Search Climate Insights Directory
1,515 results
Conflict Management, Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding: Lessons for Africa from a Seminar Past
This monograph presents a collection of papers from 'Exercise Morning Star', a September 1996 seminar held at the South African Army College. The document provides a general overview of conflict management, peacekeeping, and peacebuilding in Africa, emphasizing that these issues are no longer exclusively military domains and require partnerships between military forces, civil society, and regional bodies.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Report
Elections in Mozambique: A smooth journey, or a hurdle to skip?
The policy brief focuses on the security risks associated with Mozambique's fifth democratic election in October 2014, specifically regarding the role of Renamo and the need for sustainable measures to address rebel demands regardless of the election outcome to maintain a tenuous peace process.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Policy brief
A Mixed Reception, Mozambican and Congolese Refugees in South Africa
This research monograph reviews literature on two distinct waves of forced migration to South Africa: Mozambicans fleeing civil war in the 1980s and people from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) arriving from the early 1990s onwards. It highlights the legal ambiguities and social marginalization faced by Mozambican refugees, as well as the significant socio-economic decline and lack of integration experienced by Congolese refugees.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Research paper
Reintegration in Mozambique: An unresolved affair
The document examines the ongoing failure to fully reintegrate approximately 100,000 former combatants in Mozambique nearly two decades after the civil war. It notes that a 2009 government programme was insufficient, leading to the design of a new initiative to address 18 specific points of demand from ex-fighters. The analysis is based on interviews with government officials, civil society, and ex-combatant associations, though the process was still formative at the time of writing.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Research paper
A Step Towards Peace. Disarmament in Africa
The document examines disarmament as a critical component of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) efforts within multinational peace support operations in Africa. It highlights the necessity of assessing local dynamics and sub-regional contexts to address insecurities, using the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) as an example of how national crises spark regional instability. The text reviews the implementation of disarmament programmes in several African nations, noting that while success rates vary, Sierra Leone provides a recent example of successful conclusion. The monograph aims to provide a common framework of analysis by comparing the differing situations in Sierra Leone and the DRC to establish basic requirements for planning and implementing future disarmament programmes in Africa.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Report
The SADC Organ for Defence, Politics and Security
The document discusses the paradigm shift within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) regarding the link between stability and economic development. It highlights that member states, including some of the world's poorest nations, recognize that investment and growth require peace and democracy. This recognition has led to the creation of the Organ for Defence, Politics and Security to focus on conflict mediation, preventive diplomacy, and peacekeeping, signaling a move away from absolute sovereignty toward legitimate scrutiny of internal affairs.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Research paper
2162 ISS Monograph 117 Mozambique.indd
The report examines the reception of 250,000 to 350,000 Mozambican refugees in South Africa during the 1980s, highlighting a paradox where ethnic solidarity among Shangaan-speakers coexisted with severe economic exploitation. It details the creation of a 'third tier' of undocumented labour in the lowveld's commercial farming sector and critiques the UNHCR's flawed repatriation programme in the 1990s. Despite subsequent South African government amnesties granting permanent residence to 176,648 refugees by 2000, the author argues that many former refugees remained a 'de facto undocumented' underclass due to systemic xenophobia and structural economic dependence on cheap labour.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Report
Society Under Siege I
The provided text consists solely of a list of abbreviations for political organizations, military groups, and United Nations missions, primarily focused on Angola, Mozambique, and other international conflict zones.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Report
Demilitarising sub-Saharan Africa
The document examines the demobilisation and reintegration of military personnel across various African nations, arguing that while downsizing armed forces can potentially free resources for development and serve as a confidence-building measure, the actual impact is not automatic. It highlights that high costs of resettlement and reintegration often offset short-term financial gains. The author emphasizes that successful demobilisation depends heavily on political will, the institutional environment, and the availability of sustainable economic opportunities for ex-combatants to prevent the reoccurrence of conflict.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Research paper
chap-6-1ea6c4bc576ce62e.pdf
The report examines the Rhodesian government's attempt to apply 'stability operations'—combining internal defence and development—to counter insurgency. It details the evolution of psychological warfare units, from the informal Sheppard group to the formal 1 Psychological Operations Unit and the Directorate of Psychological Warfare. The analysis highlights a consistent failure to achieve 'hearts and minds' due to a reliance on force, racial paternalism, and a lack of genuine civic action. Specific failures are noted in food control (Operation Turkey), disinformation campaigns (Operation Splitshot), and the manipulation of spirit mediums, concluding that the state's emphasis on the 'iron fist' over the 'velvet glove' rendered its psychological efforts ineffective.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Report
The Enemy Within
The document analyzes the impact of HIV/AIDS on the Zimbabwe Defence Force (ZDF), noting high prevalence rates and the risks associated with external deployments, such as in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It evaluates the ZDF's recruitment and in-service policies, highlighting a shift toward admitting only HIV-negative recruits. The report also discusses the broader national context of HIV/AIDS in Zimbabwe, including a reported decline in adult prevalence to 20.1% by 2005, and recommends stronger civil-military cooperation and adherence to international non-discrimination standards.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Report
From a destabilising factor to a politicised and professional force: The military in Lesotho
The document analyzes the transformation of the Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) from its origins as a paramilitary unit to its current state as a professionalized military. It details the shift from military rule (1986–1993) to a democratic dispensation starting in 1993, highlighting the role of security sector reforms supported by South Africa, Botswana, and India. The report examines the legal and institutional frameworks—including the 1993 Constitution and the 1996 LDF Act—that establish civilian oversight, while noting that power remains heavily centralized in the Prime Minister's office. It also discusses the LDF's role within the SADC regional security framework and the challenges of balancing defence spending with socio-economic priorities.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Report
Hide and Seek: Taking Account of Small Arms in Southern Africa
The provided text is an introductory fragment and acronym list for a research project initiated in 2001 by Gun Free South Africa (GFSA) and the Centre for Conflict Resolution (CCR). The project aimed to examine the trade, use, and control of small arms and light weapons (SALW) across nine southern African nations to develop strategies for limiting their misuse. Specifically, the research sought to determine the size and nature of legal state-held and civilian-owned arms, the sources of illegal weapons—including losses or thefts from legal stockpiles—and the factors driving civilian demand for legal firearms.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Report
Country fact sheet
The document is a country fact sheet for Zambia, providing basic data on its location, population, political system, and economic indicators. It lists Zambia's natural resources, including minerals and hydropower, and outlines its constitutional and legal framework based on common law.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Fact sheet
Identification des [e\rons times des expl!iriences DDR en Afrique v
The document analyzes the evolution of Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR) programs in Africa, noting a shift from vague mandates in the late 1990s to highly specific programs by 2004. It emphasizes that DDR must be a voluntary process integrated into a broader national recovery framework, rather than a standalone social driver for peace. Key challenges identified include the 'quantitative' focus on counting soldiers versus the 'qualitative' need to reverse military indoctrination, the risk of DDR becoming a profit-making venture for ex-combatants, and the difficulty of accurate combatant identification. The report recommends a human-rights-based approach to DDR, better cross-border coordination to prevent combatants from moving between conflicts, and the use of strategic communication, particularly radio, to manage public expectations and support reconciliation.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Report
mono82-e5f1ad5c6905d6e5.pdf
The document provides an analytical account of child soldiering in Africa, focusing on the drivers, roles, and consequences for both boys and girls. It argues that the use of children is a global phenomenon facilitated by the proliferation of light weapons and the nature of modern intra-state civil wars. The author emphasizes that recruitment is often a deliberate military strategy based on the agility and controllability of children, or a result of extreme poverty and state collapse. The text highlights the specific, often invisible, experiences of girl soldiers, who serve as combatants, spies, and forced 'wives'. It concludes that child soldiering creates a 'scarred generation' and a dysfunctional notion of childhood, which in turn alters the culture of the affected societies.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Report
Defence Integration Debates in the DRC Peace Process Experts Workshop Report
The report examines the challenges of defence integration in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), arguing that the process is primarily a short-term political measure to end hostilities rather than a purely military reform. It highlights a history of governance deficits, where military professionalism was replaced by clientelism and ethnic representativity, leading to state collapse. The document advocates for a comprehensive approach to security sector reform (SSR) that integrates defence, public service, and business sector reforms to prevent the recurrence of a destructive 'war economy'. It also details a workshop conducted by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) and Labor Optimus to encourage the DRC's engagement with the SADC Organ for Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation (OPDSC).
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Report
ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE INTERIM EMERGENCY MULTINATIONAL FORCE AND FUTURE SCENARIOS
The research paper evaluates the impact of the IEMF (Operation ARTEMIS) in stabilizing Bunia, DRC, noting its success in restoring basic security and facilitating the return of displaced persons, while highlighting its failure to prevent atrocities outside its limited area of responsibility. It outlines three future scenarios—worst, best, and most likely—and recommends an integrated approach combining military peace-enforcement, political support for the Ituri Interim Administration (IIA), and the implementation of a Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR) process to address the root causes of ethnic conflict between Hema and Lendu communities.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Research paper
WORK PROGRAMME ON POLICY AND POSSIBLE IMPLICATIONS FOR ACTION
The document proposes a comprehensive framework to analyze and overcome the stagnation of growth and development in Africa. It identifies key constraints—including climate, geography, weak governance, and conflict—and organizes a work programme around three linked areas: growth and resources, empowerment and culture, and governance and institutions. The framework emphasizes the need for a "big push" of mutually supporting actions, focusing on private sector-led growth, agricultural improvement, trade diversification, human development, and enhanced transparency in economic governance. It specifically highlights the vulnerability of African economic growth to climate change and the necessity of increasing concessional resources and aid effectiveness to support these goals.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Report
Basic Facts
The document serves as a basic profile of Zimbabwe, covering its physical and demographic data, its transition to a semi-presidential consociationalist republic under a 2008 power-sharing agreement, and a history of human rights challenges including state violence and the effects of land reform.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Fact sheet