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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 concept note outlines a proposed workshop organized by the Eastern Africa Police Chiefs Cooperation Organization (EAPCCO), Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSF), and the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) to develop a regional response strategy for law enforcement agents to combat piracy in Eastern Africa.

This research paper explores how the production and trade of agricultural and marine commodities can contribute to the onset or continuation of violent conflict, drawing on case studies from Côte d'Ivoire, Somalia, and Central Asia.

This briefing by the Institute for Security Studies argues that Zimbabwe requires a transitional government rather than a government of national unity to resolve its political crisis following the widely condemned presidential election of June 2008.

This research paper argues that Africa is vulnerable to global Islamist terrorism and that the African Union (AU) has failed to implement its counter-terrorism frameworks. The author highlights the underfunding and understaffing of the African Centre for the Study and Research on Terrorism in Algiers and proposes a practical, incremental strategy for building capacity based on the specific strengths of key states and regional organisations.

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 by Romy Chevallier of the South African Institute of International Affairs analyzes the shift in French foreign policy toward Africa under President Nicolas Sarkozy. It describes a transition from 'la Françafrique'—characterized by colonial ties and personal relationships with corrupt elites—toward a multilateral 'Eurafrique' model based on economic partnerships and European integration.

This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies provides a progress update on the establishment of the African Standby Force (ASF), a multidisciplinary force designed to enable the African Union (AU) to respond to conflicts through peace support missions and interventions.

This briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) analyzes China's preferential trade policy for African Least Developed Countries (LDCs). While the policy is designed to align with the export capacities of these nations, the author argues that its economic impact is modest compared to its symbolic and diplomatic value in signaling China's rise as a global power and alternative to Western donors.

This briefing by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the context and agenda of the 10th African Union (AU) Heads of State and Government Summit, held in Addis Ababa from January 31 to February 2, 2008. The document evaluates the AU's effectiveness in conflict management and outlines key discussions regarding the proposed Union Government of Africa and an AU Audit Report on continental integration.

This document is an opening address delivered by Jakkie Cilliers of the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) on 31 October 2007. The speech outlines the ISS's regional security initiatives across Africa and discusses the challenges of policing, crime statistics, and security preparations for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

This briefing by Theresa Whelan, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Africa, explains the rationale and intended structure of the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM). It argues that the command is a necessary shift from Cold War-era organizational structures to a 21st-century approach that prioritizes security capacity building, prevention, and inter-agency cooperation to support African stability and U.S. national security.

This report, published by the Institute for Security Studies in May 2007, examines the challenges and processes of Security Sector Reform (SSR) in Africa, with a specific focus on the Horn of Africa. It utilizes comparative case studies from South Africa and Sierra Leone to highlight the importance of democratic civilian oversight, local ownership, and the need to move beyond Eurocentric models of security. The document analyzes the systemic obstacles to reform in the Horn of Africa, including the legacies of liberation wars, the prevalence of militarized political cultures, and the impact of the global 'war on terror' on governance and human security.

This research paper by Jakkie Cilliers of the Institute for Security Studies examines the relationship between the United Nations (UN) and the African Union (AU) regarding peace and security. It argues against a 'layered response'—where the AU assumes primary responsibility for peacekeeping to reduce UN costs—and instead advocates for an 'interlocking system' of shared logistics, staffing, and strategic management to ensure sustainable conflict prevention and reconstruction in Africa.

This briefing by the Institute for Security Studies argues for the implementation of special measures to protect women and children from sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) by private security companies (PSCs) and private military companies (PMCs) during peacekeeping missions. The author highlights a regulatory gap where UN-specific protections do not apply to private contractors, leaving them largely unregulated by express terms of international law.

This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies argues for the inclusion of women in peace negotiations, peace-building, and post-conflict reconstruction in Africa. It examines the gender-based violence women face during conflict, the historical exclusion of women from political processes, and the potential of international and regional rights-based frameworks—such as those from the UN and AU—to secure gender equality and political representation.

This research paper by Oli Brown for the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the evolving relationship between environmental degradation, natural resource management, and global security. It traces the discourse from the Cold War era to the post-Cold War rise in intra-state conflicts, outlining four primary theoretical approaches to environmental security and proposing practical policy interventions to mitigate conflict driven by both resource scarcity and abundance.

This conclusion section of a research paper examines the complex role of remittances and diasporas in Africa South of the Sahara, highlighting the tension between their necessity for survival in impoverished states and the risks of criminal abuse and economic instability.

This research paper introduction by Marc-Antoine Pérouse de Montclos examines the strategic role of modern African 'ethno-national' diasporas and their financial remittances in countries south of the Sahara. The author analyzes how these transfers contribute to sustainable development, poverty reduction, and debt servicing, while also noting the risks of money laundering and the complex political influence these networks exert on their home governments.

This research paper examines the historical and contemporary relationship between African diasporas and their homelands, focusing on political influence, the impact of remittances on national economies, and the social dynamics of migration in Africa south of the Sahara.