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This report examines the relationship between violent extremist groups in northern Benin and the illicit activities they use to secure financial, human, and logistical resources.

This briefing discusses the evolving strategies of the United Nations (UN) and the African Union (AU) to support peace-building and state-building in Somalia following the establishment of a popular government under President Hassan Sheikh in September 2012. It examines the transition toward a new integrated UN mission and the potential expansion of the AU Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) to include civilian capacity-building, while highlighting challenges regarding coordination, operational mandates, and funding.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies examines the intersection of gender and migration in South Africa, arguing that gender-neutral policy approaches increase vulnerabilities for women who migrate independently to meet economic needs or flee war.

This monograph analyzes the police component of the AU-UN Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID), focusing on its mandated roles, the challenges of protecting civilians, and the training of both UNAMID personnel and Sudanese government police and community policing volunteers.

This research paper evaluates the population projections used in South Africa's National Development Plan (NDP) 2030, arguing that the NDP does not sufficiently account for the effects of migration. Using the International Futures (IFs) model and 2011 National Census data, the authors present three population scenarios for 2030 based on varying levels of in-migration, all of which are higher and represent a wider range of uncertainty than the NDP's figures.

This policy brief discusses the election of Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma as Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, noting its significance for gender equality and the overcoming of linguistic divisions, while outlining three primary institutional challenges for the new leadership.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies examines the intersections of violent extremism, illicit activities, and local conflicts within the Liptako-Gourma region, utilizing interview data from Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.

This briefing by the Institute for Security Studies examines the rapid pace of urbanisation in Africa, with a specific focus on Nigeria. It highlights the disconnect between rapid population growth in cities and the lack of adequate urban planning, which has led to the proliferation of slums, infrastructure deficits, and economic instability.

This briefing by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the military implications of UN Security Council Resolution 1973, which established a no-fly zone over Libya to protect civilians. The author argues that while the no-fly zone was relatively easy to implement, it is insufficient for achieving a ceasefire or regime change, and notes that European forces lacked the necessary support assets to maintain the operation without US involvement.

This monograph examines disarmament as a key component of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) efforts within African peacekeeping operations. It highlights the necessity of sub-regional contexts in peace efforts, using the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) as an example of regional insecurity. The text notes that while disarmament has been attempted in countries like Angola, Mozambique, and Liberia with varying success, Sierra Leone represents a recent successful conclusion of such a programme.

This research paper analyzes the challenges facing South Sudan's transition to democracy, specifically the likelihood of meeting the December 2024 election deadline. It argues that systemic delays in implementing the 2018 peace agreement, poor security, and institutional weaknesses increase the risk of a disputed election or further extensions.

This introductory text for Monograph 6, edited by Hussein Solomon, examines the intersection of water scarcity and security, with a specific focus on Southern Africa. It argues that dwindling fresh water resources, coupled with rapid population growth, increase the risk of resource-based conflict, while suggesting that regional cooperation and frameworks like the SADC Protocol on Shared Watercourse Systems offer a path toward stability.

The policy brief argues for the reform of Guinea-Bissau's 1991 Framework Law on Political Parties, which remains unimplemented. Proposed reforms focus on political activity regulation, gender equity, and public funding. The document also details the mandate of the UN Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Guinea-Bissau (UNIOGBIS) and the organizational scope of the Institute for Security Studies (ISS).

This report evaluates the persistent security instability in West Africa since independence, citing a history of interstate wars, civil wars, and numerous coups. It identifies governance, climate change, and cross-border crime as primary drivers of conflict and state implosion in the region.

A report by the Institute for Security Studies and the Judicial Training Institute of Mozambique examines the drivers of insurgency in Cabo Delgado, highlighting the role of natural resource governance and regional disparities.

This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies argues that Europe's increasing focus on returning migrants to Africa may be counterproductive and damaging if costs are ignored.

This briefing by the Institute for Security Studies examines the security and stability challenges facing South Sudan following the 2011 referendum for self-determination, highlighting risks from ethnic rivalry, economic dependency on Khartoum, and the need for security sector reform.

This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the African Union's (AU) response to the North African uprisings in Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya. It argues that the AU's tendency to prioritize state security and sovereignty over human security and democracy was evident in its weak response to these crises. The author suggests that for the AU's 'Year of Shared Values' to be meaningful, the organization must move beyond rhetoric to enforce compliance with democracy and human rights standards through credible sanctions and technical support.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies examines the drivers of violence in Ethiopia from October 2019 to the end of 2020, arguing that stability depends on a political settlement to bridge ideological divides among elites.

This briefing by the Institute for Security Studies examines the political deadlock in Zimbabwe regarding the draft constitution. While the Constitution Select Committee of Parliament (COPAC) reached an initial agreement, ZANU-PF has since called for revisions to include views from the outreach phase, while the two MDC formations refuse further renegotiation.