In Depth:  Elizabeth Kendal

In 2006, the US State Department removed Vietnam from its list of Countries of Particular Concern, citing the release of religious prisoners and the easing of religious restrictions.

Two months later, the US granted Vietnam permanent normal trade status, paving the way for Vietnam to join the World Trade Organisation in January 2007.

Islamic Government of Sudan (GoS) troops surged into Nuba territory in mid-January and were just 20km east of the strategic town of Kauda, which serves as the de facto capital of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N).

The SPLM-N’s armed wing, the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-North (SPLA-N), is fighting to protect the Nuba from Islamisation and genocidal jihad. However, with artillery of the Sudan Armed Forces in range, the areas around Mendi, Angartu and Kara Jumous in the Nuba Mountains have been evacuated. The SPLA-N recently managed to fight off GoS forces that had attacked the state capital of Kadugli, which was the site of massacres and ethnic cleansing in June 2011. It was the second major attack in 2015. The gravely imperilled Nuba are fleeing deeper into SPLA-N held territory without any assurances that they will find refuge from a regime that is determined to eliminate them.

Until NATO backed an Islamist-led regime-change operation, Copts could find good jobs in Libya, it was reported in January.

However, Libya is no longer safe for Christians. On 23 December, two Coptic doctors in Sirte were shot and killed in their home in front of their children. Their teenage daughter was taken captive and her bullet-riddled body dumped in the desert two days later. On 29 December, seven Copts were abducted while driving back to Egypt from Sirte. Then, on 3 January, 13 Copts were abducted when jihadists raided the complex where they were living, calling for them by name. Expelled from the complex, the remaining Copts hid in farms until arrangements could be made for them to be smuggled out of Libya. On 12 January, the IS affiliate in Libya claimed responsibility, posting photos of the captives online (without any ransom demand) and boasting: ‘The soldiers of the Islamic State in the province of Tripoli hold captive 21 Christian crusaders’.

On 5, 7, 8 and 10 January, al-Qaeda-linked jihadists launched hit-and-run attacks in the country of Mali.

On 16 January, some 20 jihadists on motorcycles opened fire on Malian soldiers manning the checkpoint at the entrance to the central Malian town of Teninkou. A three-hour-long fire-fight ensued and the jihadists withdrew.