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A research paper by Berouk Mesfin of the Institute for Security Studies examining the political stability, governance challenges, and territorial disputes involving Somaliland and Puntland.

This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) examines the establishment and operations of a Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS) cell in the Shiroro area of Niger State, Nigeria. The document details how the cell, led by Abubakar Saidu (alias Sadiku), has successfully expanded outside the Lake Chad Basin by forming strategic, flexible alliances with local Fulani bandits, tolerating their non-religious vices in exchange for weapons, fighters, and local knowledge.

This research paper examines the shift in Africa's strategic relevance following the Cold War, arguing that the decline of superpower competition has left African states more fragile and prone to regional conflicts. It advocates for a transition from traditional deterrence to a 'collaborative security' model based on reassurance, transparency, and domestic stability, while cautioning against donor efforts to capacitate weak, undemocratic states to provide regional peacekeeping.

This research paper examines the peace and security efforts of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), focusing on best practices, lessons learned, and the implementation of the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA).

This policy brief argues that state-centric strategies to combat organised crime must be supplemented by community-based, context-specific responses, particularly in conflict and post-conflict settings. The document identifies five key drivers of community resilience: social capital, community capacity, the role of women, economic capital, and infrastructure, based on analysis of four communities in Nigeria, Guinea-Bissau, and Burkina Faso.

This report examines the proliferation of self-defence groups in West Africa, analyzing their role as sources of community resilience and their potential to create political and security risks. It aims to provide a framework for mitigating these risks and leveraging the benefits of such groups based on cross-continental experiences.

This research paper by Lala Camerer of the Institute for Security Studies evaluates the debate over whether South Africa should improve its existing anti-corruption bodies or establish a single, centralized anti-corruption agency.

A briefing by the Institute for Security Studies analyzing the outcomes of Zimbabwe's Second All Stakeholders' Conference regarding the draft constitution and the political tensions between ZANU-PF and the MDC formations.

This research paper analyzes 787 police dockets to examine the nature of firearm-related crime in South Africa, highlighting the role of both legal and illegal weapons and the limitations of police investigations.

The briefing analyzes the fragmentation of South Africa's labour union movement, highlighting the rise of splinter unions like Amcu and Natawu as a response to alleged corruption and the perceived failure of Cosatu-affiliated leaders to represent the working class. It argues that the blurring of lines between union leadership and private/political elites undermines worker representation and warns that criminalizing dissent within the movement threatens South Africa's democratic space and may lead to increased conflict.

This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) explores how South Africa can enhance its peacebuilding engagements within the United Nations (UN) architecture, leveraging its domestic transition to democracy and its continental experience to promote African perspectives.

This research paper reviews the concept and practice of diversion for children in South Africa between 1990 and 2003, focusing on the transition from disjointed implementation to a formalised framework under the Child Justice Bill.

This monograph by the Institute for Security Studies evaluates the performance of South Africa's three core criminal justice departments—Safety and Security, Justice and Constitutional Development, and Correctional Services—between January 2001 and December 2002. It analyzes crime statistics, budget allocations, and departmental workloads, concluding that while performance was satisfactory, capacity constraints and a significant court case backlog hinder sustained improvement.

This research paper presents the results of a survey conducted by the Institute for Security Studies between August and October 2000, involving over 150 experts on the causes and controls of corruption in South Africa. The survey aimed to provide data to help policymakers prioritize interventions following a policy impasse after the April 1999 anti-corruption summit.

This briefing by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the escalation of violence in central Mali, specifically following a March 23 attack on Ogossagou. It argues that government responses, including military operations and local dialogues, have been insufficient and often exacerbate tensions by stigmatizing specific communities or failing to provide a coordinated national strategy for security and justice.

A briefing by the Institute for Security Studies detailing the contested results of Angola's August 31 elections, where the ruling MPLA won 72% of the vote, and the subsequent legal and regional challenges raised by the opposition UNITA.

This briefing by the Institute for Security Studies examines the legal and constitutional concerns surrounding the deployment of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) in support of the South African Police Service (SAPS) during the 2011/2012 festive season policing operations.

This situation report describes the inequitable land distribution in Zimbabwe following its independence from Britain in 1980, detailing the disparity in land ownership between white commercial farmers and indigenous communal farmers.

This briefing by the Institute for Security Studies examines the potential impact of the withdrawal of the United Nations Organization Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) on the recruitment and use of child soldiers. It argues that while the DRC has a legal framework prohibiting child soldiering, a lack of government capacity and socio-economic instability leave youth vulnerable to exploitation by armed groups.

This briefing examines the potential for a West African military intervention in Mali following the seizure of northern territory by rebel groups, including the MNLA, Ansar Dine, and AQIM. It analyzes the United Nations Security Council's (UNSC) reservations regarding such a mandate, the complexities of mediating between groups with competing agendas, and the necessity of combining military action with diplomatic efforts and humanitarian assistance.