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This research paper by Rocky Williams critiques the application of Western civil-military relations theories to the African context, arguing that formal institutional mechanisms are often insufficient for ensuring civil control. The author proposes a more flexible 'collaborative-partnership' model that integrates both objective (formal/legal) and subjective (informal/relational) forms of control, drawing on evidence from Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries to demonstrate how political partnerships and shared value frameworks maintain stability.

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 examines the implementation of the Maputo Protocol—the African Union's framework for women's rights—across Africa, with specific case studies on Malawi, South Sudan, Somalia, and Mozambique. It argues that while the protocol provides a critical legal foundation for gender equality and human security, its practical application is hindered by a lack of political will, the persistence of patriarchal customary laws, and systemic barriers to justice and political participation.

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.

This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies argues for a shift in how organised crime is perceived and combated in Southern Africa. It advocates for moving away from rigid, narrow definitions toward a business-centric, network-based approach that recognizes the symbiotic relationships between criminal networks, state officials, and legitimate businesses. The author recommends the adoption of a regional protocol to harmonise legal procedures and the use of social network analysis to better disrupt transnational criminal markets.

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 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 from the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the outcomes of the 33rd African Union (AU) Summit in February 2020, focusing on the election of new Peace and Security Council (PSC) members, the AU's role in the Libyan conflict, the terrorist insurgency in Mozambique, and the implementation of the 'Silencing the Guns' theme.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies examines the challenges and prospects of implementing freedom of movement within the Southern African Development Community (SADC). It argues that while regional integration is a stated goal, progress is hindered by a lack of political will, the securitisation of migration, and a critical shortage of reliable data. The authors contend that shifting the perspective of migration from a security threat to a developmental opportunity would benefit the region's economic stability and human rights.

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 presents a proposed Ministerial Policy on the Control of Firearms in South Africa, designed to reduce the proliferation of both legal and illegal firearms. It recommends replacing the Arms and Ammunition Act No 75 of 1969 with a new Firearms Control Act, implementing a two-tier licensing system (personal competency and firearm possession), and fundamentally restructuring the Central Firearm Register (CFR) to improve database integrity. The policy emphasizes stricter controls on handguns, the prohibition of automatic firearms for civilians, and the creation of 'firearm free areas' to combat lethal violence.

This report documents a workshop held in Kinshasa from May 17 to 19, 2004, organized by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) and Labor Optimus. The event brought together a delegation of SADC (Southern African Development Community) guests and officials from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to share regional experiences on military restructuring, demobilization, disarmament, and reintegration (DDR) to support the DRC's peace process.

The document outlines a work programme for Commissioners to generate effective action by developed countries to support the acceleration of development in Africa. It identifies key constraints to growth, proposes a three-pillared analytical framework (growth and resources; empowerment and culture; governance and institutions), and suggests a comprehensive programme of action focusing on governance, trade, human development, and peace and security.

A comprehensive record of the criminal trial of Dr. Wouter Basson, former head of the apartheid-era chemical and biological warfare programme known as Project Coast. The trial, which took place between October 1999 and April 2002, involved 67 charges including fraud, murder, conspiracy to murder, and drug trafficking. The proceedings detailed the use of front companies, the manufacture of incapacitants and toxins, and alleged human rights violations. Dr. Basson was ultimately found not guilty on all remaining charges on April 11, 2002.

This document is a presentation by Natural Justice (NJ), an African organization dedicated to social and environmental justice. It outlines the organization's mission to protect the collective rights of indigenous peoples and local communities through a "Litigation Plus" approach, which integrates legal empowerment, research, policy influence, and strategic litigation. The document details NJ's activities in 2024, highlighting legal victories against extractive industries, efforts to secure land tenure, and the protection of environmental defenders across Africa.

This guide by Natural Justice outlines a Just Energy Transition (JET) framework for African communities based on the "Three Ps": Principles, Policies and laws, and Practicalities. It advocates for energy democracy, community-owned renewable energy, and the application of environmental and restorative justice to ensure that the transition to clean energy does not repeat historical patterns of exploitation. The framework emphasizes the necessity of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), the right to a healthy environment, and the need for climate reparations and grants from the Global North to address energy inequality and historical carbon emissions.

This fact sheet describes the capacity building initiatives of the Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE), focusing on its Investment Academies for financial access and the CORE Initiative for technical training in decentralized renewable energy (DRE).

This report by ENGIE Energy Access argues that current grant funding for energy access in Sub-Saharan Africa is fragmented, insufficient, and misaligned with market realities. It proposes a strategic roadmap to refocus funding on core household electrification, optimize grant instruments for different market segments, increase the total volume and share of grants in the capital mix, and transition toward coordinated programmatic platforms to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7) by 2030.