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This report by W C Mayville examines how the United States Army adapted its doctrine, organization, training, and equipment during Operation Iraqi Freedom to transition from a high-intensity offensive force to one capable of counter-insurgency and stability operations.

This research paper by Len le Roux argues that South African defence policy, specifically the 1998 Defence Review, is outdated and misaligned with current strategic realities. The author contends that the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) is designed for conventional homeland defence against external aggression, while its actual operational demands have shifted toward expeditionary peace support operations in Africa and internal security support for the police.

The Nairobi Protocol, signed on April 21, 2004, is a regional agreement among eleven states in the Great Lakes Region and the Horn of Africa to prevent, control, and reduce the proliferation of illicit small arms and light weapons (SALW). It establishes comprehensive legal, operational, and administrative frameworks to combat illicit manufacturing and trafficking, regulate civilian and state ownership, and enhance sub-regional cooperation through information sharing and mutual legal assistance.

This report analyzes South Africa's election as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council (UNSC) for the 2019–2020 term. It examines the current geopolitical dynamics of the Council, the expectations placed on South Africa as a regional power, and provides strategic recommendations for the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) to maximize the country's international visibility and influence.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies examines the challenges and prospects of implementing freedom of movement within the Southern African Development Community (SADC). It argues that while regional integration is a stated goal, progress is hindered by a lack of political will, the securitisation of migration, and a critical shortage of reliable data. The authors contend that shifting the perspective of migration from a security threat to a developmental opportunity would benefit the region's economic stability and human rights.

This report analyses the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), a South African government agency focused on the civil recovery of misappropriated state resources. It examines the SIU's history, its limited independence due to its reliance on presidential proclamations, and the challenges it faces in translating investigative findings into criminal or disciplinary accountability through other state agencies.

This report evaluates a multi-year intervention in Touwsranten, South Africa, combining four evidence-based parenting programmes with a social activation process. The study found that while the intervention significantly reduced children's internalising and externalising behaviours and decreased parenting stress, its overall impact was undermined by systemic issues such as intimate partner violence, poor mental health, and substance abuse among caregivers.

The Western Cape After School Game Changer (ASGC) is a strategic coordination model, rather than a direct service provider, aimed at preventing youth violence in South Africa's Western Cape province. By coordinating government departments and NGOs, the ASGC enhances the quality and reach of afterschool programmes in low- and no-fee schools. It utilizes a social ecological framework to disrupt risky behaviors through improved practitioner training, safe spaces, and positive role modeling. While the initiative has significantly increased learner participation (reaching 134,380 registered learners by 2017/18) and secured substantial funding (approximately R215 million for 2018/19), the report highlights a need for greater budget transparency and a shift toward institutionalization to ensure long-term sustainability.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies examines how to map murder and violence in South Africa when official police data is unavailable or outdated. Using the Western Cape as a case study, it argues that because violence is clustered in specific areas, data-driven mapping is essential for effective prevention. The author proposes several alternative data sources, including health facility trauma records, community police forums, smartphone applications, and municipal emergency systems, to identify violence hotspots and guide interventions.

This guide section discusses the relationship between different types of sexual activity and the risk of HIV transmission, specifically within the context of Southern Africa.

This educational guide explains the nature of HIV and AIDS, how the virus is transmitted through sexual contact, and the importance of support systems for those affected.

This report examines the relationship between intra-state conflict, political violence, and the proliferation of small arms in Africa, focusing on case studies from South Africa, Angola, and Rwanda. It argues that the demand for light, easily transportable weapons is driven by conflicts over political participation, identity, and post-war reconciliation, often exacerbated by weak state structures and porous borders. The document details how both state and non-state actors acquire arms through official and unofficial channels, including domestic industries, foreign governments, and private dealers, and recommends increased transparency and supplier restraint to mitigate regional instability.

This report summarizes a seminar held on October 17, 2008, at the United Nations Conference Center regarding the implications of the 2008 US Presidential Election for Africa. The event featured presentations by Dr. Steven Erkovich and Dr. Joseph Vincent Ebode, who analyzed US foreign policy motivations, the specific propositions of candidates Barack Obama and John McCain, and the strategic rationale behind Obama's candidacy.

This briefing by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the October 2006 Eastern Sudan Peace Agreement (EPA) between the Government of Sudan and the Eastern Front. The author argues that the Sudanese government's strategy of signing separate regional peace agreements—in the south, west, and east—serves to reinforce the primacy of the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) and bypasses the development of accountable national politics. The document details the socio-economic marginalization of the Beja and Rashaida peoples, the strategic importance of Port Sudan, and the specific political and financial terms of the EPA.

This situation report by the Institute for Security Studies provides an overview of Burundi's 2010 electoral process, including communal, presidential, and legislative polls. It details the transition from the 2005 post-transitional polls to the 2010 cycle, the subsequent boycott by opposition parties led by the Alliance des Démocrates pour le Changement au Burundi (ADC), and the resulting dominance of the CNDD-FDD in the new administration.

This briefing examines the challenges of completing the demobilisation, disarmament and reintegration (DDR) process and security sector reform (SSR) of the Forces Armées de la République Démocratique du Congo (FARDC) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). It details the failures of previous DDR phases, the complexities of integrating various armed groups, and the lack of political will and donor coordination hindering the creation of a professional national army.

This briefing summarizes the results of the 2011 Annual Conference of the Think Tank Forum GIBSA, focusing on the shared interests and individual agendas of Germany, India, Brazil, and South Africa during their concurrent terms as non-permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). The document highlights their collective push for UNSC reform to better reflect current global power dynamics and their efforts to establish a common agenda on issues such as climate change, non-proliferation, and the legitimacy of international security governance.

This situation report by the Institute for Security Studies evaluates Zimbabwe's constitutional reform process as of August 2012, focusing on the efforts of the Constitution Select Committee of Parliament (Copac) to draft a new constitution under the Global Political Agreement (GPA). It examines the role of SADC, the challenges of conducting a credible referendum and elections, and the influence of the security sector and international sanctions.

This briefing by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the fragile peace process in Burundi as of February 2009, focusing on the implementation of the 2006 ceasefire agreement between the government and the PALIPEHUTU-FNL rebels.

The document discusses the role of the state in preventing terrorism, specifically focusing on the challenges and strategies within Chad. It examines the tension between security-led approaches and the need for a comprehensive state presence that provides services and justice to prevent marginalization and radicalization.