INDIA(DELHI) - Violent unrest was reported outside the Patiala House Courts in India's capital, Delhi, on 17 February. During the unrest Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) student union president Kanhaiya Kumar was allegedly attacked by protesting lawyers. The lawyers are said to have attacked journalists and students who had also gathered outside the court causing authorities to evacuate the court vicinity. The student leader was scheduled to have a hearing regarding his sedition charges and will remain in custody until 2 March. The student leader was charged with sedition and arrested on 13 February for a speech he gave after a group of students held an event on the campus marking the third anniversary of the hanging of convicted terrorist Afzal Guru. Kumar is also a member of All India Students Federation (AISF), which is the student wing of the Communist Party of India (CPI), India's second-largest leftist party. Civil unrest is a common occurrence in India, and is sparked by religious, political and socio-economic concerns. Many protests have been known to degenerate into violence with clashes between protesters and security forces, as well as clashes between opposing groups of protesters. Clients in Delhi are advised to avoid all protests and related street gatherings as a standard precaution.

TURKEY(ARTVIN PROVINCE) - Protests against the construction of a copper mining site have been reported in Turkey's north eastern Artvin province since 16 February. The unrest is reportedly occurring in the vicinity of the Cerattepe mining site and in nearby Artvin city. Protesters allege that the mine will be detrimental to the local environment. Protesters have reportedly clashed with the local police and blocked roads. The latest confrontations were reported on 17 February. Media reports indicate that the authorities in the wider region have deployed additional police to Artvin to contain the unrest. The civil unrest is expected to persist for the short-term and further clashes between protesters and the police are anticipated. Localised road travel disruptions are also likely to continue. Clients in the province are advised to closely monitor related developments. All street protests and unofficial roadblocks should be avoided as a standard precaution.

YEMEN(ADEN) - A suspected suicide bomber detonated at the Ras Abbas military camp in the Buraiqa area of Aden, southern Yemen, on 17 February. The blast killed at least nine soldiers. The incident is the latest attack to impact on Aden in recent weeks and underscores the elevated terrorism risk in the country. Islamist extremists have expanded their influence and control of territory in southern Yemen, including parts of Aden, since late 2015. Attacks against military forces and members of the government have been regularly reported. Clients are advised against all travel to Yemen, including Aden. Persons operating in the country should travel with a security escort and ensure that crisis management plans are regularly reviewed and updated. Recent conflict- and terrorism-affected areas should be avoided.

SOMALIA(AFGOOYE, LOWER SHABELLE REGION) - Recent reports indicate that at least 12 people were killed following clashes between al-Shabaab militants and government forces in Afgooye, located in Somalia's southern Lower Shabelle region, late on 15 February. The skirmish reportedly began when militants attacked a local police station in the town; Somali troops were able to repel the attack after an estimated three hours of fighting. This latest incident serves to underscore the extreme risks of terrorism and conflict in Somalia. The primary security threat stems from the Islamist extremist group, al-Shabaab, which is currently engaged in an ongoing conflict with the Somali government and African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) forces. The group frequently carries out attacks against government installations, security forces and civilian interests in Somalia, including in the Lower Shabelle region. It should be noted Afgooye is located approximately 28km from the capital, Mogadishu, which has been the target of several al-Shabaab-orchestrated attacks since early 2016. As the group continues to maintain an elevated operational capability in the country, insecurity in the region is likely to persist in the medium-term, at least. Clients are advised against all travel to Somalia, except Puntland and Somaliland, due the extreme threats posed by conflict, terrorism and kidnapping. Persons in the region should implement robust personal and residential security precautions at all times; these include coordinating all movements in the presence of a security escort and ensuring that all accommodation is sought within secure compounds.

PHILIPPINES(MAGUINDANAO PROVINCE, MINDANAO REGION) - Reports indicate that four people, including a child and a local town treasurer, were killed after the vehicle they were travelling in was hit by a roadside bomb in Datu Saudi Ampatuan municipality, located in the Philippines' Maguindanao province, at approximately 22:30 local time on 16 February. Two other passengers were also reportedly injured by the blast. The bomb is suspected to be the work of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), an Islamist militant group concentrated in Maguindanao. It is unclear why the vehicle and its occupants were targeted; however, reports indicate the group drove within the vicinity of a skirmish between BIFF fighters and government security forces, when the roadside bomb was detonated. The BIFF was formed in 2008 and is an offshoot of the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). The group has rejected peace deals involving separatists and Philippine authorities, which would give Muslims in the southern Mindanao region greater autonomy, demanding complete independence instead. Philippine security forces have been engaged in an offensive against the BIFF since January 2014. Recent fighting in the affected area has resulted in over 2,500 families being displaced. Given the presence of BIFF, as well as the ongoing clashes with the military, further violence is anticipated in the short- to medium-term. Due to a number of ongoing security concerns, all travel to Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago, including Maguindanao, is advised against. However, this advisory does not extend to Mindanao's eastern Caraga and Davao regions, to which non-essential travel is advised against. Persons currently in Maguindanao are advised to avoid areas recently affected by violence and implement robust security protocols.