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This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the African Union's (AU) response to the North African uprisings in Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya. It argues that the AU's tendency to prioritize state security and sovereignty over human security and democracy was evident in its weak response to these crises. The author suggests that for the AU's 'Year of Shared Values' to be meaningful, the organization must move beyond rhetoric to enforce compliance with democracy and human rights standards through credible sanctions and technical support.

A briefing by the Institute for Security Studies regarding the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Preparatory Committee meeting in New York from 4 to 15 May 2009, focusing on the treaty's pillars and the strategic interests of African states leading up to the 2010 Review Conference.

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 briefing by the Institute for Security Studies examines the proliferation of competing peace initiatives in Sudan since the conflict began in April 2023. It argues that the multiplicity of mediation efforts—ranging from the African Union and UN to regional blocs and individual nations—has allowed the warring parties, the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, to play initiatives against one another to gain time rather than commit to peace, while the humanitarian crisis worsens.

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 report argues that the success of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) depends heavily on improving the efficiency, capacity, and security of Africa's maritime transport and port infrastructure to facilitate the movement of goods across the continent.

This report documents a seminar held on 1 October 2008 in Pretoria, featuring a presentation by General Martin Luther Agwai, the UNAMID Force Commander. General Agwai discusses the complexities of the conflict in Darfur, the transition from the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) to the AU-UN Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID), and the significant operational and logistical challenges facing the mission.

This practical guide, published by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) and coordinated by the Groupe de recherche et d’information sur la paix et la sécurité (GRIP), provides detailed procedures for African states to ratify and implement the Treaty of Pelindaba. The treaty establishes the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone (ANWFZ) to prevent the development, production, testing, acquisition, or stationing of nuclear weapons on the continent while promoting the peaceful use of nuclear energy.

This guide, published by the Institute for Security Studies in March 2011, outlines the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (Treaty of Pelindaba). It details the treaty's objectives to ensure Africa remains free of nuclear weapons, the legal procedures for state ratification and accession, the roles of the African Commission on Nuclear Energy (AFCONE), and the status of protocols involving non-African nuclear-weapon states.

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 document outlines the recommendations from a conference held in Jinja, Uganda, from 11 to 13 March 2009, focused on developing a Common and Comprehensive African Approach to HIV and AIDS (CCAAHM) within African militaries. The conference, attended by delegates from numerous African nations and NGOs, sought to address policy dilemmas regarding recruitment, combat readiness, and the management of HIV-positive personnel in the context of peacekeeping and national security.

This monograph, published by the Institute for Security Studies and funded by the Norwegian Government, examines the intersection of terrorism, organized crime, and human rights in Africa. It analyzes the impact of the September 11 attacks on the continent, the legal frameworks provided by the OAU (now African Union) and the United Nations, and the specific operational and legislative responses of South Africa and Algeria.

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 May 2013 report from the Institute for Security Studies provides an analysis of the African Union's Peace and Security Council (PSC) activities, focusing on the political situation in Zimbabwe, the strategic review of the AMISOM mission in Somalia, and the institutionalization of the Pan-African Network of Sages (PanWise).

This report provides three guidance papers to support the curriculum design of the International Institute for Justice and the Rule of Law, an initiative of the Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF). It focuses on the leadership roles of policymakers and senior officials, a step-by-step methodology for developing justice sector training curricula, and the use of immersive simulation scenarios for specialized rule of law training.

This joint NGO briefing urges UNFCCC COP27 to integrate the protection of land and environmental defenders into climate justice efforts. It highlights the prevalence of violence and legal harassment (SLAPPs) against defenders and recommends that the ACE Action Plan and the Global Stocktake explicitly address human rights obligations. Additionally, it proposes a protocol to ensure host countries of COP meetings guarantee freedom of assembly and association for participants.

A letter dated February 24, 2014, addressed to World Bank President Jim Yong Kim from a coalition of 168 organizations and individuals, urging the revival of B-SPAN, the Bank's Internet-based webcasting system.

This policy brief examines the integration of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) into Africa, focusing on the shift from resource trade to infrastructure and industrial cooperation. It highlights the opportunities for regional integration and industrialization, while warning of the financial risks associated with debt-based lending and the need for African governments to ensure project viability and local capacity building.

This research paper analyzes the impact of Chinese Development Lending (CDL) and World Bank Development Lending (WBDL) on the participation of 35 African countries in global value chains (GVCs) between 2000 and 2018. The author finds that while Chinese loans increase the overall intensity of GVC participation—primarily through infrastructure investments in transport and communications—World Bank loans are more effective at helping countries move toward higher value-added, upstream positions in production networks due to their focus on social sectors like education and health.