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This research paper analyzes how the political and military crisis in South Sudan exacerbates existing regional tensions in the Horn of Africa, specifically involving Uganda, Sudan, Ethiopia, and Eritrea. The author argues that the conflict has become a venue for regional competition, where states support opposing factions to secure their own strategic, economic, and security interests.

A statement by the Institute for Security Studies arguing that African nations must prevent the adoption of a new Protocol to the Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW) that would weaken the existing 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM).

This report chapter by Kees Kingma examines the processes and impacts of demobilising military personnel in Africa, focusing on how the transition from military to civilian life affects peace, security, and human development.

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 chapter, authored by Martin Rupiya for the Institute for Security Studies, examines the impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic on the militaries of Southern African nations. Based on empirical evidence from Botswana, Swaziland, Zambia, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe, the text identifies common trends in disease transmission, the failure of states to implement timely policies, and the specific challenges faced by defence forces regarding recruitment, operational effectiveness, and the social dynamics of testing.

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 policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies examines the Adaptation Fund (AF), its operational mechanisms, and its effectiveness in meeting the climate adaptation needs of African countries. It highlights the fund's unique 'direct access' modality and the challenges associated with its primary funding source, the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM).

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 examines the recruitment, demobilisation, and reintegration experiences of female ex-combatants in Ethiopia, specifically those who joined the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) as children. Using semi-structured interviews and repertory grid analysis, the study explores how military socialisation shaped these women's identities and their subsequent conflict with traditional gender roles in civilian society.

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.

The August 2023 issue of the Peace and Security Council Report by the Institute for Security Studies examines the African Union's (AU) struggle to prevent unconstitutional changes of government (UCGs), the need to reform the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA), the recruitment of child soldiers by ISWAP in the Lake Chad Basin, and the outcomes of the 2023 Russia-Africa Summit.

The October 2023 Peace and Security Council Report by the Institute for Security Studies examines the systemic weaknesses of the African Union (AU), the escalating conflict in Ethiopia's Amhara region, the challenges facing the AU Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), and the broader implications of withdrawing peacekeepers from African conflicts. It also discusses the AU's new membership in the G20.

This briefing by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the October 2006 Eastern Sudan Peace Agreement (EPA) between the Government of Sudan and the Eastern Front. The author argues that the Sudanese government's strategy of signing separate regional peace agreements—in the south, west, and east—serves to reinforce the primacy of the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) and bypasses the development of accountable national politics. The document details the socio-economic marginalization of the Beja and Rashaida peoples, the strategic importance of Port Sudan, and the specific political and financial terms of the EPA.

This 2002 situation report by the Institute for Security Studies provides a detailed overview of refugee and internally displaced person (IDP) populations across Africa. It defines the legal distinctions between refugees and IDPs, provides statistical data on populations of concern to the UNHCR as of 2000/2001, and analyzes regional trends in displacement driven by conflict, drought, and economic decline.

This report by the Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE) outlines best practices for using decentralised renewable energy (DRE) to electrify rural health care facilities. It argues that DRE is the most cost-effective and rapid solution for providing essential power for medical equipment, vaccines, and emergency services, particularly in the context of pandemics like COVID-19. The document proposes a public-private partnership model combining 'smart grants' for initial capital and market-based compensation mechanisms, such as Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), to ensure long-term financial and technical sustainability. It includes 16 case studies from various regions to demonstrate diverse delivery models and technological applications.

This research paper examines the expanding diplomatic and economic relationship between China and Africa, highlighting a shift from aid-driven engagement to a commercial partnership dominated by trade and investment. While noting the potential for African economic growth and infrastructure development, the document also addresses concerns regarding debt sustainability, the impact of cheap imports on local industries, and the lack of transparency in Chinese lending.

This report details Italy's foreign policy and diplomatic, economic, and security relations with Africa, with a specific focus on the Horn of Africa and bilateral ties with South Africa.

This research paper by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) analyzes the development of the UN Global Compact for Migration (GCM) and the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR). It examines the differences between the two frameworks, the challenges of defining 'migrants' versus 'refugees', and the specific risks associated with the low level of participation from African states in the GCM process.

This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the gap between the African Union's (AU) normative commitments to democracy and human rights and the actual foreign policies of its member states. The author argues that strong sovereignty norms and a state-centric approach have hindered the domestication of human rights, leading to a state of 'stasis' or reversal in several countries. The brief recommends that the AU embrace global partnerships with civil society and that pivotal states like South Africa rejuvenate human rights as a core pillar of their external engagements to ensure continental stability.