People walk with their belongings in the area around Sinujiif as they evacuate on November 14, 2013 after a ferocious storm and days of heavy floods in Somalia's northeastern Puntland region. Somalia has ranked in the top 10 in Maplecroft's political risk index for the past six years.
The top 10 political risk hotspots: 1. Somalia —
People walk with their belongings in the area around Sinujiif as they evacuate on November 14, 2013 after a ferocious storm and days of heavy floods in Somalia's northeastern Puntland region. Somalia has ranked in the top 10 in Maplecroft's political risk index for the past six years.
Mohamed Abdiwahab/AFP/Getty Images
A rebel fighter from the Free Syrian Army in Aleppo, on December 1, 2013. Syria experienced the largest increase in short-term political risk over the last year, according to Maplecroft. The country changed from 44th place in 2010 to 2nd place this year.
2. Syria —
A rebel fighter from the Free Syrian Army in Aleppo, on December 1, 2013. Syria experienced the largest increase in short-term political risk over the last year, according to Maplecroft. The country changed from 44th place in 2010 to 2nd place this year.
MOHAMMED AL-KHATIEB/AFP/Getty Images
An Afghan policeman stands guard in front of a badly damaged bus at the site of a suicide attack in Kabul on June 11, 2013. More than 1,000 Afghan civilians died in violent attacks in the first half of 2013, according to the U.N.
3. Afghanistan —
An Afghan policeman stands guard in front of a badly damaged bus at the site of a suicide attack in Kabul on June 11, 2013. More than 1,000 Afghan civilians died in violent attacks in the first half of 2013, according to the U.N.
Shah Marai/AFP/Getty Images
Sudanese protesters throw stones at a gas station in Khartoum's twin city of Omdurman on Wednesday. Sudan is among the countries where political violence continues to increase, Maplecroft said.
4. Sudan —
Sudanese protesters throw stones at a gas station in Khartoum's twin city of Omdurman on Wednesday. Sudan is among the countries where political violence continues to increase, Maplecroft said.
STR/AFP/Getty Image
Fighters from the M23 rebel movement ride on the back of a truck, passing a camp for the internally displaced in Mugunga, Democratic Republic of Congo on November 24, 2012.
5. Democratic Republic of the Congo —
Fighters from the M23 rebel movement ride on the back of a truck, passing a camp for the internally displaced in Mugunga, Democratic Republic of Congo on November 24, 2012.
AFP/Getty Images
Women push a coffin in the streets of Bangui on December 7. Violence has raged in the Central African Republic since a coalition of rebels deposed President Francois Bozize in March, the latest in a series of coups since the nation gained independence.
6. Central African Republic —
Women push a coffin in the streets of Bangui on December 7. Violence has raged in the Central African Republic since a coalition of rebels deposed President Francois Bozize in March, the latest in a series of coups since the nation gained independence.
Jerome Delay/AP
Yemenis shout slogans during a rally commemorating the second anniversary of a major clash between opposition protesters against former Yemeni president Ali Abdullah Saleh and security forces, in the capital Sanaa, on September 18, 2013.
7. Yemen —
Yemenis shout slogans during a rally commemorating the second anniversary of a major clash between opposition protesters against former Yemeni president Ali Abdullah Saleh and security forces, in the capital Sanaa, on September 18, 2013.
MOHAMMED HUWAIS/AFP/Getty Images
Libyan protesters gather during a demonstration calling on militiamen to vacate their headquarters in southern Tripoli on November 15, 2013.
8. Libya —
Libyan protesters gather during a demonstration calling on militiamen to vacate their headquarters in southern Tripoli on November 15, 2013.
MAHMUD TURKIA/AFP/Getty Image
Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir speaks to a crowd of people in north Khartoum, on June 8, 2013. Bashir ordered a halt to the flow of oil from South Sudan, less than two months after southern crude began moving again.
9. South Sudan —
Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir speaks to a crowd of people in north Khartoum, on June 8, 2013. Bashir ordered a halt to the flow of oil from South Sudan, less than two months after southern crude began moving again.
EBRAHIM HAMID/AFP/Getty Images
Flames rise from a vehicle at the site of a car bomb in Talibiya in Baghdad on September 3, 2013. More than 7,000 civilians and 950 security forces have been killed in violence in Iraq since January, according to the U.N. -- the highest annual toll since 2008.
10. Iraq —
Flames rise from a vehicle at the site of a car bomb in Talibiya in Baghdad on September 3, 2013. More than 7,000 civilians and 950 security forces have been killed in violence in Iraq since January, according to the U.N. -- the highest annual toll since 2008.
AFP/Getty Images