In the recent past, Mali has been at the center of ethnic clashes and attacks by terror groups such as JNIM. Being one of the most water rich countries in West Africa, the bulletin explores the reasons as to why water resources and water infrastructure in Mali may become potential targets by terror groups and other armed non-state actors operating in the region. Since Mali has many transboundary rivers flowing through it, any attacks on water infrastructure in Mali will have implications for the Sahel region as well.

The strategy of ISIS (Daesh) to attack water infrastructure in Iraq and Syria was a key factor behind its success. As soon as it lost the control over Mosul dam in Iraq and Tabqa dam in Syria, its influence and territory eroded in a matter of weeks. Other terrorist groups have been also using this strategy. As the World Water Day 2019 approaches, the Middle East Blue Strike List provides a comprehensive listing of all terrorist attacks using water as a weapon of war or a target of violence in the Middle East since 2011.

The Presidential and Parliamentary elections in Ukraine this year offer an opportunity of a possible breakthrough in the Donbass conflict. If this window of opportunity is not used wisely, the situation can deteriorate further. Away from media headlines, one of the tragic consequences of the conflict has been the risk to water facilities in Donetsk and Luhansk, especially the treatment plants near the line of contact and the adjoining stocks of chlorine. Despite 3 Minsk agreements, shelling on these assets has not declined and poses a potentially grave risk. What are the prospects of securing critical water infrastructure in Donbass? What can be done by the relevant actors and the international community. The Second Volume of Blue Peace Bulletin has a focus on Water and Violence in Ukraine

Global High Level Panel on Water and Peace called for the protection of water resources and infrastructure from violent conflicts and terrorist acts. In this volume, we examine the issue of protecting water in Yemen.

As Blue Peace in the Middle East enters a new phase, this publication outlines what could be possible if the countries in the region would prioritize peace and development over conflict and antagonism. It is proposed as a document for discussion. The experts in the Middle East can use the framework to take clues from some of the ideas and develop a comprehensive and realistic plan of action for rebuilding the Middle East in the spirit of peace and cooperation.

Strategic Foresight Group and the Centre for Centre for the Resolution of Intractable Conflict at Oxford University have cooperated to present Humanity at Risk, a timely report that presents an analytical framework and tools to enable policy makers to look into the future. This report has found that terrorism is driven by break-down of complexity which is further driven by a combination of developmental deficit, democracy deficit and dignity deficit. Further, terrorism creates a multiplier impact that is much greater than the visible impact and poses risks to humanity. In order to assess the future, the Global Terror Threat Indicant has been constructed.