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This report examines the operational independence of South Africa's National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and the Office of the Public Protector (PP), arguing that both have been compromised by political interference and the appointment of partisan leaders.

This report examines the design and implementation of preventing and countering violent extremism (P/CVE) projects in Kenya, Somalia, Tanzania, and Uganda. Based on data from 148 projects implemented by 117 organisations, the study finds that P/CVE work in East Africa often overlaps with general peacebuilding and developmental aid, with a heavy focus on youth, women, and community awareness. The report highlights significant challenges, including distrust between civil society and governments, a lack of standardised monitoring and evaluation (M&E) methods, and the impact of climate change on intercommunal violence.

This policy brief examines the role of inter-sectoral collaboration and coordination in preventing violence in South Africa, using the Western Cape's After School Game Changer (ASGC) as a primary case study. It argues that violence prevention requires a holistic approach involving government, NGOs, and academic institutions to provide safe environments and life skills for youth, particularly in impoverished areas.

The September 2019 Peace & Security Council Report by the Institute for Security Studies examines the coordination between the African Union (AU) and the UN Security Council (UNSC), the challenges of the AU's 'Amnesty Month' initiative, and specific political crises in the Central African Republic, Sudan, South Africa, and Cameroon.

This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the political and socio-economic environment surrounding Mozambique's October 15, 2019, general elections. It examines the impact of a massive corruption scandal, natural disasters, an insurgency in the north, and new decentralization laws on the stability and credibility of the electoral process.

This integrated report, published by the Institute for Security Studies in July 2019, details multi-sectoral efforts in South Africa to prevent and reduce violence against children using the INSPIRE framework. Based on workshops with government departments, NGOs, researchers, and children, the report maps current activities across seven strategies and identifies systemic gaps, such as a lack of inter-sectoral trust and a critical shortage of therapeutic services.

The July 2019 Peace & Security Council Report examines the progress of African Union (AU) institutional reforms, the coordination between the AU and Regional Economic Communities (RECs), and specific political transitions in The Gambia and Algeria. It also analyzes the potential for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to stabilize the Horn of Africa and evaluates the 'Silencing the Guns' initiative.

The April 2019 Peace & Security Council Report by the Institute for Security Studies examines critical stability challenges across Africa, focusing on the fragility of peace deals in the Central African Republic and South Sudan, the trend of constitutional amendments to extend presidential terms, and the escalating crises in Cameroon and Sudan.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the trajectories of political violence in Sudan and South Sudan following the signing of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) and the 2015 Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (ARCSS). Using ACLED and UCDP GED data, it examines whether these agreements resolved, reshaped, or perpetuated violence, concluding that while the CPA ended a long civil war, it left other conflict systems unaddressed and reinforced a pattern of state-led political violence. In South Sudan, the ARCSS is described as having failed due to poor implementation and a 'winner-takes-all' political framework that incentivized continued violent competition for power.

This March 2019 issue of the Peace & Security Council Report examines the African Union's (AU) efforts to stabilize Libya, the integration of its rapid response capabilities, shortcomings in election observation in Nigeria and Senegal, and the challenges of restructuring Africa's strategic international partnerships. It also features an interview on the grassroots protests against President Abdelaziz Bouteflika in Algeria.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the political instability in Guinea-Bissau leading up to the March 2019 legislative elections. It argues that while elections are a step toward legitimacy, long-term stability requires deep institutional reforms to address the structural weaknesses and constitutional ambiguities that fueled the 2015 political crisis.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies examines the progress and challenges of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) ahead of the 32nd AU summit. While political momentum is high, the document highlights a gap between the ceremonial launches and the technical reality, as critical tariff schedules and rules of origin remain unfinalized.

This report analyzes Egypt's 2019 chairmanship of the African Union (AU), highlighting its focus on economic goals and regional repositioning, while noting significant policy gaps regarding governance and the need for Egypt to ratify the Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA) agreement.

This report analyzes the increase in irregular migration from the Maghreb region to Europe, noting a shift from the region acting as a transit zone to becoming a primary zone of departure. The author argues that domestic economic decline and structural inequality are driving this trend, which in turn complicates diplomatic migration agreements between North African states and European nations.

The February 2019 Peace & Security Council Report by the Institute for Security Studies examines the election of four new members to the African Union's Peace and Security Council (PSC), the 2019 AU chairmanship of Egypt, and South Africa's upcoming 2020 chairmanship. It also analyzes the viability of a new peace deal in the Central African Republic, the humanitarian focus on refugees in 2019, and the escalating political crisis in Sudan.

This policy brief argues that the European Union's focus on reducing irregular migration from Libya through short-term operational successes undermines the long-term goal of establishing a stable, accountable, and civilian-led security sector in Libya.

This policy brief examines the failure of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to enforce its democratic electoral standards, using Zimbabwe's July 2018 elections as a primary case study. The author argues that SADC's institutional weaknesses and a culture of 'brotherhood' solidarity among leaders prevent the effective implementation of the SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections, leading to a culture of impunity for member states that violate democratic norms.

This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies outlines recommendations for the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and the Assembly of States Parties (ASP) to address state non-cooperation with the International Criminal Court (ICC). It proposes specific legal and political mechanisms to ensure the ICC can effectively investigate and prosecute serious international crimes.

This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies examines the distribution of power and influence within the Southern African Development Community (SADC). It argues that while South Africa remains the dominant economic and military power, the region would benefit from decentralising responsibilities by identifying 'regional champions' or 'locomotives' to drive specific sectoral priorities outlined in the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP).

This policy brief argues that the 2021 deadline for the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) to transfer primary security responsibilities to the Somali National Security Forces (SNSF) is unrealistic. The author contends that the transition is currently driven more by donor funding preferences than by actual security improvements on the ground. To ensure a successful transition, the brief recommends enhancing AMISOM's operational capabilities and resolving the political deadlock between the Federal Government of Somalia and its federal member states.