Search Climate Insights Directory

This update from the Institute for Security Studies documents the entry into force of the Treaty of Pelindaba (African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty), noting the ratification dates for Malawi and Burundi and the official effective date of the treaty.

This guide, published by the Institute for Security Studies in March 2011, outlines the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (Treaty of Pelindaba). It details the treaty's objectives to ensure Africa remains free of nuclear weapons, the legal procedures for state ratification and accession, the roles of the African Commission on Nuclear Energy (AFCONE), and the status of protocols involving non-African nuclear-weapon states.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies assesses the nuclear security environment in Africa, examining the risks of nuclear material diversion, the status of international and regional security regimes, and the implications of the continent's emerging nuclear energy programs.

This document outlines the recommendations from a conference held in Jinja, Uganda, from 11 to 13 March 2009, focused on developing a Common and Comprehensive African Approach to HIV and AIDS (CCAAHM) within African militaries. The conference, attended by delegates from numerous African nations and NGOs, sought to address policy dilemmas regarding recruitment, combat readiness, and the management of HIV-positive personnel in the context of peacekeeping and national security.

This concluding chapter of 'Invisible Stakeholders' argues that children and youth in Africa are not merely victims of conflict but active agents of change and transformation. The author contends that viewing them solely as victims obscures the dynamics of conflict and ignores how young people make choices that impact the trajectories of war. The text examines the socio-economic and political drivers of youth mobilization, the failure of disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR) processes, and the influence of global economic structures on African stability.

This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies examines the Adaptation Fund (AF), its operational mechanisms, and its effectiveness in meeting the climate adaptation needs of African countries. It highlights the fund's unique 'direct access' modality and the challenges associated with its primary funding source, the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM).

This briefing by the Institute for Security Studies examines the establishment and operational design of the Green Climate Fund (GCF), focusing on the tensions between developed and developing nations regarding governance, the role of the World Bank, and the influence of the private sector in climate finance for Africa.

Opening remarks by Kofi Annan on 10 May 2013 in Cape Town for the launch of the African Progress Panel's report, "Equity in Extractives: Stewarding Africa’s natural resources for all". The remarks address the potential for Africa's natural resource wealth to reduce poverty and the necessity of governance reforms and global cooperation to prevent the squandering of these resources.

A letter dated 4 October 2013 from 130 African civil society and international organisations urging African foreign ministers to support the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the Rome Statute during an African Union (AU) extraordinary summit on 11 and 12 October 2013.

This document is a master questionnaire and guideline for the African Human Security Initiative (AHSI2), a project designed to assess the efficacy of criminal justice systems in selected African countries. It aims to complement the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) by providing empirical evidence on crime, policing, and the judiciary to help governments bridge gaps between national commitments and implementation.

This monograph introduces the theory and practice of criminal justice in Africa, examining how colonial legacies, political instability, and the interests of ruling elites shape legal systems. It explores the tension between retributive Western-centric models and indigenous restorative justice, while providing specific case studies on the challenges of bail and human rights in Nigeria, the dual legal system in Uganda, and the political use of the judiciary in Zimbabwe and South Africa.

This conclusion to Monograph 161 by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the gap between the normative standards of criminal justice and the actual practice within African countries. It argues that inherited colonial legal systems often fail to meet contemporary needs, leading to inequities where access to justice is mediated by political, economic, and ethnic affiliations.

This statement provides closing remarks for a conference on air power and asymmetric threats in Africa. It argues that African militaries should lead the debate on asymmetric warfare based on their own experiences, emphasizes the need to adapt air power doctrine to a complex security environment, and asserts that security and development are interdependent prerequisites for the continent's future.

This document is a summary of the proceedings from a seminar held on 22 May 2008 in Pretoria, hosted by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS). The seminar focused on analyzing the Prohibition of Mercenary Activities and Regulation of Certain Activities in Areas of Armed Conflict Act 27 of 2006, specifically examining its impact on South African citizens, the military profession, and the regulation of private security and military companies (PSCs/PMCs).

This executive summary from the Institute for Security Studies examines the challenges of e-crime and the legislative responses in Africa and South Africa. It highlights the disconnect between the trans-border nature of digital crime and the territorial limits of law enforcement, while detailing South Africa's efforts to align its electronic transactions legislation with international standards like the European Treaty on Cybercrime.

This report summarizes a 2004 workshop in Accra, Ghana, focused on identifying lessons from Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR) experiences in Africa. It analyzes the evolution of UN-led DDR programmes, highlighting the shift from vague mandates to specific, targeted interventions. The document emphasizes that while disarmament and demobilization are often measured quantitatively, the qualitative aspect of reintegration remains the most challenging phase. It argues for a holistic approach that links DDR with national recovery, security sector reform, and human rights, while warning against the tendency of DDR to be exploited as a money-making venture by combatants and commanders.

This report, based on a 2004 workshop in Accra, Ghana, analyzes the evolution of Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR) programs in Africa. It examines the transition of DDR from vague mandates in the late 1990s to highly specific programs by 2004, highlighting the role of UN peacekeeping missions and the critical need for integrated planning, qualitative indicators for reintegration, and coordination with national recovery strategies.

This monograph, edited by Hussein Solomon and published by the Institute for Security Studies in May 1997, examines the evolution, principles, and challenges of South African foreign policy following the transition to democracy in 1994. It analyzes the tension between the government's declared commitment to human rights and democracy and its pragmatic bilateral relations with states such as Cuba, Libya, and the People's Republic of China. The text explores South Africa's role as a regional hegemon in Southern Africa, its engagement with the African continent, and the theoretical debate over whether it should pursue 'middle power' or 'co-operative' leadership.

This monograph captures the proceedings of a seminar held in Pretoria on 18-19 April 2000, titled "Security in Africa: French and South African Perspectives." The document explores the intersection of national identity, human security, governance, and economic development, with a specific focus on the evolving roles of France and South Africa in African security. It analyzes various conflict zones, including the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Lesotho, and West Africa, while evaluating the effectiveness of regional and international intervention frameworks such as the UN, OAU, SADC, and ECOWAS.

This monograph, published by the Institute for Security Studies and funded by the Norwegian Government, examines the intersection of terrorism, organized crime, and human rights in Africa. It analyzes the impact of the September 11 attacks on the continent, the legal frameworks provided by the OAU (now African Union) and the United Nations, and the specific operational and legislative responses of South Africa and Algeria.