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This workshop report, compiled by Nyambura Githaiga for the Institute for Security Studies, analyzes the regional dimensions of conflict in the Great Lakes Region of Africa. It examines the interconnectedness of political instability, human rights violations, and the proliferation of small arms and light weapons (SALW), alongside the role of natural resources in financing armed groups. The document evaluates the effectiveness of regional bodies such as the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) and the East African Community (EAC) in promoting sustainable peace and managing forced displacement.

This report details a conference held in Pretoria in November 2010 focused on the dynamics of decision-making within African continental and regional organizations. It analyzes the interactions between the African Union (AU) and the European Union (EU), the challenges of regional economic integration through Regional Economic Communities (RECs), and the complexities of establishing common African positions on global issues like climate change and security.

This conference report, compiled by the Institute for Security Studies, examines the political dynamics and institutional structures that influence decision-making within the African Union (AU) and Regional Economic Communities (RECs), as well as their interactions with the European Union (EU).

This workshop report, published by the Institute for Security Studies in 2011, documents a gathering in Johannesburg focused on the advances, challenges, and prospects of policing oversight in Africa. It examines the necessity of accountability to protect human rights, analyzes regional frameworks such as SADC and the East African Community, and provides case studies from South Africa, Kenya, and Nigeria. The report outlines a plan of action to strengthen oversight through education, networking, and legislative reform.

This workshop report, compiled by Eric Scheye for the Institute for Security Studies, details discussions held in March 2011 regarding the promotion of the rule of law (RoL) in Africa. The document critiques traditional donor-led 'institutional capacity development' models, arguing that RoL is primarily a political rather than technical challenge. It advocates for a shift toward service-delivery and problem-solving approaches that recognize legal pluralism, the role of non-state justice providers, and the specific needs of marginalized groups, particularly women.

This report summarizes an expert roundtable held on September 30, 2010, regarding the potential secession of Southern Sudan following its scheduled January 2011 self-determination referendum. It examines the unresolved issues between Northern and Southern Sudan, the internal challenges facing a potential new state, and the resulting security and economic implications for the Horn and central Africa regions.

This report documents the Fourth African Conference of Commandants (ACoC), held from 1 November to 3 November 2010 in Jinja, Uganda. The conference aimed to develop a framework for a common continental force to improve efficiency in multinational environments by reviewing the roles of military, police, and civilian components in African peace support operations (PSOs).

This briefing analyzes the upcoming January 9, 2011, referendum in Sudan and the separate plebiscite in the Abyei region to determine whether South Sudan will secede. It examines the tensions between the National Congress Party (NCP) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), the challenges of state viability for a potential new South Sudanese state, and the role of international mediators in preventing a return to armed conflict.

This report documents the proceedings of the fourth African Commandants' Conference (ACoC), held from November 1-3, 2010, in Jinja, Uganda. The conference focused on developing a joint continental force to improve effectiveness in multinational environments by enhancing military education, training, and coordination among African staff colleges to support the African Standby Force (ASF) and Peace Support Operations (PSOs).

This statement, delivered on October 6, 2010, outlines India's energy security strategy, highlighting the critical imbalance between growing energy demand and limited indigenous supply. It details India's reliance on imports, particularly for oil and gas, and its efforts to diversify sources through equity investments in Africa and the Middle East. The document discusses the role of coal as a primary energy source, the potential of nuclear and renewable energy, and the significant infrastructure investments required to sustain economic growth.

This research paper examines the concept of 'exceptionalism' in China's foreign policy toward Africa, analyzing the gap between Beijing's official rhetoric of mutual respect and non-interference and the practical challenges of implementing these principles amidst growing economic interests and the autonomy of sub-state actors.

This August 2010 report by the Institute for Security Studies provides early warning analysis on several African security issues. It focuses on Kenya's constitutional referendum, the potential for water-related conflict in the Nile Basin, the transition to democracy in Guinea, and the results of the presidential election in Somaliland. Additionally, it reviews the annual consultative meeting between the African Union Peace and Security Council (PSC) and the UN Security Council (UNSC), the operationalisation of civil society engagement via the Livingstone Formula, and the outcomes of the International Criminal Court (ICC) Review Conference in Kampala.

This briefing examines the risks and logistical challenges surrounding Sudan's first multi-party elections since 1986, scheduled for 11 April 2010. The authors argue that the elections, mandated by the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), are occurring too late in the interim period to effectively influence the January 2011 self-determination referendum for Southern Sudan. The document highlights significant political risks, including the boycott of the presidential race by Yassir Arman, disputes over the 2008 population census, restrictive security laws, and the extreme complexity of the voting process for a largely illiterate population.

The National Chairman's Annual Statement 2010 from the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) reviews the global and regional geopolitical landscape following the global financial crisis. It highlights South Africa's role in the G20 and the Copenhagen Climate Change Summit, discusses political instability in Africa—specifically in Zimbabwe, Niger, Nigeria, DRC, and Sudan—and outlines the Zuma administration's foreign policy priorities, including strengthened ties with Angola, Brazil, and the UK.

This research paper argues that South Africa's foreign policy under the Zuma administration has become rudderless, characterized by a lack of strategic clarity and a managerial vacuum that risks eroding international goodwill and the country's status as a reliable developmental partner.

This research paper examines the African Union's (AU) challenge in addressing unconstitutional changes of government, specifically focusing on the tension between condemning incumbent leaders who manipulate constitutions to stay in power and condemning military coups that overthrow such leaders, using the situation in Niger as a primary case study.

This research paper evaluates the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), highlighting its achievements in promoting governance and self-reflection among African states while warning of current crises regarding transparency, leadership integrity, and the marginalization of civil society.

This policy briefing argues that Africa should establish an informal 'club of states'—similar to the G8 or G20—composed of its most capable powers to overcome the ineffectiveness of formal multilateral institutions like the African Union. The author proposes an 'A5 Club' consisting of South Africa, Nigeria, Angola, Ethiopia, and Kenya to coordinate continental initiatives and provide a unified voice in global affairs.

This 2010 position paper by the Institute for Security Studies examines the legal and political tensions between the African Union (AU), the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), and the International Criminal Court (ICC), specifically regarding the use of Article 16 of the Rome Statute to defer prosecutions of Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir.

This seminar report details a discussion held in Addis Ababa on December 4, 2009, regarding the border demarcation of Abyie. The event featured leaders from the Dinka Ngok and Missiriya groups to examine the historical roots of their dispute, the implications of the Permanent Court of Arbitration's ruling, and potential paths toward conflict resolution.