RiskMap 2016: West African nations striving to escape the commodities downturn in an era of increasingly transnational security threats & issues LAGOS, Nigeria, December 14, 2015/APO (African Press Organization)/ -- African governments will need to be resilient to withstand the electoral, constitutional and financial pressures that will test governments across the region in 2016. This is one of the key messages of RiskMap 2016, published today by global business risk consultancy Control Risks (www.ControlRisks.com). RiskMap highlights the most significant underlying trends in global risk and security, and provides a detailed view from the markets that will matter most in 2016. The shifts in political power as witnessed during the 2015 elections in Nigeria and Burkina Faso (which had been regarded as the start of a wave of political revolution across the continent, where “people power” rather than cronyism, nepotism and corruption determined the outcome of elections) will not continue in 2016. RiskMap 2016 expects the slow growth experienced across the continent in 2015 due to the fall in commodity prices, a wave of currency depreciations, weakening terms of trade and restrictions on access to forex to drag on into the first few months of 2016, before a modest pick up as commodity prices partially recover and economies begin to diversify. The frequency of election related violence; extremism and terrorist attacks, maritime piracy (particularly in the gulf of guinea) and criminality in the region will continue to be a threat to stability. Due to the close interconnectedness among countries in West Africa, there is likely to be an increase in the number of conflicts spilling over boarders such as the fight against Boko Haram which has spilled over the Nigerian borders into Chad and Cameroon. This will mean that reducing conflict and promoting stability will be high on the agenda of policy makers in region for 2016. Tom Griffin, Senior Managing Director, Control Risks West Africa, comments: “While we anticipate governments surviving pressures on them in 2016, there may be heightened volatility and tension during sensitive periods such as elections, and the political environments they shape are evolving. This requires investors to understand fully the drivers of change and their potential to impact the business environment, and to be prepared for alterations to posture and strategy.” Country specific outlook

For the full report including essays and regional reports, please click here (https://www.controlrisks.com/webcasts/studio/2015-GENERAL/Riskmap-2016/media/2015-12-08-RM-REPORT-2016-EMBARGO.pdf) . To view the Map please follow this link (https://www.controlrisks.com/webcasts/studio/2015-GENERAL/Riskmap-2016/RM-2016-maps-PDFs/RiskMap_Map_2016_UK_WEB-LR.pdf). Distributed by APO (African Press Organization) on behalf of Control Risks Group Holdings Ltd.For the map graphic or for further information please contact:  Control Risks Omoyemi Akinrinade-Tarfa Marketing & business development executive, West Africa.  Omoyemi.tarfa@controlrisks.com 234 1271 3940 +234 809 042 9430 Notes to Editors: About Control Risks  Control Risks (www.ControlRisks.com) is a global risk consultancy specialising in political, security and integrity risk that has more than 30 years of experience working in Africa. Control Risks serves global companies that are new to Africa and organisations that know the continent well and are looking to expand their African business. With a team of over 150 consultants in West Africa, Control Risks has unrivalled experience in helping organisations throughout their investment and operational cycle in Africa and provides clients with high-quality support in entering new markets, realising opportunities and building resilience capabilities to manage risk in rapidly changing environments. www.controlrisks.com Annex: Risk rating changes Burkina Faso: Political risk from HIGH to MEDIUM Burundi: Political risk from HIGH to EXTREME Madagascar: Political risk from HIGH to MEDIUM Mali: Political risk from HIGH to MEDIUM Senegal: Political risk from MEDIUM to LOW Zambia: Security risk from LOW to MEDIUM Aruba: Political risk from LOW to INSIGNIFICANT Belize: Political risk from LOW to MEDIUM Bonaire: Political risk and security risk from LOW to INSIGNIFICANT Brazil: Security risk from MEDIUM to HIGH in Pará state, metropolitan areas of Maceió, Fortaleza, Salvador Chile: Security risk from LOW to MEDIUM in Bío Bío, La Araucanía, Los Ríos Costa Rica: Political and security risk from LOW to MEDIUM Mexico: Security risk from MEDIUM to HIGH in Baja California, Coahuila down to MEDIUM Sint Maarten: Political risk from LOW to INSIGNIFICANT Afghanistan: Security risk HIGH in Samangan and Bamian provinces Malaysia: Political risk from LOW to MEDIUM Pakistan: Political and security risk from HIGH to EXTREME in FATA, western Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Sri Lanka: Political risk down to MEDIUM in whole country Vanuatu: Political risk from LOW to MEDIUM Denmark: Security risk from INSIGNIFICANT to LOW France: Security risk down to LOW in urban areas Moldova: Political risk from MEDIUM to HIGH Sweden: Security risk from INSIGNIFICANT to LOW Turkey: Larger areas of HIGH security risk Middle East and North Africa: Egypt: Security risk from HIGH to EXTREME in North Sinai Libya: Security risk from HIGH to EXTREME; HIGH in Misrata, Murqub, Tripoli, Jafara, Zawiya, Nuqat al-Khams, Jabal al-Gharbi, Nalut Oman: Political risk from MEDIUM to LOW Saudi Arabia: Political risk from LOW to MEDIUM Tunisia: Security risk MEDIUM in the whole country