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Mr Peter Edopu of the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) announced the launch of the Environmental Crime Project in Entebbe, Uganda. Developed in partnership with EAPCCO (a sub-regional INTERPOL office) and funded by the German government, the project aims to combat environmental crimes in Eastern Africa. It is part of the broader ISS Environmental Security Programme, which addresses issues such as climate change, energy security, and natural resource conflict across Sub-Saharan Africa by building a knowledge base and enhancing law enforcement capacity.

A statement by the South African Institute of International Affairs reflecting on Africa Day 2008, arguing that celebrations of the continent's beauty and culture must be balanced with a critical assessment of governance failures, political instability, and humanitarian crises.

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 practical handbook, published by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA), provides guidance for Technical Research Institutes (TRIs) tasked with conducting research for the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM). It outlines the chronological process of creating Country Self-Assessment Reports (CSARs), offering strategies to manage the technical, managerial, and political challenges inherent in evaluating national governance.

This guide, published by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) in June 2008, provides practical instructions for Technical Research Institutions (TRIs) conducting research for the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM). It details the planning, methodology, and political navigation required to produce National Self-Assessment Reports (NSARs) and Action Plans (APs), drawing on experiences from pioneer countries such as Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, and South Africa.

This research paper examines the viability of a regional peacekeeping force in Somalia following a UN Security Council vote in December 2007. It analyzes the instability caused by the conflict between the Transitional Federal Government and the Union of Islamic Courts, the role of Ethiopian military intervention, and the challenges of assembling an African Union-led force. The author specifically evaluates South Africa's capacity and willingness to contribute troops, concluding that South Africa has opted out due to existing commitments and the high risk of failure in a country without a formal ceasefire.

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 argues that the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) must transition from a consultative body that endorses executive decisions to an active oversight institution to improve governance and accountability across Africa.

The author argues that the conflict in Darfur is not a genocide but a complex extension of Sudan's southern civil war, driven by political rifts within the government and opposition. The paper critiques the racialization of the conflict as 'Arab' versus 'African' and warns against US military intervention or punitive sanctions, advocating instead for the completion of the Naivasha peace process and the application of consistent international human rights standards across Africa and globally.

This research paper by the South African Institute of International Affairs analyzes the evolving relationship between China and Africa. It argues that African nations must shift from an ideological 'liberation paradigm' to a pragmatic 'economic paradigm' to avoid Chinese dominance and ensure mutual benefit. The author suggests that Africa should leverage China's need for energy resources to secure technology transfer, local development projects, and fairer trade terms, while utilizing the China-Africa Co-operation Forum to coordinate a continent-wide strategy.

This research paper argues that high taxes and tariffs imposed by governments in poor countries, particularly in Africa, create significant financial barriers to accessing life-saving medicines and medical supplies, undermining international aid and drug price reductions.

This research paper by the South African Institute of International Affairs argues that international donor agencies and UN bodies are hindering malaria control in Africa by resisting the use of Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) and DDT in favor of less effective measures. The author contends that a 'vertical' health program approach, combining DDT-based IRS and Artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT), is the most effective strategy, citing successful implementations in South Africa and India.

This report documents a scoping workshop held in April 2008 by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) and the Centre for Policy Studies (CPS). The workshop aimed to develop a framework for civil society organizations (CSOs) to monitor the implementation of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) and its National Programmes of Action (NPoA), specifically focusing on the creation of the APRM Monitoring and Advocacy Template (AMAT).

This research paper by the Stockholm Environment Institute examines the economic, social, and political barriers preventing the adoption of clean cooking fuels in sub-Saharan Africa. It contrasts traditional biomass fuels with modern alternatives like LPG, ethanol, and biogas, highlighting how high capital costs, underdeveloped infrastructure, and socio-cultural norms sustain dependence on inefficient fuels. The authors propose a policy framework involving national bureaus, targeted subsidies, and community-led design to facilitate a transition to cleaner energy.

Judge Daniel D Ntanda Nsereko's 2008 welcome address highlights the ICC's role in combating impunity in Africa, noting that while 30 African states ratified the Rome Statute, gross human rights violations persist. He identifies four ICC situations in Africa (DRC, Uganda, Sudan, and CAR) and emphasizes that the African Union's own Constitutive Act mandates a commitment to the rule of law. The address calls for collaboration between the ICC, the AU, civil society, and regional bodies to achieve substantive justice.

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 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 assesses South Africa's foreign policy, economic relations, and security role within Africa since 1994. It highlights the transition from the 'principled' approach of the Mandela era to the 'pragmatic' African Renaissance agenda under Thabo Mbeki, while noting the tensions between South Africa's regional economic dominance and its desire to avoid being perceived as a 'big brother'.

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.