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This policy brief argues that the internal reform of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) is a fundamental prerequisite for sustainable peace and nation-building in South Sudan. The author contends that the 2013 conflict was triggered by a breakdown of political order and the party's failure to transition from a militarised liberation movement to a democratic ruling party. The document recommends formally linking SPLM internal restructuring—including demilitarisation, the establishment of leadership succession processes, and the empowerment of grassroots structures—to the broader peace negotiations facilitated by the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD).

This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies argues for the establishment of an IGAD Regional Maritime Council (RMC) to address underdeveloped maritime trade, high operational costs, and infrastructural deficits in the Intergovernmental Authority on Development region.

This policy brief examines South Africa's evolving role as a 'norm entrepreneur' in Africa, arguing that while the country initially led the continent in promoting democracy and human rights, its recent foreign policy has become more inward-looking and economically pragmatic.

This August 2013 report from the Institute for Security Studies provides analysis on several African security crises, focusing on the political instability in Egypt following the ousting of President Mohamed Morsi, the stalled transition in Madagascar, and rising tensions between Frelimo and Renamo in Mozambique. It also examines the African Union's (AU) efforts to establish the African Capacity for Immediate Response to Crisis (ACIRC) to address leadership failures in emergency responses, and the political crisis in South Sudan following the dissolution of its government by President Salva Kiir.

This October 2015 report from the Institute for Security Studies examines the relationship between the African Union (AU) and the United Nations (UN), focusing on peacekeeping funding, counter-terrorism efforts, and specific crises in South Sudan, Mali, and Somalia. It also analyzes the risks associated with a series of upcoming elections across the African continent.

This report analyzes South Africa's election as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council (UNSC) for the 2019–2020 term. It examines the current geopolitical dynamics of the Council, the expectations placed on South Africa as a regional power, and provides strategic recommendations for the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) to maximize the country's international visibility and influence.

This research paper by Amanda Lucey argues for the integration of peace and security into the discourse of South-South Cooperation (SSC), specifically in the context of the BAPA+40 conference. The author contends that while the original 1978 Buenos Aires Plan of Action (BAPA) focused on economic and social development, the contemporary African reality necessitates a holistic approach where peace and development are viewed as mutually reinforcing.

A budget vote speech delivered by the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, to the National Assembly on 31 May 2011. The speech outlines South Africa's foreign policy priorities, its role in regional and global governance, and the operational goals of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO).

This policy briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs analyzes the political economy of peace in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), arguing that regional peace agreements are shaped by the shifting economic power between the eastern Kivus and the southern Katanga province.

This briefing examines the African Capacity for Immediate Response to Crisis (ACIRC), a proposed rapid deployment instrument for the African Union (AU) initiated by South Africa. It analyzes the ACIRC's role as a stopgap for the African Standby Force's (ASF) missing rapid deployment capability, detailing the operational, political, and logistical challenges facing its implementation, and suggests ways to integrate it with AU and UN peace architectures.

This briefing describes the development and findings of a global Evidence Gap Map (EGM) on sustainable energy, co-funded by Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) and 3ie. The EGM systematically screens rigorous evidence on the causal effects of sustainable energy interventions in low- and middle-income countries (L&MICs) to support SDG 7 targets regarding energy access, efficiency, and renewables.

This research paper examines climate change vulnerability and adaptation in Sudan, highlighting the critical dependence of food security on erratic rainfall. It predicts significant declines in millet and sorghum yields in the Kordofan Region by 2060 and warns of increased malaria risks and water crises. The authors argue that while the Environmental Protection Act of 2001 and the National Adaptation Program of Action (NAPA) provide frameworks, effective adaptation requires moving away from top-down, sectorial planning toward integrated national planning, land tenure reform, and the establishment of a national early warning system.