On 14 August, hundreds of people protested in Soweto, Gauteng Province, to denounce a shooting by suspected taxi drivers on 13 August that targeted e-hailing drivers, killing one driver and injuring two passengers. The attackers later set two vehicles on fire. The incident takes place as public frustration grows against taxi associations, with drivers frequently threatening or using violence against competitors – and sometimes passengers – to maintain market dominance. "Anti-taxi" demonstrations often follow instances of alleged taxi-related violence, and can cause significant disruptions, with the most recent unrest shutting down the Maponya Mall in Soweto, and blocking a section of road near the major N1 highway.
In early August, peace talks between Forces Armées de la République Démocratique du Congo (FARDC) and M23 representatives stalled in Doha, Qatar, amid mutual accusations of ceasefire violations in eastern DRC. This follows both parties’ July signing of a Declaration of Principles, an agreement which had imposed a now-delayed deadline of 18 August for the signing of a final peace agreement. A ceasefire declared in April has remained in place despite frequent clashes between M23 rebels and pro-government Wazalendo militants in North Kivu Province. However, previous ceasefires have frequently collapsed, and potential for localised clashes remains elevated.
On 9 August, thousands of pro-Palestine activists protested in London and Manchester to denounce the government’s decision to ban Palestine Action (PA), an activist group which has targeted Israeli-linked companies for malicious damage as part of demonstration campaigns. Though demonstrations remained largely peaceful, police arrested over 532 participants mostly for offences related to violating PA’s restricted status. Such demonstrations are common amid Israel’s ongoing military operation in Gaza, and are expected to continue in the coming months amid Israeli authorities’ plans to formally occupy the enclave.
In August, months-long countrywide demonstrations escalated sharply since they first began in November 2024 after the collapse of the Novi Sad train station roof that killed 16 people. On 12 August, anti-government activists clashed with pro-government supporters in Vrbas, just outside Belgrade, and similar confrontations broke out the next day in Novi Sad, where rival groups launched flares and fireworks at one another. On 14 August, demonstrators stormed and vandalised the offices of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) in Novi Sad, and set fire to the SNS building in Valjevo’s Kolubara District on 16 August. Dozens of protesters were injured and detained, and more than 20 police officers were injured in the unrest. Public discontent remains high as demonstrators continue to demand a snap election – a call President Aleksandar Vučić has refused – driving the threat of further unrest in the coming months.
On 30 July, unidentified militants detonated explosives on the Caño Limón-Coveñas oil pipeline near the village of La Ceiba in the Arauca Department, prompting a suspension of oil operations. No group has claimed the attack. However, both Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC) rebels and Ejército de Liberación Nacional (ELN) militants operate in the area and frequently target state-owned energy infrastructure. The pipeline is capable of pumping up to 210,000 barrels of crude oil a day over 773 km, making it an attractive target for attacks, with 17 incidents reported since January 2025.
In August, thousands of activists demonstrated countrywide against President Donald Trump’s decision to deploy National Guard troops to Washington, DC, placing local police under federal control for 30 days in an 11 August executive order. On 16 August, for example, over 200 largely peaceful demonstrations occurred across 34 states. While the administration has argued this deployment is necessary to address crime in DC, protesters view the move as an overreach of federal power. With Trump calling on other states – like Tennessee, South Carolina and Ohio – to deploy additional troops to Washington, the potential for further unrest remains elevated over the coming weeks.
On 19 August, unionised flight attendants suspended strike action after reaching a tentative agreement with a prominent Canadian airline for increased wages and benefits. Thousands of workers affiliated with the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) first went on strike on 16 August, defying two government orders to return to work. The strike forced the cancellation of about 700 flights per day, disrupting travel for hundreds of thousands of passengers. Although operations resumed after the strike’s suspension, disruptions continued, with around 160 flights cancelled on 20 August. Although the deal includes substantial compensation improvements, strikes could resume if union members vote against the agreement, or if grievances over its implementation emerge.
On 18 August, the military-led government announced that general elections will begin on 28 December, marking the first election since the military coup in February 2021. The government also lifted a four-year state of emergency in several parts of the country in preparation for the vote. Military spokesperson Zaw Min Tun stated that the move forms part of the country’s transition towards a multiparty, civilian democracy. However, critics claim the election lacks credibility, with prominent pro-democracy parties either banned or boycotting the polls, and the military establishment is widely expected to remain in power through proxy political parties. Additionally, large parts of Myanmar remain under the control of an array of armed rebel groups, and will not participate in the election due to insecurity in affected regions. The vote is therefore unlikely to resolve Myanmar’s political crisis or reduce armed conflict over the coming year.
On 26 July, an estimated 18,000 opposition supporters marched to Merdeka Square in Kuala Lumpur to denounce high living costs, and to demand that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim resign over unfulfilled campaign promises to curtail corruption and boost economic growth. The march marked the largest anti-government demonstration since Anwar won the general election in November 2022. At present, Anwar retains strong parliamentary support and, days prior to the rally, announced a once-off economic stimulus package in an effort to boost public support. Nevertheless, further protests are likely in the coming months amid deepening public dissatisfaction with the perceived lack of economic and political reform.
On 7 August, the Israeli government announced plans to launch a renewed ground offensive and formally occupy Gaza City. The decision has coincided with an intensified aerial bombardment of the city, and hundreds of casualties in recent weeks. The Israeli military has called on 60,000 reservists in preparation for the mobilisation, and although the formal operation has not yet begun, satellite imagery shows extensive troop movements around the city. Meanwhile, talks towards a ceasefire continue; on 18 August, Hamas accepted a proposal for a 60-day truce, which would include the release of half the remaining Israeli hostages held in Gaza. The demands of both sides remain challenging to overcome, however, and the prospect of a permanent cessation in fighting is remote.