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This research paper analyzes the political transition in the Democratic Republic of Congo following the December 30 election, where Félix Tshisekedi was announced as the winner. The author outlines the significant domestic and regional hurdles Tshisekedi faces, including contested election legitimacy, the need for a peaceful handover from Joseph Kabila's 18-year regime, and the necessity of regional diplomatic cooperation to ensure stability.

This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies outlines recommendations for the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and the Assembly of States Parties (ASP) to address state non-cooperation with the International Criminal Court (ICC). It proposes specific legal and political mechanisms to ensure the ICC can effectively investigate and prosecute serious international crimes.

The Energy Progress Report 2019, a joint publication by five custodian agencies, tracks global progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7). While the world is making progress in electricity access, renewable energy adoption, and energy efficiency, the report concludes that current ambition levels are insufficient to meet 2030 targets. Significant gaps remain in clean cooking access and electricity availability, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa.

This November 2018 report from the Institute for Security Studies analyzes recent activities of the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council (PSC), focusing on institutional reforms led by Rwandan President Paul Kagame, political instability in Somalia, the 2018 elections in Madagascar, and the fragile peace process in South Sudan.

This report examines the intersection of gender and migration in South Africa, arguing that current migration policies are largely gender-neutral or geared toward men, which increases the vulnerability of women migrants. Through focus groups and interviews with mixed migrant women in the Western Cape, the study highlights the 'triple discrimination' of xenophobia, racism, and misogyny faced by African women migrants, and calls for rights-based, gender-sensitive policy reforms.

This case study describes a partnership between Anzana Electric Group (formerly Virunga Power) and Songa Energy to develop small hydro projects in Burundi, aiming to establish a rural utility through a private concession.

This report by BFA for FSD Africa examines the financial needs and economic enablers of forcibly displaced people (FDPs) in Rwanda. It analyzes the barriers preventing financial service providers (FSPs) from serving refugees, such as unclear Know-Your-Customer (KYC) requirements and perceived credit risks, while highlighting the potential for business growth through improved documentation, mobility, and targeted credit products.

The September 2018 Peace & Security Council Report by the Institute for Security Studies examines challenges to democracy in Africa, the complexities of peace initiatives in the Central African Republic, political instability in Lesotho, the fragile peace deal in South Sudan, and the ongoing evolution of the African Standby Force.

This report analyzes the conditions necessary for African states to achieve a demographic dividend, noting that most are currently several decades away due to high youth dependency and slow fertility declines. It argues that while global growth is slowing due to aging populations, Africa's expanding working-age population offers a comparative advantage if coupled with investments in contraception, female education, and basic infrastructure. The report warns that without these interventions and significant job creation, Africa will continue to diverge from global averages in income and health.

The August 2018 Peace & Security Council Report by the Institute for Security Studies examines several African Union (AU) challenges, including the shift in the AU's approach to Western Sahara, tensions over LGBTI rights and the independence of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, institutional friction between the AU and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), and the need for non-military stabilisation strategies in the Lake Chad basin to combat Boko Haram.

This June 2018 report from the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the African Union's (AU) institutional reforms, the AU's evolving role in the Sahel, the collapse of power-sharing talks in South Sudan, and the future of European Union funding for the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA). It specifically examines whether the Peace and Security Council (PSC) Protocol remains adequate for contemporary security challenges.

The May 2018 Peace & Security Council Report examines several African Union (AU) initiatives and regional challenges, including the FemWise-Africa network for women mediators, the proposed AU Humanitarian Agency, the protocol on free movement of people, and the political situation in Liberia and the Horn of Africa. It also features an interview regarding the transformation of the NEPAD Agency into the AU Development Agency.

This policy briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs evaluates the progress of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance eleven years after its inception. The author argues that while there are normative commitments to democratic consolidation, many African states remain trapped in an 'electoral fallacy' where regular elections occur but democratic governance is not entrenched across institutions. The document identifies internal and external pressures—including the rise of authoritarian models and the prioritization of counter-terrorism over democratic norms—that contribute to democratic deconsolidation.

This report from the Institute for Security Studies provides a retrospective of the African Union Peace and Security Council (PSC) for the term April 2016 to March 2018, analyzes the role of South Africa and Nigeria in continental initiatives like the AfCFTA, and features an interview with Morocco's Minister of Foreign Affairs regarding its entry into the PSC.

This report by BFA for FSD Africa assesses the demand for and business case for providing formal financial services to refugees in Rwanda. It concludes that refugees are a viable customer segment with income levels and profitability potential comparable to typical low-income Rwandan nationals, provided that financial service providers (FSPs) utilize cross-selling strategies and regulatory hurdles regarding identification are addressed.

This March 2018 report from the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the African Union's Peace and Security Council (PSC), focusing on its struggles to implement counter-terrorism frameworks, funding crises facing the AMISOM mission in Somalia, constitutional disputes in Burundi, and structural instability in the CEMAC region of Central Africa.

This research paper evaluates South Africa's foreign policy under President Jacob Zuma, contrasting his approach with that of his predecessors. It highlights a shift toward strategic partnerships with emerging powers, specifically China and the BRICS grouping, while noting a decline in domestic human rights adherence and strained relations with the West.

This case study examines Tanzania's difficulties in establishing horizontal linkages within its mining sector, focusing on the failures of its National System of Innovation (NSI) and the complexities of the Central Development Corridor (CDC) infrastructure project.

This report details a regional training workshop on the management of artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) held in Yaoundé, Cameroon, from February 26 to March 1, 2018. Organized by the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining (IGF) in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the event gathered over 50 public and private sector officials from 17 French-speaking African countries to implement the 'IGF Guide for Governments: Managing Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining'.

This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies examines the disconnect between the African Union's (AU) African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) and the African Governance Architecture (AGA). It argues that while poor governance is a primary driver of instability in Africa, the AU's responses remain reactive and fragmented due to institutional differences between these two frameworks. The author proposes several options to integrate governance and security, ranging from amending the Peace and Security Council (PSC) protocol to creating a unified 'Architecture for Stability in Africa' (ASA).