Country crisis watch

Since President Nicolas Maduro inauguration in April 2013, the country’s economic crisis worsened by the decline in global oil prices and his administration mismanagement of public funds. The economic downturn resulted in skyrocketing inflation leading to food and basic goods shortages nationwide. The closing of several large factories and the departure of international companies, who were unable to manufacture or sell their products in the country, led to growing unemployment, resulting in deteriorating security situation and increased civil unrest. In an attempt to control the country’s economic crisis, the government implemented several unpopular measures, including controlled blackouts to reduce electricity usage, shortened the national workweek, printed new currency notes to ease inflation and nationalized numerous foreign-owned businesses. These measures prompted widespread demonstrations and increased concerns over the administration ability to control the country political stability. Social unrest further increased after Maduro’s announced he will trigger an article of the constitution that creates a super-body known as a "constituent assembly," which can dissolve public powers, re-write the constitution and call general elections, echoing a previous move by his predecessor Hugo Chavez in 1999 soon after he won office. The rising tensions and daily violent protests, many of which turned deadly, led Western governments to evacuate non-essential diplomatic staffers and issue travel warning to their nationals wishing to visit the country.  

On 12 January 2010, the failing country was hit by a major earthquake (the strongest in that region in over two centuries). Over 200,000 people were killed, and buildings from shanties to the Presidential palace were destroyed. Despite a massive international aid support, the lack of infrastructure and a reliable government, Haiti has never recovered from the disaster.  

The security situation in Mexico is worsening and is likely to continue to deteriorate. Though military units were deployed to several states to fight the drug cartels, the latter are stronger than ever. Assassinations of local politicians, police officers, soldiers and civilians are daily occurrences. According to figures released by Mexico’s Attorney General Office, nearly 50,000 people were killed in drug-related violence since mid-2006. Violent crime is most prevalent in Mexico City, Tijuana, Ciudad Juarez, Nuevo Laredo, Monterrey, Acapulco, and the state of Sinaloa. Mexico has one of the highest kidnapping for ransom rates in the world. No area can be truly considered "safe", as targets have ranged from visiting tourists to local businessmen to other criminals.