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The Ouagadougou Political Accord, signed in March 2007 to end the Ivorian civil war, has largely stalled due to a lack of political will. While it established a cohabitation government between President Gbagbo and Prime Minister Soro, critical milestones including disarmament (DDR), population identification, and voter registration remain incomplete. The document describes the process as a struggle for control over the state's security and economic institutions, with elections delayed beyond January 2008. It highlights the influence of Burkina Faso as a mediator and the ambivalent role of France, while warning that a rupture in the Gbagbo-Soro alliance could destabilize the region.

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 report by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) examines the experiences of South African firms operating in Senegal. It describes Senegal as a stable, democratic gateway to Francophone West Africa with a strong macroeconomic profile, though it notes significant business constraints including rigid labour laws, corruption, and limited local disposable income.

The National Chairman's Annual Statement 2006 from the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) analyzes the shifting global balance of power, the rise of emerging economies in the South, and the specific geopolitical and economic challenges facing Africa and South Africa.

This policy brief series by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and IUCN examines the intersection of international trade, foreign aid, and security. It argues that current global trade rules and aid practices often exacerbate instability and conflict in developing countries by promoting economic dependence on volatile primary commodities, maintaining inequitable market access, and supporting unaccountable regimes. The document proposes a shift toward 'conflict-sensitive' policies, including the restriction of 'conflict resources,' the promotion of transparent natural resource revenue management, and the implementation of responsible business conduct to prevent the funding of violent conflicts.

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 the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) analyzes the ongoing WTO negotiations on environmental goods. It argues that current lists of goods for liberalization are dominated by developed countries and proposes including environmentally preferable products (EPPs) and implementing Special and Differential Treatment (SDT) to ensure a balanced distribution of trade gains for developing nations.

This research paper analyzes the political and ethnic crisis in Côte d’Ivoire as of 2005, tracing the conflict from the death of President Felix Houphoüet-Boigny in 1993 to the subsequent civil war and failed peace accords. The author argues that the crisis is rooted in a 'politics of exclusion' and ethnic division, suggesting that an interim government and internationally supervised elections are necessary because the primary political actors have acted in bad faith.

This research paper examines the development and operationalization of the Continental Early Warning System (CEWS) within the African Union (AU). It distinguishes early warning from traditional state intelligence, emphasizing a focus on human security and open-source data. The document reviews the transition from the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) to the AU, the legal framework of the Peace and Security Council (PSC), and the varying stages of early warning system implementation across regional economic communities in West, Central, Southern, and East Africa.

This 2005 IISD report analyzes the impact of EU trade policy on conflict in the developing world. It highlights a contradiction: while the EU uses 'soft power' initiatives (like FLEGT and the Kimberley Process) to curb conflict resources and 'carrots' (preferential access) to encourage good governance, its structural policies—such as massive agricultural subsidies and the push for reciprocal Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs)—can undermine economic stability and fuel conflict. The report warns that commodity price volatility and the 'resource curse' further destabilize low-income countries, and recommends that the EU conduct conflict assessments of trade agreements and reduce agricultural subsidies to promote global peace and sustainable development.

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 2004 report by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) examines the experiences of South African firms expanding into other African markets. It identifies systemic structural challenges—such as political risk, corruption, and poor infrastructure—while highlighting the growth of South African investment in sectors like banking, telecommunications, retail, and mining. The document provides specific case studies on Uganda, Morocco, Mozambique, and Ghana to illustrate the diverse operating environments across the continent.

This executive summary from the South African Institute of International Affairs describes Mali as a stable, democratic West African country with strong economic growth driven largely by a gold mining boom and South African investment.

This report details the outcomes of a three-day workshop on 'Supporting Protected Areas in Times of Violent Conflict' held during the 5th IUCN World Parks Congress in Durban, South Africa, in September 2003. Co-organized by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) under a UNDP-supported initiative, the workshop focused on the bidirectional relationship between protected areas and violent conflict, identifying best practices for management during crises and the role of conservation in peace-building and post-conflict reconstruction.

This 2003 research paper examines the linkages between the information society and sustainable development, arguing that policy coherence is needed between these two often-isolated fields. It identifies six analytical frameworks: environmental information systems (EIS), eco-efficiency and innovation, negative environmental impacts of ICT, modifying consumer demand, public participation, and poverty reduction. While highlighting benefits like dematerialization, transport efficiency, and poverty mapping, the paper warns of the 'rebound effect' and toxic waste from ICT products.

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.

The African Forum and Network on Debt and Development (AFRODAD) conducted various capacity-building initiatives, policy advocacy, and institutional partnerships in 2024 to address Africa's public debt burden, reform the global financial architecture, and promote sustainable debt management.

This research paper by the Center for International Environmental Law and the International Rivers Network analyzes the establishment of the World Bank's Inspection Panel on September 21, 1993. The authors evaluate whether this new mechanism for citizens and NGOs to request investigations into Bank-funded projects truly increases accountability, highlighting concerns regarding the panel's independence from Bank leadership and its lack of public transparency.

This legal opinion by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) argues that the export of pesticides prohibited or not approved in Europe to countries in Africa and Central America is illegal under international law, regional agreements, and human rights obligations.

This legal briefing by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) argues that the export of pesticides banned or not approved in their countries of origin—specifically from Europe to Africa and Central America—violates international law, including the Basel Convention, the Bamako Convention, and the Central American Agreement, as well as international human rights obligations.