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This research paper by Jakkie Cilliers of the Institute for Security Studies examines the relationship between the United Nations (UN) and the African Union (AU) regarding peace and security. It argues against a 'layered response'—where the AU assumes primary responsibility for peacekeeping to reduce UN costs—and instead advocates for an 'interlocking system' of shared logistics, staffing, and strategic management to ensure sustainable conflict prevention and reconstruction in Africa.

This research paper examines the conflict between the African Union's (AU) commitment to democracy and its rotational system for selecting the annual chairmanship, specifically regarding Sudan's claim to the position in 2007. The author argues that appointing Omar al-Bashir, amidst the Darfur crisis, would damage the AU's international credibility and operational effectiveness.

This fact sheet provides a list of countries that have signed, ratified, or acceded to the African Union (AU) Convention on the Prevention and Combating of Terrorism as of 23 June 2006.

A fact sheet from the Institute for Security Studies detailing the number of military observers, troops, and police contributed by 32 African countries to UN peacekeeping missions as of the end of April 2006.

This research paper by Jakkie Cilliers examines the financial and structural challenges of expanding peacekeeping capacities in Africa, specifically focusing on the relationship between the United Nations (UN), the African Union (AU), and regional organisations. It analyzes the proposed 'vertical deepening' of regional peacekeeping and the 'horizontal expansion' into peacebuilding, while evaluating the efficacy of the EU Peace Facility and the funding gaps for the African Standby Force (ASF).

This research paper by David H. Shinn analyzes Sudan's strategic position in Africa, focusing on its internal civil war, the economic impact of oil, and its complex bilateral relations with its nine neighboring countries as of March 2003.

This briefing describes the seizure of power in the Central African Republic on 15 March 2002, when General François Bozizé led approximately 1,000 rebel troops to take control of Bangui, displacing President Patassé.

This research paper assesses Western efforts to develop African peacekeeping capabilities in the late 1990s, specifically focusing on the 'P-3 Initiative' (US, UK, and France) and Danish contributions. The authors argue that while these capacity-building programs provide tangible training and equipment, they are primarily driven by Western domestic political desires to avoid direct military or financial involvement in African conflicts. The document also details the institutional, financial, and operational limitations of African regional bodies like the OAU, SADC, and ECOWAS in managing peace and security independently.

This research paper analyzes the transition of the US-led African Crisis Response Force (ACRF) into the African Crisis Response Initiative (ACRI) in 1997. It examines the ACRI's focus on long-term capacity-building through military training for African battalions to enhance peacekeeping interoperability, while critiquing the initiative's lack of coordination with the OAU and UN, its reliance on US military doctrine, and the absence of a clear mechanism for deploying the trained forces.

The Healthy NDC Scorecard is a visual tool designed to evaluate whether national climate commitments (NDCs) are sufficient to protect human health, measuring them against the Paris Agreement and science-aligned targets.

This document provides the key terms and methodology for the Forest Declaration Assessment, focusing on indicators for forest loss, degradation, and restoration. It details the use of a linear reduction pathway to reach 'gross zero' deforestation by 2030 and outlines the data sources and cost-effectiveness thresholds used to estimate global restoration potential through 2050.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) analyzes the state of negotiations regarding Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD) leading up to the 2009 COP 15 in Copenhagen. It examines the technical and political challenges surrounding the scope of REDD, financing mechanisms, measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) systems, and institutional governance, providing guidance for developing countries to navigate these negotiations.

The Zero Hunger Private Sector Pledge is an initiative launched ahead of the September 2021 UN Food Systems Summit to mobilize private sector investment to end global hunger by 2030. It requires companies to make financial commitments in specific high-impact intervention areas and priority countries, with progress monitored by the World Benchmarking Alliance.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies provides development forecasts for sub-Saharan Africa up to 2043. It compares a 'Current Path' scenario—based on existing policies and historical patterns—against eleven sectoral scenarios and a 'Combined Agenda 2063' scenario. The analysis focuses on demographics, economic growth, extreme poverty, health, and carbon emissions, highlighting the potential for significant improvements in GDP per capita and poverty reduction if integrated policy goals are achieved.

This report provides development forecasts for the Central African Republic (CAR) up to 2043, comparing a 'Current Path' (CP) baseline with various sectoral improvement scenarios and a 'Combined Agenda 2063' scenario. The report highlights CAR's status as one of the world's least developed countries, characterized by extreme poverty, low life expectancy, and high levels of violent conflict. While the CP predicts modest economic growth, the Combined Agenda 2063 scenario suggests that intersectoral policy pushes could significantly increase GDP per capita and drastically reduce extreme poverty.

This monograph by Nelson Alusala analyzes the proliferation and misuse of small arms and light weapons (SALW) and the dynamics of armed conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the Central African Republic (CAR), and Chad. It examines how the availability of SALW undermines human development and governance, while evaluating disarmament efforts and recommending international and national interventions to break the cycle of violence.

Peace and Security Council Report No 34 provides analysis on three distinct security crises: the political and military instability in Mali, the escalating border and oil revenue conflicts between Sudan and South Sudan, and the cross-border threats posed by the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) across Central Africa.

This briefing by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) examines the economic reintegration of ex-combatants in the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and South Sudan. It highlights the critical role of viable livelihood opportunities in preventing re-militarisation and discusses the systemic barriers—including poor infrastructure, predatory taxation, and limited credit—that hinder the transition from informal to formal economic activities.

This research paper analyzes the failure of the United Nations' Responsibility to Protect (R2P) framework in Darfur, arguing that the government of Sudan has successfully exploited divisions within the UN Security Council to prioritize state sovereignty over the protection of vulnerable populations.

This briefing examines Uganda's threat to withdraw its forces from the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) following allegations of Ugandan support for the M23 rebellion in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.