearances. In certain cases, nar...

On January 7, 2019, five rebels in the west African nation of Gabon attempted a hostile takeover in Libreville – the capital of Gabon. The five rebels were Gabonese Army soldiers. The coup attempt occurred at the national radio station. In a statement made while seizing power of the radio station, the insurgents called for a “National Restoration Council.” The rebels argued for other soldiers to seize control of Gabon’s airports, transportation systems, and weapons depots. The coup attempt was thwarted and two of the rebel soldiers were killed. Gabon, a former French colony, is a major producer of oil. Since 1960, Gabon has had only three presidents. Approximately 1/3 rd of Gabonese citizens live in poverty. In 2009 Ali Ben Bongo Ondimba — the current president of Gabon, succeeded his father Omar Bongo as head of state. Omar Bongo spent 41 years in office, winning seven consecutive terms. President Ali Bongo’s time in office has been marred by a French government investigation in...

Over the past seventy years Japan and Russia have been locked in one of the longest-running unresolved international disputes.  The two nations have not resolved a territorial dispute over the Kuril Islands – which are located off the coast of the Japanese island of Hokkaido. The disputed territory includes 4 islands: Kunashir, Iturup, Shikotan, and Habomai.  The island chain stretches 810 miles from Hokkaido, Japan to Kamchatka, Russia.  The islands are located in Russia’s Sakhalin Oblast region and they separate the Sea of Okhotsk from the North Pacific Ocean.  There are 56 islands that compose the Kuril Island chain.  Today, approximately 30,000 people live on the islands.  The islands serve as a vital resource for fishing and offshore reserves of gas & oil.     Japan refers to the islands as the Northern Territories and Russia refers to the islands as the Southern Kurils.   Originally, the islands were under Japanese control. ...

Most of the Amazon rainforest is in the South American country of Brazil.   The former Portuguese colony is the continent’s most influential country and is one of the world’s largest democracies.   Similarly to the United States there is a significant gap between the rich and poor in Brazil.   The nation’s population is quite diverse.   Brazil’s population includes native indigenous Americans and descendants of African slaves and European settlers. Recently, Brazil has experienced two historic events: the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics.   More importantly, the former president of Brazil Dilma Rousseff was suspended in May 2016 by the Brazilian senate.   Rousseff was charged with using illegal budgetary maneuvers to shield the extent of Brazil’s financial woes.   In 2010, Rousseff (a member of the left-wing Workers’ Party) was elected as Brazil’s first woman president.   In 2014, Rousseff was re-elected.   Howev...

In August 2015, thousands of Malaysians gathered in Kuala Lumpur to rally for the ouster of Prime Minister Najib Razak.   The animosity toward Razak stems from the Malaysian general election in 2013 where it was eventually discovered that Razak embezzled nearly $700 million into his personal bank accounts.   Razak remains in office despite the calls for his ouster. The southeast Asian country is composed of two regions that are separated by 640 miles in the South China Sea.   Malaysia is a multi-ethnic and multi-religious nation with 13 states and three federal territories.   Malaysia is a major tourist destination. Facts about the Federation of Malaysia: Population: 30,513,848 (July 2015 est.) Area: 127,355 sq. miles Capital: Kuala Lumpur Major languages: Malay (official), English, Chinese dialects, Tamil Major religions: Islam, Buddism, Taoism, Hinduism Timeline: 1826: British settlements of Malacca, Penang, and Singapore unite; Br...

In May 2015, the landlocked central African nation of Burundi experienced a coup.   Godefroid Niyombare led the coup against Burundi’s president Pierre Nkurunziza.   Nkurunziza, 51, was a former rebel leader during the civil war in Burundi.   From 1993 – 2005, Burundi endured a civil war between ethnic Hutus and Tutsis.   The Burundian civil war was part of the same conflict that caused the Rwandan genocide in 1994.   During the 12 year civil war over 300,000 people died.   In October 1993, Hutu President Melchoir Ndadaye – Burundi’s first democratically elected president, was assassinated.   The assassination sparked nationwide violence between Hutus and Tutsis.    Protesters railed against Nkurunziza in April 2015 after he announced his re-election bid for a third term as president.   Nkurunziza’s forces were able to suppress the coup attempt.   Nkurunziza has been president of Burundi since 2005. Burundi is li...

L ocated in southern Asia between China and India, Nepal is one of the poorest countries in the world.   According to estimates from the United Nations, 40% of Nepalis live in poverty.   Most of Nepal’s residents are dependent on agriculture.   In April 2015, a devastating earthquake ravaged Nepal.   The natural disaster left 9,000 people dead.   About ¾ of Nepal is covered by mountains.   Mt. Everest, the world’s tallest mountain is located in Nepal.   In September 2015, the Nepali government established a new constitution making it the first constitution in Asia to specifically protect gay rights. In July 2008, Ram Baran Yadav became the first president of Nepal.   Yadav’s election as president came after the abolishment of 239 years of monarchy.   Yadav’s role as president is largely ceremonial.   The prime minister has more influence under the current Nepali political system.   In October 2015, Khadga Prasad Oli was selecte...

In January 2015, Croatia (formerly of the Yugoslav Republic) elected its first woman president.   Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic won slightly more than ½ of the votes in the election earlier this year.   Grabar-Kitarovic is a member of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) and she is the former foreign minister of Croatia.   In the election, Grabar-Kitarovic received 50.5% of the vote while incumbent Ivo Josipovic received 49.5% of the votes. On July 1, 2013, Croatia became the 28 th member of the European Union.   The 2008-2009 global financial crisis drastically affected Croatia.   The country, which is located along the Adriatic Sea, is known for natural beauty and picturesque coastlines.   Since 2009, Croatia’s economy has been in recession.   The unemployment rate in Croatia is almost 20%.   Presently, shipbuilding is a primary component of the Croatian economy. Facts about Croatia: Population: 4,464,844 (July 2015 est.) Area: Slightly sm...

T he west African nation of Sierra Leone has abundant diamond and mineral resources. These precious natural resources were part of the reason why the country suffered from a decade-long civil war. During the war, which ended in 2002, armed rebel groups developed a common practice of hacking off the hands and feet of their victims. Tens of thousands of people died as a result of the conflict. About ½ of Sierra Leone’s government revenue comes from donations. In recent years, the country has made economic progress; however, poverty and unemployment remain high. During the era of colonialism and the transatlantic slave trade, Sierra Leone was the departure point for thousands of captive African slaves who were to be sold in the western hemisphere. The capital city of Freetown, got its name from repatriated former slaves in 1787. Facts about Sierra Leone: Population: 5,743,725 (July 2014 est.) Area: Slightly smaller than South Carolina Capital: Freetown Religions...

I n November 2013, Giorgi Margvelashvili assumed the presidency of Georgia, an eastern European country that borders the Black Sea.     In 1921, Georgia was invaded by the Soviet Red Army.   A year after the Russian invasion, Georgia was incorporated by the Soviet Union.   After the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, Georgia became an independent nation. The United States has an interest in the economic prospects of Georgia.   The U.S. invested in the building of an oil pipeline from Azerbaijan to Turkey.   Part of the oil pipeline goes through Georgia.   Georgian military forces have also received training from U.S. armed forces and Georgia sent troops to fight in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.   The election of Margvelashvili is important because Georgia has aspirations to eventually join NATO and also the European Union.   In recent years, Georgia has been dependent on Russia for its energy supply.   In 2008, Georgia...