terrorism
US
On 10 September, an unidentified assailant shot and killed conservative activist Charlie Kirk during a campus event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. Kirk was a close ally of President Donald Trump, with FBI Director Kash Patel classifying the shooting as a political assassination. Police have since identified a 22-year-old suspect, who faces various charges, including aggravated murder. County Attorney Jeff Gray has stated that his office will pursue the death penalty. The shooting comes amid increased incidents of political violence in the US targeting both politicians across the political spectrum.
Terrorism
US
On 27 August, a gunman opened fire at a church in a Catholic school in Minneapolis, Minnesota at around 08h00 local time while a Mass service was underway. Two people were killed and 17 others were injured in the shooting. The attacker, who died at the scene from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, was a former student who graduated from the school in 2017. According to the FBI, the shooting was an act of domestic terrorism and a hate crime against the Catholic community.
Civil unrest
Brazil
On 11 September, thousands of indigenous and minority activists demonstrated in Brasília to celebrate former President Jair Bolsonaro’s conviction earlier in the day for plotting a coup to seize power after losing the 2022 election. Bolsonaro was sentenced to 27 years in prison after four out of the five Supreme Court justices on the panel tasked with judging Bolsonaro found him guilty of all five charges he was facing. Bolsonaro’s lawyers have stated they will appeal the ruling. Over the course of the trial, Bolsonaro’s supporters have also demonstrated in multiple cities to demand his acquittal, alleging the trial was politically motivated. These protests have so far remained peaceful. Further protests from both Bolsonaro’s supporters and his critics are likely in the coming weeks.
Political Violence
Nepal
On 8 September, violent anti-government protests broke out countrywide, triggered by a government decision to ban numerous social media platforms, but soon expanding to include long-standing grievances around corruption among the political elite. In response to the demonstrations, Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli and other ministers resigned on 9 September, but despite this, thousands continued to riot across the city, with protesters storming and setting fire to several government buildings, including Parliament and the Supreme Court in Kathmandu. At least 72 people were killed, and several government ministers were evacuated out of Kathmandu by army helicopters. Authorities responded by deploying the military across the capital city and imposing a curfew on 10 September. Tensions diminished further on 12 September, following the appointment of Sushila Karki – a candidate known for her anti-corruption stance – as interim prime minister, with fresh elections scheduled for March 2026. Political instability and changes in government are a regular occurrence in Nepal, and further protests are likely if the new government fails to meet demands for reform.
Civil Unrest
Indonesia
On 25 August, anti-government protests broke out across the country over a controversial housing allowance awarded to lawmakers, amid wider grievances around economic austerity measures and poor economic activity. Demonstrations intensified on 29 August, after a motorcycle delivery driver was killed in a collision with a police vehicle in Jakarta. At least 10 people were killed over several days during incidents of rioting and clashes with police countrywide, and numerous government buildings were looted or set on fire. From 31 August, the government deployed several measures to stem the unrest, including deploying military forces to Jakarta, dismissing the officer involved in the collision, and suspending the controversial housing allowance, and protests soon diminished. However, anti-government sentiment remains prevalent over deeper issues around socio-economic conditions and police brutality, sustaining the likelihood of further demonstrations in the coming months.
War
Qatar
On 9 September, Israel conducted missile strikes on Hamas’s political headquarters in the West Bay Lagoon District of Doha, killing six people, including five members of Hamas and one Qatari official. Israel had targeted Hamas’s senior leadership, including the team involved in ceasefire talks related to the ongoing conflict in Gaza; however, Hamas later announced that its senior leaders and chief negotiators had survived the attack. The attack raised diplomatic tensions between Qatar (alongside other Gulf states), Israel and the US, but Qatar is nevertheless highly unlikely to retaliate militarily, and the government has stated that it will continue to mediate between Israel and Hamas. Israel has stated its intent to again target Hamas’s leadership based abroad, sustaining the threat of further strikes on countries like Qatar. However, Qatar maintains strong security ties with the US, which is likely to use its influence with Israel to deter further attacks in Doha for at least the immediate term.
Terrorism
Mali
In September, Jama'at Nasr Al Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM) announced a blockade on fuel imports from Senegal and Mauritania as part of its strategy to weaken the central government in Bamako. Militants began stopping and emptying fuel trucks near the towns of Kayes and Nioro du Sahel, close to the Senegalese and Mauritanian borders. The military responded with airstrikes on JNIM positions in the region, but this failed to deter the group. On 14 September, JNIM ambushed a convoy of around 100 vehicles under military escort, setting fire to about 40 tankers. Reports suggest that if supplies are completely cut off, Mali would run out of fuel within two weeks. Although JNIM historically had a limited presence in the Kayes Region compared to central and southern Mali, it has become increasingly entrenched in the west over the past year.
Civil Unrest
South Africa
In early September, hundreds of residents of neighbourhoods across Johannesburg, Gauteng Province protested to demand the restoration of full water services amid persistent shortages due to the city’s aging infrastructure. Residents in areas such as Westbury and Coronationville demonstrated for several days, blockading roads with large stones, burning tyres and refuse, and reportedly looted local stores. Demonstrations carried on for several days in both Coronationville and Westbury. Such demonstrations are common in South Africa, where service delivery remains a pressing concern, particularly in middle- to lower-income neighbourhoods.
civil unrest
Georgia
In September, clashes between anti-government protesters and supporters of the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party escalated ahead of the local elections scheduled for 4 October. A focal point has been the new GD campaign office on Melikishvili Street, which lies along the daily protest march to parliament over issues including the government’s decision to halt the country’s EU membership bid. Incidents have included GD supporters throwing rocks and bottles at protesters, with at least seven people injured on 8 September, including a Hungarian journalist. On 15 September, a 16-year-old was arrested after threatening protesters with a gun during the march. Although the demonstrations have declined in size since late 2024 and early 2025, public discontent remains high, and larger protests are likely during periods of political tension such as elections.
Civil unrest
France
On 10 September, at least 200,000 political activists held over 800 anti-government demonstrations countrywide to denounce austerity measures and express growing discontent with the political elite. Around 80,000 officers were deployed to cities including Paris, Marseille, Lyon, Montpellier, and Nantes. At least 470 protesters were arrested while roughly 12 officers were injured. The demonstrations, which occurred on Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu’s second day in office, reflect a broader political crisis in France as spending reduction measures needed by the government to control its rising debt remain unpopular among both citizens and parliamentarians. While such large-scale demonstrations are not common, they are likely to continue sporadically amid the parliamentary deadlock between pro- and anti-austerity representatives.
Civil unrest
United Kingdom
On 13 September, at least 110,000 anti-immigration activists protested in London to demand stricter immigration enforcement and the mass deportations of asylum seekers in the UK. This follows months of similarly motivated protests in London and Essex as anti-immigrant sentiment continues to gain prevalence countrywide, with many rallying behind far-right figures such as Stephen Christopher Yaxley-Lennon, known as Tommy Robinson. Roughly 5,000 anti-racist activists held a simultaneous protest, during which a group of anti-immigration activists attempted to breach the police cordon separating the groups, leading to at least 25 arrests and the injury of 26 police officers. Such protests have become increasingly common amid growing anti-immigration sentiment across the UK and are expected to continue on a smaller scale over the coming months.
Civil unrest
Spain
In late August and early September, pro-Palestine activists protested at the locations of several stages of a major cycling race to denounce the participation of an Israeli-linked team. Tens of thousands of activists took part in disruptive demonstrations near the finish lines of race stages, forcing organisers to shift the finish line forward in the region of Galicia and Basque Country. Organisers also cancelled the final leg of the race in Madrid after 100,000 activists took part in city-wide pro-Palestine demonstrations ahead of the race. Activists received support from Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who called for Israel to be banned from international sporting events and encouraged further protests amid Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza. Pro-Palestine activists demonstrate reguarly across Spain, often drawing tens or hundreds of thousands of attendees. Protests are likely to continue in the coming weeks.
