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This monograph introduces the theory and practice of criminal justice in Africa, examining how colonial legacies, political instability, and the interests of ruling elites shape legal systems. It explores the tension between retributive Western-centric models and indigenous restorative justice, while providing specific case studies on the challenges of bail and human rights in Nigeria, the dual legal system in Uganda, and the political use of the judiciary in Zimbabwe and South Africa.

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.

This report, based on a 2004 workshop in Accra, Ghana, analyzes the evolution of Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR) programs in Africa. It examines the transition of DDR from vague mandates in the late 1990s to highly specific programs by 2004, highlighting the role of UN peacekeeping missions and the critical need for integrated planning, qualitative indicators for reintegration, and coordination with national recovery strategies.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies provides a comprehensive review of the criminal justice system in Zambia, examining the interplay between statutory and customary law, the capacity of law enforcement and judicial institutions, and the challenges of prison administration. It highlights systemic issues including widespread corruption, severe prison overcrowding, and significant gaps in the delivery of justice to the poor and juveniles.

This monograph examines the role of peacekeeping missions in the Burundi peace process, detailing the transition from the South African Protection Support Detachment (SAPSD) to the African Union Mission in Burundi (AMIB) and subsequently the United Nations Operation in Burundi (ONUB). It analyzes the diplomatic efforts led by Nelson Mandela and Jacob Zuma, the implementation of Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) programs, the challenges of security sector reform, and the electoral processes that led to the 2005 elections and the eventual integration of the PALIPEHUTU-FNL.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies examines the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Swaziland. It analyzes how historical conflicts, porous borders, and failed disarmament processes have created a 'culture of violence' and fueled criminal activity in Southern Africa.

This monograph captures the proceedings of a seminar held in Pretoria on 18-19 April 2000, titled "Security in Africa: French and South African Perspectives." The document explores the intersection of national identity, human security, governance, and economic development, with a specific focus on the evolving roles of France and South Africa in African security. It analyzes various conflict zones, including the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Lesotho, and West Africa, while evaluating the effectiveness of regional and international intervention frameworks such as the UN, OAU, SADC, and ECOWAS.

This report assesses the legislative and institutional frameworks for combating organised crime across the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, specifically evaluating their alignment with the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organised Crime (Palermo Convention) signed in December 2000.

This report analyzes the abduction and reintegration of child soldiers in Northern Uganda, specifically those forced into the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA). It details the extreme violence and sexual exploitation faced by children, the role of psychosocial centres in Gulu, and the use of traditional Acholi cleansing rituals to facilitate reconciliation. The authors argue that the focus on child soldiers often masks deeper political and economic marginalization of the Acholi people by the Ugandan government.

This policy brief, produced by the Institute for Security Studies as part of the African Futures Project, uses the International Futures (IFs) model to analyze the impact of improving water and sanitation access across Africa. It argues that an aggressive annual improvement rate of just under 2 percentage points could significantly reduce child malnutrition and infant mortality, increase GDP, and lower the probability of state failure by 2050.

This report, produced by the Institute for Security Studies in collaboration with the Southern African Regional Police Chiefs Cooperation Organisation (SARPCCO), provides a comprehensive review of organised criminal activities in 12 southern African countries. It identifies a strong nexus between organised crime and corruption, noting that the region's porous borders and economic disparities facilitate the transnational movement of drugs, stolen vehicles, counterfeit goods, and endangered species. The report emphasizes that while some crimes are local, the most serious activities are transnational and often underpinned by systemic corruption within law enforcement and government institutions.

This research paper examines the relationship between civil society, the military, and democratic consolidation in Zambia. It argues that while civil society has grown, it has largely ignored the 'democratisation of the military,' leaving a void in civilian oversight of defence policy and budgeting. The author suggests that stable civil-military relations require a partnership between the military, parliament, and civil society to ensure transparency, accountability, and the subordination of the armed forces to civilian control.

This research paper provides a historical analysis of civil-military relations in Malawi, tracing the evolution of the state's security apparatus from the pre-colonial Maravi Kingdom through British colonial rule and the one-party state under Hastings Kamuzu Banda to the current multi-party system. It examines the role of the Malawi Army and the Malawi Young Pioneers (MYP) as instruments of both state security and political control, highlighting the transition toward professional civilian oversight and international peacekeeping roles after 1994.

This research paper by Martin R Rupiya analyzes the deterioration of civil-military relations in Zimbabwe between 1980 and 2002. The author argues that the country's security institutions are rooted in a 'liberation movement model' characterized by a fusion of political and military power, which has led to the ruling ZANU (PF) party using coercive military tools to maintain dominance over political opponents and manage state failures.

This research paper analyzes the South African Defence Review process (1996–1998) and the 1995 Defence White Paper, arguing that while the process was historically inclusive and democratic, the resulting force design relied too heavily on traditional Western concepts of 'primary function' (territorial sovereignty) at the expense of more frequent 'secondary functions' (internal stability and regional support).

This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies examines the operational challenges facing the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Organ for Politics, Defence and Security (OPDS). It analyzes the Organ's evolution since its 1996 creation, focusing on the tension between state sovereignty and regional collaboration, the impact of socio-economic crises like HIV/AIDS on security forces, and the limited administrative capacity of the SADC Secretariat. The authors argue that while the region possesses strong political solidarity and a comprehensive security architecture, its efficacy is hindered by financial constraints and a precarious international environment.

This research paper by Lauren Hutton, published by the Institute for Security Studies in February 2015, interrogates the continued relevance of peacebuilding within external interventions in Africa. The author argues that current peacebuilding efforts are often limited because they fail to address the radical restructuring of political and economic power, instead reinforcing existing inequalities and enabling autocratic governance through the building of state institutions that can be used for predation and control.

This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the precarious state of the peace process in Angola as of April 1998. It examines the historical roots of the conflict, the failure of previous peace accords, the clandestine networks supplying weapons to UNITA, and the potential scenarios for the country's future, ranging from renewed military conflict to a fragile political transition.

This research paper by Mark Malan of the Institute for Security Studies examines the institutional confusion and legal ambiguities surrounding the Southern African Development Community (SADC) as it attempted to transition from an economic coordination body to a regional security arrangement. The author argues that the lack of a formal structure for the proposed SADC Organ for Politics, Defence and Security has allowed member states to justify unilateral or small-group military interventions in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Lesotho under a 'mythical' regional mandate, often bypassing UN Security Council authorization.