Willis Experts See North Africa Terrorist Threats Rising after Algeria Attack

January 24, 2013

Tim Holt, Head of Intelligence for Alert: 24, a new risk and crisis management consultancy from Willis Special Contingency Risks (SCR), followed up his earlier comments by warning that the “possible spread of Islamic terrorism from Mauritania in the West to the Horn of Africa in the East has become a profound threat to security, livelihoods and stability in the Sahel.”

In Holt’s view “the focus of Islamic terror organizations is shifting. Well-funded, equipped and sophisticated Al-Qaeda associated groups continue to spread across the region bringing with them support from Middle-Eastern and Asian Islamist cells.

“Osama bin Laden is dead but the seeds of dissent sown by Al-Qaeda and its franchises continue to foment violence globally, potentially converging across the Sahel. Unsurprisingly, business installations, locals and foreign nationals operating across the region are targeted, the risk of attack and kidnap-for-ransom is extreme.”

The attack on the Algerian gas plant, which involved the taking and murder of dozens of hostages, most of them foreign nationals, raises implications for the Kidnap & Ransom (K&R) insurance market.

Willis’ William Miller, Divisional Director, Special Contingency Risks, explained: “The attack on the Algerian gas installation will have a material impact on underwriting strategy for K&R insurers across North Africa and the Sahel region although the risks in this region were already well understood.

“Although insurers have indicated that the expected losses are mostly and tragically related to the deaths of the hostages, there may well have been attempts to try to demand a ransom had the Algerian Special Forces not intervened.

“As a result of the events in Algeria, insurers have taken action by upgrading their risk forecast for countries in the Sahel/Maghreb region to extreme, and they have similarly amended their premium rates in the region. Insurers have also stressed that it is essential on business going forward that relevant underwriting information be provided at policy renewal on any future plans or exposure in the region.”

Source: Willis

Topics Trends Catastrophe Natural Disasters

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