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This research paper examines the role of co-operatives in governing the artisanal fisheries sector in Angola. It argues that co-operatives can serve as a mechanism for co-management and a tool for formalising a largely informal subsector, provided they are treated as voluntary, bottom-up enterprises rather than top-down state instruments.

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.

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 research paper by Nicole Fritz for the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) analyzes the 2008 campaign by southern African civil society to block the MV 'An Yue Jiang', a Chinese vessel attempting to deliver arms to the Zimbabwe Defence Force. The author examines the legal strategies, regional coordination, and geopolitical factors that led to the ship's failure to deliver its cargo, ultimately returning to China.

This case study describes how coordinated civil society actions across Southern Africa successfully blocked a shipment of weapons destined for Zimbabwe following controversial elections.

This report chapter examines the nature and extent of crime in Zambia, highlighting systemic issues in the criminal justice system, pervasive corruption in public institutions, and the challenges of combating drug trafficking, human trafficking, and illegal migration.

This document is a summary report of an international conference titled “Towards an African Conflict Prevention Strategy,” held on March 9-10, 2009, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Co-hosted by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) and Istituto per gli Studi di Politica Internazionale (ISPI), the event aimed to examine conflict prevention initiatives by the African Union (AU) and Regional Economic Communities (RECs) to support the operationalisation of the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA).

This research paper by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the patterns, types, and social dynamics of Chinese migration to Africa. It distinguishes between temporary labor migrants, independent entrepreneurs, and transit migrants, while analyzing the socio-economic tensions and settlement patterns emerging across the continent, with a detailed case study on South Africa.

This 2009 briefing analyzes Namibia's agricultural sector and food security strategies. It highlights that while Namibia faced rising food prices, a conservative pricing agreement between producers and millers mitigated the impact. The report details the country's reliance on subsistence farming for 1.5 million people and the government's efforts to increase food security through irrigation (the Green Scheme), import controls on staples and horticulture, and targeted subsidies for communal farmers. It also discusses Namibia's trade position within SACU, SADC, and the WTO, emphasizing its status as a net food-importing developing country.

This research paper examines the historical context of superpower competition in Africa during the Cold War and analyzes the potential implications of a 'new' Cold War or a shift toward multi-polarity between the West and Russia for African states.

The September 5, 2008, Angolan legislative elections—the first in 16 years—resulted in a landslide victory for the MPLA (82%) over fragmented opposition parties. While viewed as a step toward democracy, the process was marred by media manipulation, National Electoral Commission impartiality concerns, and logistical failures in Luanda. Long-term stability is further threatened by poverty, wealth mismanagement, and an ineffective DDR process for ex-combatants.

This briefing by the Institute for Security Studies analyses the 5 September 2008 Angolan legislative elections, in which the ruling MPLA won a landslide victory. The author argues that the result was achieved through a combination of state resource monopoly, media manipulation, and the intimidation of opposition forces, thereby limiting the prospects for genuine democratic consolidation in Angola.

This research paper argues that China's engagement with Africa is fundamentally transforming China's own foreign policy and self-conception. While Western perspectives often focus on how China's 'no conditions' approach undermines good governance in Africa, the author contends that ties with African 'pariah and petro-states' are instead reshaping Beijing's diplomatic certitudes, forcing it to move away from its strict principle of non-intervention toward supporting internationally-sanctioned interventions in specific conflicts.

This seminar report, presented by Dr. Victor Ojakorotu on 14 August 2008, examines the historical roots and current drivers of conflict in Nigeria's Niger Delta. It analyzes how the shift from regional to federal control of oil revenue, combined with environmental degradation and governance failures, has led to instability and armed rebellion.

This report examines the history and state of corruption in the Democratic Republic of Congo, focusing on the transition period between 2003 and 2006. It traces a legacy of predation from King Leopold II's forced labour regime and Mobutu's state capture to the resource looting by foreign occupying forces and the Kabila administration. The author argues that without learning from this history and strengthening anti-corruption institutions and legal frameworks to meet international standards, the DRC risks returning to a cycle of bad governance and conflict despite the democratic progress made during the 2006 elections.

This research paper argues that South Africa and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) have failed to hold Robert Mugabe's regime accountable for electoral fraud and violence in Zimbabwe. The author contends that South Africa has underplayed its influence and calls for a decisive regional response, including sanctions and the recognition of the March 29, 2008, election results, to protect democratic institutions in Africa.

This research paper examines the role of transnational organised crime networks and 'middlemen' in fueling African conflicts through the illicit trade of weapons and natural resources. Using the case studies of Leonid Minin and Victor Bout, the document highlights the sophistication of these networks, their use of front companies and tax havens, and the systemic failures of international law enforcement and national legislation to prosecute sanctions-busting activities.

This research paper examines the intersection of poor governance and the presence of unemployed former combatants in Africa, using the foiled 2004 coup attempt in Equatorial Guinea as a case study to highlight the risks of mercenary activity and the inadequacy of current legal frameworks.