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This briefing is a concept note for a conference titled "The APRM +10: Reviewing a Decade of Peer Learning and Projecting a Future of Governance in Africa," scheduled for May 17–18, 2013, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The event aims to bring together African civil society organisations (CSOs) and governance structures to appraise the first ten years of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) and plan for its second decade.

This briefing from the Conflict Prevention and Risk Analysis (CPRA) division of the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) discusses reports of secret peace talks between the Nigerian government and Boko Haram in December 2012, analyzing the incoherence of the government's strategy and recommending a shift from military-oriented responses to political and preventive governance.

The November 2012 Peace and Security Council Report by the Institute for Security Studies provides analysis on critical security threats in Africa, focusing on political instability in Madagascar, the crisis in Mali, the rise of al-Qaeda-affiliated terrorism, and the evolution of the African Union's (AU) civilian and legislative capacities.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the political and security crisis in Mali following the March 2012 coup d'état. It examines the challenges of the transitional government, the efforts to manage the insurgency in northern Mali, the necessity of rebuilding the Malian army, and the complexities of planning an international military intervention and presidential elections.

The October 2012 Peace and Security Council Report by the Institute for Security Studies provides detailed country analyses of Somalia, South Sudan, and Côte d’Ivoire, focusing on political transitions, security vulnerabilities, and the role of regional and international bodies in stabilizing these nations.

This October 2012 report by the Institute for Security Studies provides early warning analysis and country-specific assessments for Somalia, South Sudan, and Côte d'Ivoire, focusing on political transitions, security architecture, and regional stability within the framework of the African Union's Peace and Security Council (PSC).

In a speech delivered on 3 September 2012, Deputy Minister Ebrahim outlined South Africa's foreign policy and its role within the UN Security Council (UNSC), specifically regarding peace and security in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). He advocated for the pacific settlement of disputes over military intervention, criticized the use of the veto by permanent UNSC members, and called for the reform of the Council to include permanent representation for Africa and Latin America.

This policy brief examines the delays in operationalising the African Standby Force (ASF), an African Union (AU) mechanism designed for rapid response to violent armed conflicts in Africa. Despite multiple roadmaps and timelines (2005, 2008, 2010), the force remained non-operational as of 2012, with a revised target of 2015. The author identifies systemic failures in political command, logistical infrastructure, and institutional capacity, arguing that the AU has relied too heavily on ad hoc missions rather than using actual deployments to refine the ASF architecture.

The September 2012 Peace and Security Council Report by the Institute for Security Studies provides analysis on early warning issues in Africa, focusing on the electoral risks in Kenya, the democratic transition in Egypt, and a retrospective of the 19th African Union (AU) Summit.

This policy brief explores the potential for a 'Green Revolution' in Africa, using the International Futures (IFs) model to compare scenarios of agricultural intensification. The authors argue that while aggressive policy interventions could make Africa a net food exporter and significantly boost GDP, such production increases must be coupled with social policies to ensure food access for the poor and improvements in water and sanitation to realize human development gains.

This August 2012 report by the Institute for Security Studies provides early warning analyses on political and security crises in Mali, Libya, Angola, and Somalia, while examining the evolving role of China in African peace and security efforts.

This briefing note from the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) summarizes a daily meeting held on July 18, 2012, in Pretoria. The primary focus of the session was the election of South Africa's Home Affairs Minister, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, as the head of the African Union (AU) Commission and the potential implications of her leadership.

This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the military coup in Guinea-Bissau on April 12, 2012, framing it as part of a recurring pattern of political instability and military interference in the state's governance.

This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies examines the potential socio-economic impacts of increasing investment in basic education across Africa. Using the International Futures (IFs) modelling system, the authors simulate a scenario where African nations adopt the enrolment and completion growth rates of the continent's best-performing countries. The analysis suggests that a modest increase in GDP allocation to education could lead to significant long-term gains in GDP, poverty reduction, and public health, although these benefits would be realized over several decades.

This December 2011 report by the Institute for Security Studies provides security analyses and early warning assessments for the African Union Peace and Security Council (PSC). It focuses on the fragile post-election landscape in Liberia, escalating border conflicts and humanitarian crises between Sudan and South Sudan, the expanding threat of Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) across the Sahel, and political instability in Burundi. Additionally, it examines the partnership and occasional divergences between the PSC and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

This briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) analyzes the internal, regional, and international security implications following the death of Muammar Gaddafi on 20 October 2011. It examines the challenges facing the National Transitional Council (NTC) in managing armed militias and oil revenues, the risk of arms proliferation across the Sahel and Maghreb, and the geopolitical opportunities for South Africa and the African Union (AU) to influence the transition and strengthen regional security mechanisms.

This report documents a July 2011 seminar organized by the Pan African Parliament, the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), and the Institute for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies (PLAAS). It examines the surge of foreign direct investment in African agricultural land and water, often termed "land grabs," and provides recommendations for parliamentarians to ensure such investments benefit local communities and align with national development goals.

This report documents a seminar held by the Pan-African Parliament in July 2011 regarding foreign investment in African agricultural land and water, often termed "land grabbing." It examines the drivers of these investments, their negative impacts on local communities and human rights, and the legal frameworks governing them. The document provides recommendations for parliamentarians to increase transparency, reform land tenure, and ensure that investments benefit local populations through inclusive business models and genuine community consultation.

This report documents a seminar held in July 2011 by the Pan-African Parliament, in collaboration with the IISD and PLAAS, focusing on foreign investment in African agricultural land and water resources. It examines the phenomenon of 'land grabbing,' its legal implications, and the role of parliamentarians in ensuring that such investments benefit local populations and align with sustainable development goals.

The October 2011 PSC Report by the Institute for Security Studies provides analysis on peace and security issues across Africa, focusing on the volatile situation in Darfur, the rise of Boko Haram in Nigeria, and political instability and terrorism threats in Niger. It also details the upcoming African Union Commission elections and regional counter-terrorism efforts.