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This briefing examines the potential for a West African military intervention in Mali following the seizure of northern territory by rebel groups, including the MNLA, Ansar Dine, and AQIM. It analyzes the United Nations Security Council's (UNSC) reservations regarding such a mandate, the complexities of mediating between groups with competing agendas, and the necessity of combining military action with diplomatic efforts and humanitarian assistance.

This briefing describes the outcomes of the 41st Ordinary Session of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Authority of Heads of State and Government, focusing on the instability in Mali. The regional body proposed a military response through the fast-tracking of the Force Mission in Mali (MICEMA) and a Technical Assessment Mission, while noting the challenges of securing international support and a UN mandate.

The African Union established the African Capacity for Immediate Response to Crises (ACIRC) in May 2013 as a transitional measure to address gaps in its security response, specifically following the need for French intervention in Mali. The ACIRC aims to provide a robust, voluntary force for limited operations while the African Standby Force (ASF) and its Rapid Deployment Capability (RDC) work toward full operationalization. Alongside this military tool, the AU is enhancing conflict prevention through the PanWise network and regional APSA initiatives in the Sahel-Saharan region.

Peace and Security Council Report No 32 provides analysis on political instability and electoral challenges in Senegal, Mali, and Egypt, while reviewing the elections for the African Union's Peace and Security Council and the legislative aspirations of the Pan African Parliament.

This briefing by the Institute for Security Studies examines the doctrinal differences between United Nations (UN) peacekeeping and African Union (AU) peace support operations, using these distinctions to propose strategies for stabilising northern Mali.

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 report by the Institute for Security Studies examines the intersections of violent extremism, illicit activities, and local conflicts within the Liptako-Gourma region, utilizing interview data from Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.

This briefing by the Institute for Security Studies examines the rapid pace of urbanisation in Africa, with a specific focus on Nigeria. It highlights the disconnect between rapid population growth in cities and the lack of adequate urban planning, which has led to the proliferation of slums, infrastructure deficits, and economic instability.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the political and security dynamics in Mali following the seizure of Konna by armed groups on 10 January 2013, which triggered the French military Operation Serval and the deployment of the African-led international support mission to Mali (AFISMA).

The Annual Review of the African Union Peace and Security Council 2013/2014 provides a critical analysis of the Peace and Security Council's (PSC) decisions and responses to a resurgence of conflict and violent instability across Africa in 2013.

The report evaluates the AU Peace and Security Council's efforts in conflict resolution and regional stability, highlighting failures in Sudan's mediation due to biased mediator selection and a lack of political focus. It examines the limitations of PSC field missions, the rising death toll of humanitarian workers in Africa, and the role of illegal natural resource exploitation in funding armed groups. Finally, it discusses the need for greater African agency and strategic coordination in infrastructure and security partnerships with China through FOCAC.

The Peace and Security Council Report No 176 analyzes the outcomes of the 38th AU Summit in February 2025, focusing on leadership transitions, the chairship of Angola, and the ongoing challenges of the 'Silencing the Guns' agenda. It highlights the election of Mahamoud Ali Youssouf as AUC chair and the debate over rotational versus permanent membership in the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC).

This synthesis report by the Training for Peace (TfP) research network examines the roles, challenges, and differences between African Union (AU) and United Nations (UN) policing in peace support operations (PSOs) in Africa. Based on research from missions in Somalia, Darfur, and Mali, the report analyzes the functions of individual police officers (IPOs) and formed police units (FPUs), highlighting the need for context-specific training and guidelines for stabilization environments.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes projects aimed at preventing and countering violent extremism (P/CVE) in Central, East, and West Africa. It identifies critical gaps in funding duration, monitoring and evaluation (M&E) capacity, and the potential for P/CVE labeling to stigmatize target communities, while suggesting a shift toward longer-term funding and greater African state ownership.

A joint declaration from the European Commission and the African Union Commission following their fourth College-to-College meeting on 1 October 2008 in Brussels. The document outlines agreements to implement the Africa-EU Strategic Partnership across eight thematic areas, including security, governance, economic integration, health, energy, climate change, migration, and science and technology.

This document contains a series of resolutions (CM/Res.149 to CM/Res.174) adopted by the Council of Ministers of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) during its eleventh ordinary session held in Algiers, Algeria, from September 4 to 12, 1968. The resolutions address a wide range of political, humanitarian, and economic issues, including the status of refugees, the liberation of territories under Portuguese and South African domination, the decolonization of the Comoros, and the promotion of intra-African economic integration and cultural cooperation.

This document consists of Annex VI and three Protocols of an agreement between the European Community and ACP (African, Caribbean, and Pacific) States. It defines the lists of least-developed, landlocked, and island ACP States, establishes rules for the operating expenditure and privileges of joint institutions, and outlines the qualified status of South Africa's participation in the agreement.

This report by Robert Mattes of the University of Cape Town uses Afrobarometer survey data from 18 African countries to compare experiences of crime and policing in South Africa with other nations on the continent. The analysis finds that while South Africa has high levels of insecurity and crime exposure, it is not exceptional in the African context. Furthermore, despite having superior physical and human capital, the South African Police Service (SAPS) often lags behind other African police forces in terms of public trust, legitimacy, and community relations.

A letter dated 4 October 2013 from 130 African civil society and international organisations urging African foreign ministers to support the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the Rome Statute during an African Union (AU) extraordinary summit on 11 and 12 October 2013.

This report, produced by the African Human Security Initiative (AHSI), provides a comprehensive review of the criminal justice system in Zambia. It examines the effectiveness of policing, prosecutorial services, the courts, customary justice, and the prison service, highlighting systemic weaknesses including corruption, severe prison overcrowding, and a lack of forensic capacity. The document emphasizes the duality of Zambia's legal system, where a majority of the population relies on customary law despite its lack of formal statutory recognition.