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This research paper by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) evaluates the progress and challenges of regional integration in Africa, drawing primarily on Country Review Reports (CRRs) from the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM). It examines the gap between the African Union's high-level rhetorical commitments to a continent-wide common market and the practical realities of limited trade growth, administrative incapacity, and political reluctance to cede national sovereignty.

This report, published by the South African Institute of International Affairs in 2015, examines the state of governance and accountability in Africa. It analyzes both continental frameworks, such as the African Union's Agenda 2063 and the African Peer Review Mechanism, and domestic institutions, including parliaments, courts, and ombudsman offices, to identify the drivers of democratic progress and the persistence of authoritarian tendencies.

This research paper examines the intersection of the drug trade and 'criminal governance' in Cape Town, South Africa. It analyzes how historical apartheid policies, state institutional failure, and the development of organized crime networks have created parallel sources of authority, particularly in the Cape Flats, where criminal networks provide services and social control in the absence of effective state governance.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies examines community perceptions of organized crime and illicit trafficking in West Africa and the Sahel, specifically focusing on Guinea-Bissau, Mali, and Niger. It argues that in regions where the state is absent or corrupt, trafficking is often viewed not as a crime but as a necessary survival strategy and a sign of social success. The document details a 'vicious cycle' where poverty, crime, and state deprivation reinforce each other, leading to the erosion of traditional social norms and the infiltration of criminal networks into state institutions.

This research paper analyzes the evolution of the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) in Zambia from its 1990 origins as a civil society coalition to its role as the ruling party for 15 years. It examines the party's internal structure, funding mechanisms, policy implementation, and the factors—including ethnic tensions and internal schisms—that led to the erosion of its national support base.

This research paper by Paul Hoffman, published by the South African Institute of International Affairs in March 2009, examines the role of accountability in making constitutionalism a reality in Africa. Using South Africa as a primary case study, the author argues that while constitutional structures may exist on paper, the actual practice of democracy is often undermined by power struggles among elites, corruption, and the erosion of independent oversight institutions.

This research paper by Faten Aggad of the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) evaluates the Programmes of Action (PoAs) of the first six countries to undergo the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) process. The author argues that PoAs often fail to address the recommendations of the Panel of Eminent Persons, confuse high-level objectives with concrete action items, and lack transparent costing and integration with existing national development plans.

This research paper analyzes the governance of South Africa's intelligence services, tracing their evolution from the oppressive apparatus of the apartheid state and the ANC's liberation intelligence to the post-1994 democratic framework. It evaluates the efficacy of current oversight mechanisms, the role of the National Intelligence Coordinating Committee (NICOC), and the challenges of balancing secrecy with democratic accountability.

This report examines the state of policing, anti-corruption, and drug enforcement in Zambia, focusing on the Zambia Police Service, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), and the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC). It identifies systemic weaknesses in investigative capacity, human rights compliance, and public accountability, while noting the impact of HIV/AIDS on personnel and the growth of an unregulated private security industry.

This report documents the proceedings of a conference titled 'Civil Society – Defeating State Capture and Rebuilding the State', held on 23 October 2019 in Johannesburg. Hosted by the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation and the Public Affairs Research Institute (PARI), the event brought together civil society representatives and academics to analyze the effects of state capture in South Africa and propose reforms to insulate the public service from political interference. The report details discussions on the findings of various commissions of inquiry, strategies for state reform, the role of 'lawfare', parliamentary oversight, and public advocacy, culminating in a 'Civil Society Charter' that outlines a collective commitment to rebuilding democratic institutions.

This research paper by Yarik Turianskyi of the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) analyzes the Country Review Reports (CRRs) of the first six states to undergo the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM): Ghana, Rwanda, Kenya, Algeria, South Africa, and Benin. The author identifies a systemic gap between constitutional intentions and practical governance, arguing that a lack of 'constitutionalism' leads to executive dominance and the erosion of checks and balances.

This policy briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) examines the status of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) as it attempts to transition from initial 'base' reviews to 'second-generation' periodic reviews. The author argues that while the APRM has successfully diagnosed governance problems across 17 countries, it has lost momentum and must now adapt its processes to improve efficiency, ensure the implementation of National Programmes of Action (NPoAs), and better utilize institutional memory.