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This policy briefing evaluates the India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Forum six years after its 2003 launch. It argues that while the forum has a mixed record regarding commercial outcomes and market integration, it has successfully fostered political coordination and development cooperation. The author recommends that IBSA prioritize development efforts and the expansion of its development fund to distinguish itself from economic-centric groupings like BRIC.

This summary report details a seminar held on November 4, 2009, organized by the African Human Security Initiative (AHSI) and the Institute for Security Studies (ISS). The event focused on the challenges facing criminal justice systems in Africa, with a particular emphasis on East Africa, including issues of police militarization, judicial inefficiency, and the lack of political will for systemic reform.

This research paper argues that current international and regional approaches to humanitarian military interventions in Africa are ineffective because they prioritize humanitarian aid over the restoration of security. The author proposes a new 'humanitarian security intervention' doctrine that emphasizes the coercive use of force to establish security as a prerequisite for humanitarian assistance and long-term peacebuilding.

This report summarizes a seminar held on October 28, 2009, in Addis Ababa, which discussed the development and enhancement of the African Union (AU) sanctions regime. The seminar focused on leveraging United Nations (UN) experience to build a robust AU framework, including the role of the AU's Sanctions Committee and the necessity of combining sanctions with diplomacy and monitoring mechanisms.

This document is a report of an ISS seminar held on October 12, 2009, in Pretoria, featuring keynote speaker David Chuter. The seminar focused on the discourse of defence transformation and the management and reform of the defence sector, specifically discussing Chuter's new book which updates his previous 2000 monograph on the subject.

Opening remarks delivered at a South African Institute of International Affairs conference in October 2009, discussing the intersection of trade and climate change policy, specifically in the context of the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen.

This concept paper outlines an expert roundtable workshop hosted by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) in Mombasa, Kenya, on September 29-30, 2009. The workshop focuses on the legal, policy, and institutional challenges associated with climate change and transboundary water conflicts in Africa, with a specific emphasis on the Nile River Basin.

A speech delivered by Mr. John Rao Nyaoro on behalf of Kenya's Minister of Water and Irrigation at a 2009 workshop in Mombasa. The address discusses the impacts of climate change on water resources in Kenya and Africa, the resulting internal and transboundary water conflicts, and Kenya's policy responses and diplomatic positions regarding the Nile Basin.

This research paper discusses the necessity of integrating governance education into African universities to support national and continental development, noting a disconnect between the recognized importance of good governance and the current state of higher education infrastructure and policy focus.

This statement, delivered on the 75th anniversary of the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA), outlines the evolving role of think tanks in the 21st century, specifically within the African context. The speaker emphasizes the necessity of informed public debate to guide government action and argues that African think tanks must overcome financial and political constraints to diversify global knowledge production and influence policy outcomes.

This research paper by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) examines the integration of governance education within African universities. Based on a 2008 scoping study and a 2009 workshop, the paper argues that while higher education is critical for national development, governance education has been historically neglected. It identifies systemic challenges—including resource scarcity, 'brain drain', and political interference—and proposes regional cooperation and ICT integration as pathways to improve the quality and relevance of governance training to support initiatives like the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM).

This summary report details an Institute for Security Studies (ISS) seminar held in Pretoria on 12 August 2009, titled "Sights Through the Hourglass: A Critical Review of the Progress of Women in Africa." The event brought together academics and practitioners to discuss the implementation of gender equity in South Africa and across the African continent, specifically focusing on security sector governance, peace-building, and the impact of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325.

This research paper examines the role of human rights in African international relations, arguing that while there is a robust framework of regional and international treaties, human rights often remain a "variable concern" subordinated to national interests and geopolitical strategies. The author analyzes the tension between international monitoring mechanisms and the pursuit of "African solutions to African problems," specifically highlighting the controversy surrounding the ICC arrest warrant for Omar Al-Bashir and the influence of China's non-interference policy on the continent.

This research paper by Mireille Affa’a Mindzie, published by the South African Institute of International Affairs in August 2009, examines the role of human rights in African international relations. It analyzes the tension between the formal commitment to international human rights standards and the practical application of these standards in bilateral and multilateral diplomacy, where national interests and the pursuit of 'African solutions to African problems' often take precedence.

A statement by African civil society organizations urging African States Parties to the Rome Statute to maintain their commitment to the International Criminal Court (ICC) and reject an African Union (AU) decision to withhold cooperation in the arrest of Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir.

The paper argues that while neoliberal policies drove growth in resource-rich African nations, they failed to reduce poverty. It advocates for a balanced approach where African governments nurture domestic industries and legislate private sector social responsibility to ensure economic benefits reach the wider society.

This research paper analyzes Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's June 2009 visit to Africa and parallel summits in Yekaterinburg as part of a broader Russian strategy to challenge a unipolar world dominated by the United States and reassert influence in the developing world.

This policy brief examines the philosophical and practical failures of criminal justice systems in Africa, arguing that many are legacies of colonial structures used by elites to maintain power. The author advocates for a shift from individualistic, retributive Western models toward restorative justice and community-led reforms to support societal development and the rule of law.

This report examines South Africa's perspective on the G20 summits in Washington and London, focusing on the country's interests in global financial stability, its role as a representative for other African nations, and the internal political dynamics influencing its foreign policy.

This report summarizes a seminar held on 22 June 2009 by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) in Pretoria regarding the role of the private security sector in African conflicts. The event featured a presentation by Doug Brooks, President of the Association of the Stability Operations Industry (IPOA), and a response from Lawrence Juma of the University of Fort Hare, focusing on the utility, ethics, and regulation of private security contractors in peacekeeping and stabilization efforts.