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This report by the Institute for Security Studies assesses the applicability of transitional justice tools in the Lake Chad Basin (LCB), specifically in Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria. It explores how these mechanisms can address human rights abuses resulting from violent extremism and the Boko Haram crisis, emphasizing the need for a balance between restorative and retributive justice tailored to national and local contexts.

This report argues that political instability and violent protests in South Africa are primarily driven by unmanageable elite contestation within the African National Congress (ANC) rather than spontaneous socio-economic grievances. Using data modelling and artificial intelligence, the authors demonstrate a strong correlation between ANC internal conflicts and protest spikes, particularly from 2018 onwards, while finding a low correlation with service delivery or unemployment trends.

This policy brief examines the coordination challenges between the African Union (AU), the Southern African Development Community (SADC), and Rwanda regarding military interventions to combat violent extremism in Mozambique's Cabo Delgado province. It highlights the friction caused by the principle of subsidiarity, the lack of a joint strategic vision, and the differing operational approaches of the SADC Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM) and the bilateral Rwandan deployment.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes political scenarios for South Africa leading up to 2029, focusing on the internal divisions of the African National Congress (ANC) and their impact on economic growth and national security.

This report synthesises findings from the Network for Innovative Resilience-Building in South Sudan to identify more effective approaches to peacebuilding and resilience. It argues that durable peace requires a shift from short-term 'quick-fix' activities to long-term, locally-led processes that integrate livelihood support and address the gendered dimensions of food insecurity.

This February 2022 report from the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the composition and challenges of the newly elected African Union Peace and Security Council (PSC), the outcomes of the February 2022 AU Summit regarding governance and conflict prevention, and the ongoing debate over equitable regional representation within the Council. It also examines the tensions between the African Union and the European Union regarding the green energy transition and critiques the application of the principle of subsidiarity in the relationship between the AU and Regional Economic Communities (RECs).

This workshop report, produced by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) on 9 March 2022, examines the policy gaps between maritime and gender frameworks in Africa. It highlights the need for intersectional approaches to gender equality and notes that many regional maritime strategies remain 'gender-blind', often failing to integrate gender considerations into security and governance frameworks.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the challenges and opportunities for African nations in global climate change negotiations leading up to COP 27. It examines the structural weaknesses in African diplomacy, the complexities of balancing diverse national interests, and the influence of developed nations on climate policy and trade.

This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies examines how adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and violence negatively impact human development in South Africa. Drawing on the Birth to Thirty (Bt30) cohort study, it argues that childhood adversity creates a cumulative risk that undermines health, education, and economic productivity in adulthood, thereby hindering national development.

This policy brief evaluates the first cohort of African Youth Ambassadors for Peace (AYAPs), who served a two-year tenure ending in February 2022. It examines their role in mainstreaming youth into the African Union's (AU) peace and security agenda, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their activities, and provides recommendations for future cohorts to sustain and upscale youth participation in peacebuilding.

This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies examines the intersection of climate change and human security in Africa. It argues that climate change acts as a 'threat multiplier' that interacts with existing socio-economic and political vulnerabilities to drive instability. The document advocates for a shift in climate governance from a focus on emissions and environmental risk to a development-led investment approach that builds economic resilience and social stability.

The policy brief argues that while free trade and the free movement of people are complementary and essential for Africa's development, there is a significant gap in political will, with states prioritizing the AfCFTA over the Freedom of Movement Protocol. It highlights the economic benefits of migration, such as 'nostalgic trade,' and the importance of informal cross-border trade. The document identifies barriers to free movement—including security fears and sovereignty concerns—and recommends implementing digital ID systems and common labour standards to bridge the gap.

This policy brief describes a project commissioned by the Institute of Security Studies (ISS) between January and March 2022 to develop theories of change (ToCs) for three community-based organisations (CBOs) focused on violence prevention in rural South Africa. The document examines how ToCs can link theory to practice, support impact tracking, and align community-led interventions with established violence prevention literature.

This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies evaluates Niger's disarmament, demobilisation, rehabilitation, resettlement and reintegration (DDRRR) programme for Boko Haram defectors at the Goudoumaria reception centre. While the programme has provided an exit route for at least 375 ex-associates, the study identifies significant failures in economic reinsertion, funding instability, and the protection of women, which may discourage further defections and increase the risk of recidivism.

This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies argues that Burkina Faso must urgently implement a holistic security sector reform to address a deadly jihadist insurgency and historical tensions between civilian and military elites.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies examines the application of the principle of subsidiarity within the African Union (AU) and its relationship with regional mechanisms (RMs). It argues that the lack of a clear operational definition of subsidiarity has led to contradictions, competition, and inconsistent decision-making within the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA). The authors recommend establishing a comprehensive legal, policy, and financial framework to shift the relationship from competition to collaboration, clearly distinguishing between the region as a 'first responder' and the AU as the 'primary actor'.

The 2021 AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) report notes a positive shift toward addressing climate-induced insecurity but criticizes the council for ignoring governance deficits as root causes of conflict. The report highlights the PSC's response to military coups in Mali, Guinea, and Sudan, while noting a controversial endorsement of a military transition in Chad. Looking toward 2022, it warns of potential electoral violence in Kenya, Angola, and Senegal, and identifies several conflict hotbeds, including Ethiopia and Libya. It also emphasizes the ongoing threat of violent extremism in the Sahel, Lake Chad Basin, and Mozambique, while noting the AU's struggle with member state funding and the need for strategic autonomy.

This research paper examines the monitoring and evaluation (M&E) systems used to track violence-prevention interventions in South Africa, specifically focusing on the interface between the Department of Social Development (DSD) and non-governmental organisations (NGOs). The author argues that current M&E practices are driven by financial compliance and audit requirements rather than a desire to measure long-term policy effectiveness or community impact.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies examines the strategic partnership between India and Africa, arguing that security cooperation remains an under-exploited pillar compared to trade and investment. It advocates for a comprehensive shared security agenda centered on the African Union to enhance mutual stability and development.

This policy brief examines the impact and nature of foreign military interventions in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique, to combat an insurgency that began in October 2017. It analyzes the roles of private military companies, the Rwandan military, and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), emphasizing a lack of transparency in agreements and the need for coordinated, human-rights-centered strategies.