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This briefing by the Institute for Security Studies examines a firearm amnesty launched by South African Minister of Police Nathi Mthethwa from 11 January to 11 April 2010. The author analyzes the effectiveness of such amnesties in reducing violent crime, noting that while they reduce the total number of available weapons, evidence linking them to crime reduction is scarce due to complex variables.

This seminar report, compiled by the Institute for Security Studies, documents a two-day event held in September 2010 in Stellenbosch, South Africa. The seminar brought together researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to critically examine the nature of post-conflict reconstruction and peacebuilding, specifically questioning the 'liberal peace' model and its practical implementation in Africa.

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 research paper argues that current international and regional approaches to humanitarian military interventions in Africa are ineffective because they prioritize humanitarian aid over the restoration of security. The author proposes a new 'humanitarian security intervention' doctrine that emphasizes the coercive use of force to establish security as a prerequisite for humanitarian assistance and long-term peacebuilding.

The document analyzes the second Africa South America summit held on 27-28 September 2009 on Margarita Island, Venezuela, focusing on efforts to strengthen South-South co-operation as a counterweight to Northern influence and the ideological divisions among participating nations.

A statement by African civil society organizations urging African States Parties to the Rome Statute to maintain their commitment to the International Criminal Court (ICC) and reject an African Union (AU) decision to withhold cooperation in the arrest of Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir.

This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies examines the historical development and current challenges of establishing democratic accountability and oversight for intelligence services in Africa. It argues that intelligence agencies have traditionally served regime security rather than public security, often facilitating human rights abuses, and outlines the necessary mechanisms and political shifts required to transition toward transparent, democratically governed services.

This trainer's guide, published by the Institute for Security Studies in April 2009, provides a comprehensive training framework for the SARPCCO Generic United Nations Police Officers Course (UNPOC). Based on the UN's Standardised Generic Training Modules (SGTM) Level I, the document is designed to prepare police officers for deployment in peace support operations under the auspices of the United Nations (UN) and the African Union (AU). It covers a wide array of topics including the history and functions of INTERPOL and SARPCCO, the legal frameworks of the UN and AU, conduct and discipline, human rights, safety awareness, and operational techniques such as radio communication and report writing. The guide includes pedagogical tools for trainers, such as lesson plans, case studies, and a detailed field exercise called 'Furugo Kali' to simulate real-world peacekeeping scenarios.

This briefing by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the economic and political outlook for Africa in 2009, highlighting the risks posed by the global banking crisis, commodity price volatility, and precarious democratic transitions.

This briefing by the Institute for Security Studies examines the evolution of France's relations with Africa, analyzing the transition from the traditional 'Françafrique' system of personalized power and influence toward a more multilateral, transparent partnership. It evaluates the tensions between official rhetoric of rupture—such as the 'doctrine de la Baule' and President Nicolas Sarkozy's promises—and the persistence of old habits, including the support of authoritarian regimes and the reduction of development aid.

This research paper by Victoria Ayer provides strategic advice for civil society organisations (CSOs) to influence parliaments and achieve legislative change, particularly in developing democracies. It emphasizes the importance of understanding electoral systems, conducting non-partisan research, building long-term relationships with political 'champions', and maintaining organisational legitimacy through financial transparency and community rooting.

This guide, written by Victoria Ayer for the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA), provides strategic advice for civil society organizations (CSOs) on how to effectively engage with and influence parliaments to achieve legislative and social change. Drawing on the author's experience training over 120 organizations across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and the Balkans, the document emphasizes the importance of understanding electoral systems, building long-term relationships with legislators, and providing high-quality, non-partisan data to fill resource gaps within parliamentary institutions.

This research paper examines the role of transnational organised crime networks and 'middlemen' in fueling African conflicts through the illicit trade of weapons and natural resources. Using the case studies of Leonid Minin and Victor Bout, the document highlights the sophistication of these networks, their use of front companies and tax havens, and the systemic failures of international law enforcement and national legislation to prosecute sanctions-busting activities.

This research paper analyzes the 'SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections,' a code adopted by Southern African Development Community leaders on August 17 to establish regional rules for political contests and reduce conflicting verdicts between observer missions.

This report by the South African Institute of International Affairs outlines a business-centric vision for Africa's economic development, arguing that the continent must prioritize political stability, basic infrastructure maintenance, access to credit, and the rule of law over large-scale projects or long-term social goals to achieve immediate growth.

This report by the South African Institute of International Affairs argues that the New Partnership for Africa's Development (Nepad) has failed to translate the identification of problems into actionable solutions. Based on dialogues with 56 business organisations and five studies, the text asserts that government priorities are misaligned with business needs, specifically regarding corruption and infrastructure, and argues that economic prosperity is a prerequisite for long-term political stability in Africa.

This research paper argues that large African states, with the exception of South Africa, are characterized by chronic instability, poor economic performance, and administrative failure. The author contends that the international community's adherence to territorial integrity and generic democratic prescriptions is ineffective for these complex states and proposes a new realism that prioritizes state-building over democracy and accepts the possibility of partition.

This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies examines the evolution of integrated peacebuilding strategies in post-conflict Liberia between 2003 and 2008. It analyzes the collaboration between the Government of Liberia (GoL) and the United Nations (UN), specifically UNMIL and the UN Country Team, to move from tenuous security to a sustainable peace. The document details the process of identifying 'conflict factors', infusing conflict sensitivity into national policy frameworks like the Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS), and the challenges of balancing security-oriented benchmarks with long-term peacebuilding goals.

This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies provides an update on the operationalisation of the African Standby Force (ASF), a multidisciplinary force designed for rapid deployment in peace support operations across Africa. While the AU has made progress in developing doctrine, training policies, and standard operating procedures, the document highlights significant hurdles in logistics, AU-level leadership capacity, and sustainable financing.

This strategy report, prepared following a February 2006 meeting in Nairobi, examines the intersection of biodiversity conservation and social-political conflict within the Albertine Rift. It advocates for adaptive conservation interventions to minimize risks and address root causes of threats, while analyzing seven conflict assessment tools to help practitioners avoid or mitigate conflict in project areas.