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This briefing by the Institute for Security Studies argues that transitioning Somalia from conflict to post-conflict stability requires shifting security responsibilities from military forces to an enhanced, professional police force to protect liberated areas from al-Shabaab's guerrilla tactics and build public trust.

This briefing by the Institute for Security Studies examines how competing local and regional interests regarding the formation of the Jubaland state in Somalia may undermine the fight against Al-Shabaab. It details the tensions between the Somalia Federal Government (SFG) and regional actors, specifically Kenya and Ethiopia, over the legitimacy and representivity of the process in Kismayo and surrounding regions.

This briefing by Festus B Aboagye of the Institute for Security Studies questions the efficacy of humanitarian interventions in Africa, arguing that they often fail to address root causes of conflict and may inadvertently prolong violence. The author suggests that non-intervention, allowing conflicts to reach a military conclusion, could be a more durable alternative in certain contexts.

This briefing discusses a decline in piracy in the Gulf of Aden during early 2012, attributing the drop to maritime security practices and international naval tactics, while warning that corruption within the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and the diversion of pirate skills into other crimes threaten long-term stability in Somalia.

This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies examines the African Union's (AU) strategy to increase troop levels for the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) following suicide bombings in Uganda in July 2010.

This briefing discusses the death of Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi at age 57 and the subsequent concerns regarding Ethiopia's political stability. It examines the legal transition of power to Deputy Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, Zenawi's legacy in economic development and security, and the potential for instability within the ruling ethnic-based coalition.

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.

This briefing by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the transition of Somalia toward a post-transitional government following the 2012 presidential election. While noting progress in security and political milestones, the authors identify three critical risks: grievances stemming from the peace process, the conflict of interest among transition leaders acting as both referees and players, and the potential evolution of Al-Shabaab's tactics following the loss of Kismayo.

The document analyzes the US shift toward supporting an African-led peacekeeping force (the African Crisis Reaction Force) following the costly 1992 intervention in Somalia. It identifies the 1996 diplomatic push for the ACRF as a result of crises in the Great Lakes region, US domestic political pressures under the Clinton Administration, and the 1996 US election cycle.

This report analyzes the contradictions in United States strategy in Somalia between 2001 and 2007, specifically the attempt to combine counter-terrorism efforts with state building in a 'failed state'.

A briefing by the Institute for Security Studies analyzing a blast in a Nairobi shopping centre and the broader increase in terrorist attacks in Kenya following the 'Linda Nchi' incursion into Somalia.

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.

A briefing detailing a visit by US and UK envoys to Mogadishu to discuss the end of Somalia's transition period and allegations of corruption within the transitional government, alongside US sanctions and bounty strategies against peace process saboteurs and Al-Shabaab leaders.

This briefing discusses the evolving strategies of the United Nations (UN) and the African Union (AU) to support peace-building and state-building in Somalia following the establishment of a popular government under President Hassan Sheikh in September 2012. It examines the transition toward a new integrated UN mission and the potential expansion of the AU Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) to include civilian capacity-building, while highlighting challenges regarding coordination, operational mandates, and funding.

This briefing by the Institute for Security Studies examines the isolation of the Eritrean regime, detailing its strained relations with the international community, conflicts with neighboring states, and the economic impact of international sanctions and restrictions.

Peace and Security Council Report No 26 provides analysis on political instability and security challenges in Libya, Egypt, Guinea, and Malawi, alongside a retrospective on the African Union's response to drought in the Horn of Africa.

This briefing by the Institute for Security Studies examines the failures of government-led rehabilitation and reintegration programmes for defectors from violent extremist groups in Africa, highlighting how human rights abuses and a lack of transparency drive defectors away from state processes and toward civil society or direct community return.

This report describes an international conference organized by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) and the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Ethiopia to examine and enhance cooperation between China and the African Union (AU) regarding peace and security in Africa.

This research paper examines the implementation and failure of the arms embargo imposed on Somalia in 1992, using it as a case study to identify the necessary conditions for the effective enforcement of similar sanctions across Africa.

This briefing reports on the unrest in Mombasa following the killing of Sheikh Aboud Rogo Mohammed on 27 August 2012, the subsequent violence targeting security forces and churches, and the broader security implications regarding radicalization and upcoming elections in Kenya.