The number of severe risk locations for kidnapping has risen from 8 to 11 according to the latest report from global risk and crisis management consultancy NYA International.
The 2016 Kidnap and Piracy Map has labeled areas surrounding Africa and Latin America as increasingly dangerous due to intensified civil conflicts and entrenched criminality.
Egypt, Lebanon, Cameroon and Kenya were moved from "medium" to "high" due to significant threats from Islamic militancy – four of 11 countries whose rating was upgraded.
In 2016, global economic uncertainty and low oil prices threatens to exacerbate the kidnapping threat in countries such as Mexico, Nigeria, Venezuela and Libya, where threats are already high to severe.
There are severe threat ratings for piracy off Somalia, Nigeria, Singapore and Malaysia. Although there have been no hijackings of large commercial vessels off Somalia since 2012, attacks, sightings and hijackings of smaller vessels in 2015 indicate the threat remains severe.
Extremely violent hijackings, crew kidnappings and a return to militancy in the Delta sees Nigeria retain its severe threat rating.
Criminal boardings off Singapore and Malaysia remain constant, and periodic hijackings for cargo theft contribute to its severe rating.
However peace talks in Colombia, once the world's leading kidnap hotspot, showed mediation and concession can reduce threats, albeit over time.
The map is accompanied by the Global Kidnap Review, a report examining kidnap for ransom over 2015 and identifying themes for 2016. Together, the map and report provide a guide for organisations on the threats to their people and operations worldwide.
"We advise organisations to be fully informed about the threats, put appropriate mitigation measures in place, provide security training for their staff, and ensure that the organisation is prepared to response to incidents of this nature, if they occur. Good security risk and crisis management helps protect human lives, and safeguard the organisation's operations and reputation," said Alex Kemp, Managing Director of NYA.
