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The March 2025 Peace & Security Council Report analyzes critical instability in South Sudan and Sudan, the African Union's (AU) struggles to manage post-coup transitions in several member states, and the shortcomings of AU election observer missions in 2024. It calls for the Peace and Security Council (PSC) to adopt more risk-based, high-level engagement strategies and improve internal coordination to prevent the fragmentation of states and the entrenchment of military juntas.

This report summarizes a February 2025 policy dialogue event organized by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) and the Institute for Peace and Security Studies (IPSS). The discussion focused on the African Union's (AU) ability to reposition Africa within a shifting global order characterized by geopolitical disruptions, including the 'Trump 2.0' era. The panel identified critical barriers to Africa's strategic positioning, such as financial dependency on external donors, a disconnect between aging leadership and a young population, and a fragmented approach to global diplomacy. The report advocates for institutional reforms within the AU, a shift from focusing on historical reparations toward immediate economic and security stability, and the adoption of a unified foreign policy to increase the continent's global influence.

This report, produced by the Institute for Security Studies for the African Futures Conference 2025, presents a series of foresight-driven narratives and visions for Africa in 2050. Written by young changemakers, the document outlines a future where the continent leverages its youth demographic, green energy, and technological innovation to move from a state of dependency to global leadership in culture, governance, and sustainable development.

This research paper by Jakkie Cilliers, commissioned by the Netherlands Scientific Council for Government Policy (wrr), examines the potential for Africa to achieve a demographic dividend. It analyzes the stages of demographic transition, the role of urbanization, and the specific conditions—such as health, education, and governance—required to convert a youthful population structure into economic growth. The paper models an ambitious 'Demographics and Health' scenario to demonstrate how accelerated improvements in fertility and mortality could enhance Africa's development trajectory and its relationship with Europe.

This policy brief argues that Africa's youth agenda must transition from a focus on peace and security (YPS) to a more holistic approach integrating development (YPD). It highlights that underdevelopment is a primary driver of insecurity for the continent's youth, who face high unemployment and poverty. The document notes that current AU frameworks have failed to meet mid-way targets for 2024 and recommends integrating developmental indicators into the Continental Framework on YPS and leveraging the AfCFTA and Agenda 2063 to create jobs for the 100–120 million youth expected to enter the job market in the next decade.

This seminar report, co-hosted by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) and the UN Office of the Special Adviser on Africa (UNOSAA) on 27 September 2024, examines the implications of the UN's Pact for the Future for Africa. The document discusses the alignment of the Pact with Africa's Agenda 2063, the need for reforming international financial institutions, and the shift toward a more political, rather than military-centric, approach to peace and support operations (PSOs) on the continent.

This policy brief argues that Africa's maritime transport and ports sector requires a dual strategy of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and building climate resilience to protect its blue economy. It highlights the risks posed by sea level rise and extreme weather, the impact of new global carbon levies, and the need for a modernized continental governance framework to coordinate the transition to green logistics hubs.

This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the risks surrounding Tanzania's general elections scheduled for 29 October 2025. It argues that the ruling party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), has consolidated power and stifled democratic competition through the disqualification of major opposition parties and the maintenance of executive influence over electoral bodies. The document highlights specific volatility in Zanzibar due to early voting procedures and the absence of reconciliatory leadership, warning that these factors, combined with restricted civic space, may reinforce authoritarianism.

This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies and the Global Public Policy Institute argues that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is facing a profound legitimacy crisis following the January 2025 withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. The authors contend that to survive and restore stability, ECOWAS must move beyond its original economic mandate and the current intergovernmental status quo toward deeper political integration and supranationalism.

This policy brief examines how African youth are utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technologies to decentralize peacebuilding, shift early warning systems toward data-driven analysis, and challenge traditional conflict narratives. While youth act as key knowledge creators, the document warns that digital divides, gender gaps, and underdeveloped policy frameworks risk marginalizing these contributions and reinforcing existing power hierarchies.

This policy brief examines whether South Africa's 2025 G20 presidency, occurring alongside Brazil's hosting of COP30, can re-energise the global climate action agenda. It argues that while the G20 is a powerful 'minilateral' platform capable of driving climate finance and policy, its effectiveness is threatened by rising nationalism, geopolitical tensions, and the potential for a diluted climate focus under the subsequent 2026 US presidency.

This policy brief examines the systemic exclusion of youth from governance, peace, and security in East Africa. Despite comprising over 70% of the population, young people face institutional, cultural, and economic barriers that render their participation tokenistic. The document analyzes regional and national frameworks, highlights the gap between policy and implementation, and provides recommendations for the East African Community (EAC) and partner states to enhance meaningful youth engagement.

African cities are critical to managing climate loss and damage but are severely underfunded and underrepresented in international negotiations. With 83% of African cities at extreme risk, the brief urges a shift toward multi-level governance, improved urban-specific vulnerability data, and stronger city-to-city solidarity to access emerging UNFCCC funding instruments.

This policy brief examines the opportunities and challenges associated with Somalia's admission to the East African Community (EAC) in March 2024. It analyzes the strategic, economic, and security implications for both Somalia and the bloc, highlighting the tension between the political will for integration and the institutional, legal, and security fragilities within Somalia.

This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies argues that the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) is hindered by a rigid, reactive mandate that fails to address the complex regional political dynamics and the enhanced military capabilities of armed groups like the M23. The authors call for a fundamental recalibration of the mission, shifting from a defensive posture to one focused on prevention, flexible rules of engagement, and a transition strategy based on local readiness benchmarks rather than fixed timelines.

This special edition of the Peace & Security Council Report focuses on the 2025 African Union (AU) senior leadership election process, detailing the procedural rules, the candidates for the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson positions, and the institutional challenges facing the incoming leadership.

The November 2024 Peace & Security Council Report examines the African Union's (AU) efforts to integrate climate change into security frameworks, the strategic direction of Africa's foreign policy, the outcomes of the AU's first G20 Summit, and the coordination between the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) and the UN Security Council (UNSC).

A briefing by the Institute for Security Studies warning that factional infighting within the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) threatens the stability of Ethiopia’s Tigray region following the 2022 Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (CoHA).

This case study describes a community dialogue initiative established in 2021 between the towns of Hoekwil and Touwsranten in the Western Cape, South Africa. Facilitated by the Institute for Security Studies, the initiative aimed to bridge racial and class divides to address shared safety concerns and economic instability.

The September 2024 Peace & Security Council Report examines the institutional challenges of the African Union Commission, the implementation of the Pact for the Future, the need for a continental mine action mechanism, the slow progress of the Youth, Peace and Security agenda, and the application of International Humanitarian Law in the face of modern warfare and humanitarian crises.