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This research paper examines the drivers of radicalisation and recruitment for al-Shabaab in Somalia, based on interviews with former fighters, to inform counter-terrorism strategies.

This briefing by the Institute for Security Studies argues that combating piracy off the coast of Somalia requires a simultaneous, coordinated effort on land and sea. It highlights the economic dilemma where piracy remains lucrative while alternative livelihoods are limited, and emphasizes that the establishment of a functional Somali state, secure infrastructure, and the development of coastal fisheries are essential for long-term stability.

This briefing by the Institute for Security Studies examines the drivers of rising insecurity and terror attacks in Kenya, specifically those attributed to Al-Shabaab. The authors argue that addressing the crisis requires a combination of regional cooperation to curb arms proliferation, increased intelligence gathering with civilian support, and the mitigation of socio-economic grievances such as youth unemployment and marginalisation.

This briefing examines Uganda's threat to withdraw its forces from the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) following allegations of Ugandan support for the M23 rebellion in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

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.

This briefing by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the fragile state of Somalia in early 2005 following the election of President Abdullahi Yusuf. It details the complex geopolitical maneuvering between the Transitional National Government (TNG) and the Ethiopian-backed Somali Reconciliation and Reconstruction Council (SRRC), the role of IGAD states in the peace process, and the significant challenges the new transitional government faces in establishing authority, including dependence on external support and internal factionalism.

This conclusion section of a research paper examines the economic and political role of diasporas and remittances in Africa and other micro-states, highlighting the tension between the survival necessity of remittances and their potential for misuse in money laundering or funding criminal activities.

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 report documents a one-day brainstorming session held on 4 May 2012 in Nairobi, Kenya, co-hosted by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS), the African Leadership Centre (ALC), and Fahamu. The session aimed to map current discourses on gender, peace and security (GPS) in Africa, identify research gaps, and explore the creation of a pan-African think-tank to produce homegrown, evidence-based scholarship that moves beyond state-centric and Northern-led narratives.

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.

This report, prepared by the Chairperson of the African Union Commission for a special session in Tripoli, provides a comprehensive overview of the challenges to peace and security in Africa. It details the institutional framework of the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA), the economic and human costs of conflict, and the status of various regional crises, including those in Somalia, Sudan, and the Great Lakes region. The document emphasizes the need for African ownership of peace efforts, the importance of structural conflict prevention, and the strengthening of partnerships with international bodies like the UN and EU.

This report provides a civil society perspective on the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Zimbabwe, with a specific focus on the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF). It examines the intersection of national epidemiology, political-economic crises, and military policies, highlighting the high prevalence of HIV within the armed forces and the risks associated with external deployments.

This document consists of a series of resolutions and declarations adopted by the Council of Ministers and the Conference of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) during its 23rd Ordinary Session held in Mogadishu, Somalia, from June 6 to 15, 1974. The resolutions cover a wide range of geopolitical, economic, and social issues, including the decolonization of Portuguese, Spanish, British, and French territories, the fight against apartheid in South Africa and Namibia, the management of drought in Africa, and the establishment of various pan-African technical and administrative bodies.

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 trainer's guide provides a comprehensive curriculum for the EAPCCO United Nations Police Officers Course (UNPOC), designed to prepare police personnel for deployment in UN and African Union (AU) peace support operations. It covers the institutional frameworks of the UN and AU, the 'Capstone Doctrine' for peacekeeping, legal frameworks, human rights, and operational techniques such as negotiation, radio communication, and safety awareness. The guide includes theoretical modules, case studies on conduct and discipline, and a detailed field exercise called 'Furugo Kali' to simulate real-world mission scenarios.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies assesses the nuclear security environment in Africa, examining the risks of nuclear material diversion, the status of international and regional security regimes, and the implications of the continent's emerging nuclear energy programs.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies provides a scoping study on peace and security in East Africa, focusing on the Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes regions. It analyzes conflict dynamics, state fragility, and the effectiveness of regional and national interventions, concluding that the region remains fragile despite some governance gains.

This report summarizes a 2004 workshop in Accra, Ghana, focused on identifying lessons from Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR) experiences in Africa. It analyzes the evolution of UN-led DDR programmes, highlighting the shift from vague mandates to specific, targeted interventions. The document emphasizes that while disarmament and demobilization are often measured quantitatively, the qualitative aspect of reintegration remains the most challenging phase. It argues for a holistic approach that links DDR with national recovery, security sector reform, and human rights, while warning against the tendency of DDR to be exploited as a money-making venture by combatants and commanders.