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This document is a summary report of an international conference titled “Towards an African Conflict Prevention Strategy,” held on March 9-10, 2009, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Co-hosted by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) and Istituto per gli Studi di Politica Internazionale (ISPI), the event aimed to examine conflict prevention initiatives by the African Union (AU) and Regional Economic Communities (RECs) to support the operationalisation of the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA).

This research paper by Yarik Turianskyi of the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) analyzes common political governance issues in six African states—Ghana, Rwanda, Kenya, Algeria, South Africa, and Benin—based on their first National Review Reports (NRR) from the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM). The author argues that there is a significant gap between constitutional intentions and practical reality, primarily due to a lack of 'constitutionalism,' which allows the executive branch to dominate the legislative and judicial branches.

This research paper examines the adoption and implementation of the Nairobi Protocol for the Prevention, Control and Reduction of Small Arms and Light Weapons in the Great Lakes Region and Horn of Africa. It analyzes the role of the Regional Centre for Small Arms (RECSA) in coordinating efforts across 12 signatory states and identifies significant gaps between regional political commitment and national-level execution.

This document is an executive summary of the international conference "Unpacking the Somali Conflict," held in Pretoria on January 21, 2009. Organized by the African Security Analysis Programme, the event brought together analysts and practitioners to discuss the complexities of the crisis in Somalia, the role of the Transitional Federal Government and the African Union, and alternative paradigms for peace and conflict resolution.

This briefing by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the economic and political outlook for Africa in 2009, highlighting the risks posed by the global banking crisis, commodity price volatility, and precarious democratic transitions.

This concept note outlines a proposed workshop organized by the Eastern Africa Police Chiefs Cooperation Organization (EAPCCO), Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSF), and the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) to develop a regional response strategy for law enforcement agents to combat piracy in Eastern Africa.

This briefing by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the rise of piracy off the coast of Somalia as a symptom of the failure of national, regional, and global security systems. It argues that the international community's focus on the US-led Global War on Terror has led to misplaced priorities, allowing piracy to proliferate due to the collapse of the Somali state and the inefficiency of regional bodies like IGAD.

This research paper explores how the production and trade of agricultural and marine commodities can contribute to the onset or continuation of violent conflict, drawing on case studies from Côte d'Ivoire, Somalia, and Central Asia.

This briefing by the Institute for Security Studies argues that Zimbabwe requires a transitional government rather than a government of national unity to resolve its political crisis following the widely condemned presidential election of June 2008.

This research paper examines the viability of a regional peacekeeping force in Somalia following a UN Security Council vote in December 2007. It analyzes the instability caused by the conflict between the Transitional Federal Government and the Union of Islamic Courts, the role of Ethiopian military intervention, and the challenges of assembling an African Union-led force. The author specifically evaluates South Africa's capacity and willingness to contribute troops, concluding that South Africa has opted out due to existing commitments and the high risk of failure in a country without a formal ceasefire.

This research paper argues that Africa is vulnerable to global Islamist terrorism and that the African Union (AU) has failed to implement its counter-terrorism frameworks. The author highlights the underfunding and understaffing of the African Centre for the Study and Research on Terrorism in Algiers and proposes a practical, incremental strategy for building capacity based on the specific strengths of key states and regional organisations.

This report by the South African Institute of International Affairs argues that the New Partnership for Africa's Development (Nepad) has failed to translate the identification of problems into actionable solutions. Based on dialogues with 56 business organisations and five studies, the text asserts that government priorities are misaligned with business needs, specifically regarding corruption and infrastructure, and argues that economic prosperity is a prerequisite for long-term political stability in Africa.

This research paper by Romy Chevallier of the South African Institute of International Affairs analyzes the shift in French foreign policy toward Africa under President Nicolas Sarkozy. It describes a transition from 'la Françafrique'—characterized by colonial ties and personal relationships with corrupt elites—toward a multilateral 'Eurafrique' model based on economic partnerships and European integration.

This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies provides a progress update on the establishment of the African Standby Force (ASF), a multidisciplinary force designed to enable the African Union (AU) to respond to conflicts through peace support missions and interventions.

This briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) analyzes China's preferential trade policy for African Least Developed Countries (LDCs). While the policy is designed to align with the export capacities of these nations, the author argues that its economic impact is modest compared to its symbolic and diplomatic value in signaling China's rise as a global power and alternative to Western donors.

This briefing by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the context and agenda of the 10th African Union (AU) Heads of State and Government Summit, held in Addis Ababa from January 31 to February 2, 2008. The document evaluates the AU's effectiveness in conflict management and outlines key discussions regarding the proposed Union Government of Africa and an AU Audit Report on continental integration.

This document is an opening address delivered by Jakkie Cilliers of the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) on 31 October 2007. The speech outlines the ISS's regional security initiatives across Africa and discusses the challenges of policing, crime statistics, and security preparations for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

This briefing by Theresa Whelan, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Africa, explains the rationale and intended structure of the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM). It argues that the command is a necessary shift from Cold War-era organizational structures to a 21st-century approach that prioritizes security capacity building, prevention, and inter-agency cooperation to support African stability and U.S. national security.

This report, published by the Institute for Security Studies in May 2007, examines the challenges and processes of Security Sector Reform (SSR) in Africa, with a specific focus on the Horn of Africa. It utilizes comparative case studies from South Africa and Sierra Leone to highlight the importance of democratic civilian oversight, local ownership, and the need to move beyond Eurocentric models of security. The document analyzes the systemic obstacles to reform in the Horn of Africa, including the legacies of liberation wars, the prevalence of militarized political cultures, and the impact of the global 'war on terror' on governance and human security.

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.