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This research paper examines the legal authority of the African Union (AU) to deploy the African Standby Force (ASF) in member states during 'grave circumstances' such as genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. The author argues that the AU's Constitutive Act establishes a legal right to intervene that is distinct from the 'enforcement action' defined by the UN Charter, meaning such interventions may not require prior authorization from the UN Security Council.

This situation report by the Institute for Security Studies reflects on the experience of Major General Patrick Cammaert regarding the use of force within the Eastern Division of the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC), specifically contrasting the mandates of Chapter VI and Chapter VII of the UN Charter.

This monograph aims to inform the revision of the 1977 OAU/AU Convention on the Elimination of Mercenarism in Africa, arguing for a new continental approach to address the rise of private military and security companies.

This briefing discusses a decline in piracy in the Gulf of Aden during early 2012, attributing the drop to maritime security practices and international naval tactics, while warning that corruption within the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and the diversion of pirate skills into other crimes threaten long-term stability in Somalia.

The Institute for Security Studies criticizes the South African government's Green Paper on Policing for its lack of transparency and public participation, arguing that the closed process misses an opportunity to rebuild trust between the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the public. The author advocates for a comprehensive, open consultative process similar to the one adopted by Kenya in 2009 to address systemic policing issues and public mistrust.

The paper explores the role of African subregional organizations in conflict management and security, noting that their diversity in structure and resources makes them less understood than the OAU or UN. It references a 1998 seminar on peacekeeping and aims to provide guidelines to enhance the effectiveness and definition of these subregional entities.

This text is the introductory material for a book titled 'The many faces of human security: Case studies of seven countries in Southern Africa', produced by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) with funding from the Royal Danish embassy in South Africa. It outlines the collaborative effort between the ISS, the Southern African Peace and Security Network (SAPSNet), and various academic and strategic partners across seven Southern African nations to explore the concept of human security in a region historically dominated by state security priorities.

This briefing by the Institute for Security Studies examines the prospects of a national dialogue in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) aimed at achieving political consensus and governance reform. It highlights critical challenges facing the dialogue, including an ambitious timeframe, the exclusion of opposition parties, and a lack of implementation mechanisms. The document also discusses the interconnectedness of these political talks with the security crisis in the eastern DRC, specifically the conflict between the government and the M23 rebellion and the role of the UN Intervention Brigade.

This research paper provides an overview of United States contributions to peace and security in Africa, focusing on the current period and immediate future. It defines the nature of instability and insecurity on the continent and outlines the various military, economic, and governance-related measures that Americans believe can attenuate these conditions.

This introductory text for a research paper describes how violent conflict, poverty, and repression drive migrants toward Europe, facilitated by a profitable and violent transnational smuggling industry. It emphasizes that effective policy responses must account for the specific demographics of migrants and the adaptability of smuggling networks.

This introductory text for Monograph 134 by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) outlines the African Union's efforts since 2002 to establish security architectures like the Peace and Security Council and the African Standby Force. It introduces a publication by the Training for Peace (TfP) Programme intended to enrich the discourse on protecting vulnerable populations and enhancing stability in Africa through non-prescriptive analysis.

This conference report outlines an analysis of the political dynamics and interests influencing decision-making processes within Africa's continental and regional organisations, emphasizing the need for external actors to better understand these complexities to improve global partnerships.

This introductory text for a policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) describes an analysis of the 2015 UN peacebuilding review. The brief focuses on how UN member states can apply the review's recommendations to enhance conflict prevention and sustain peace.

This research paper examines the introduction of private prisons in South Africa as a response to overcrowding and funding shortages within the Department of Correctional Services (DCS). It discusses the opening of the first private facilities in Bloemfontein and Louis Trichardt, comparing the South African model to those in the United Kingdom, United States, and Australia, while suggesting reforms for transparency and the expansion of private sector involvement in community corrections.

This executive summary outlines the purpose and goals of a victim survey conducted to analyze crime in Cape Town, emphasizing its role in supplementing police data and informing policy interventions.

This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies examines the African Union's (AU) strategy to increase troop levels for the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) following suicide bombings in Uganda in July 2010.

This text serves as an introduction to a monograph by Muzong W. Kodi, which evaluates the anti-corruption institutions, laws, and governance of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) during the transition period from 2003 to 2006 to inform future policy decisions.

This briefing discusses the death of Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi at age 57 and the subsequent concerns regarding Ethiopia's political stability. It examines the legal transition of power to Deputy Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, Zenawi's legacy in economic development and security, and the potential for instability within the ruling ethnic-based coalition.

This editorial introduction to South African Crime Quarterly 48, written by editor Chandré Gould, critiques the narratives used in the Presidency’s 20-year review of safety and security (1994–2014). Gould argues that the state relies on simplified 'meta-narratives' of victims and perpetrators and a 'language of war' that obscures the root causes of violence and justifies state violence. The text introduces several articles in the edition that challenge these narratives, covering topics such as the pitfalls of community policing, the inefficiency of corruption responses, and the impact of punitive bail practices on prison overcrowding.

This monograph presents a collection of papers from 'Exercise Morning Star', a September 1996 seminar held at the South African Army College. The document provides a general overview of conflict management, peacekeeping, and peacebuilding in Africa, emphasizing that these issues are no longer exclusively military domains and require partnerships between military forces, civil society, and regional bodies.