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This research paper examines the rapid pace of urbanisation in Africa, forecasting population trends and identifying the structural challenges that hinder sustainable urban development. It focuses on the emergence of megacities and the disconnect between urban growth and economic structural transformation.

This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies evaluates the Khartoum Process, a partnership between the European Union and East and North African states designed to tackle human smuggling and trafficking. The author argues that the process is overly securitised, lacks transparency, and risks empowering authoritarian regimes in the Horn of Africa while ignoring the root causes of migration and the human rights of migrants.

This case study describes how the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) provided early warning analysis and reporting on the political crisis in Burundi, specifically regarding President Pierre Nkurunziza's bid for a third term and the subsequent violence and displacement.

This case study by the Institute for Security Studies examines the integration of women into the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) and the broader security sector. It analyzes the gap between formal policy frameworks—including the 2010 Constitution and UN Security Council Resolution 1325—and the practical reality of gender inequality, patriarchal institutional culture, and the limited advancement of women into combat and leadership roles.

The Institute for Security Studies (ISS) provided research and advice that led to the 2011 legislation establishing the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) in South Africa, replacing the under-resourced Independent Complaints Directorate (ICD) to ensure more rigorous oversight of the South African Police Service (SAPS).

This report analyzes the East African Community's (EAC) attempts to resolve the political crisis in Burundi triggered by President Pierre Nkurunziza's bid for a third term in 2016. It details the internal divisions among EAC member states, the failure of various diplomatic facilitation efforts, and the resulting political deadlock.

This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies challenges the conventional narrative that youth unemployment and religious fanaticism are the primary drivers of young people joining armed jihadist groups in Mali. Based on interviews with 63 previously involved youths, the study identifies a complex interplay of 15 different factors—including protection, coercion, and state absence—and argues that generic 'radicalisation' frameworks often miss the local realities of engagement.

The August 2016 Peace & Security Council Report details the outcomes of the 27th AU Summit in Kigali, focusing on the deadlock in electing a new AU Commission chairperson, a historic agreement on AU self-financing, and the AU's strained relationship with the International Criminal Court (ICC). It also analyzes the security crises in South Sudan, Libya, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies assesses the maritime security landscape in Togo as of August 2016. It details the country's progress in reducing piracy since 2012, the challenges facing its fisheries sector and port infrastructure, and the structural reforms implemented to coordinate state action at sea. The document also discusses the significance of the African Union's Extraordinary Summit on Maritime Security, Safety and Development scheduled to be hosted in Lomé.

This case study describes the efforts of the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) to increase the role and capacity of police within African Union (AU) peace support operations, moving away from military-dominated planning toward a framework that emphasizes the rule of law and human rights.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the political and security crisis in Burundi triggered by President Pierre Nkurunziza's bid for a third term in 2015. It details the historical context of the Burundian civil war, the CNDD-FDD's consolidation of power through repression and the marginalization of opposition parties, and the internal fractures within the ruling party. The document examines the failure of constitutional amendments, the role of the security sector in suppressing dissent, and the subsequent impact on civil society and the media.

The July 2016 Peace & Security Council Report by the Institute for Security Studies examines the 27th AU Summit in Kigali, the election of the African Union Commission (AUC) leadership, the limited powers of the AUC chairperson, and the Peace and Security Council's (PSC) engagement with various African conflicts, including the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) and crises in Burundi and the DRC.

The Institute for Security Studies (ISS) provides training and technical support to Uganda's judicial and law enforcement systems to improve the investigation and prosecution of complex crimes, including terrorism, organized crime, and crimes against humanity.

This research paper evaluates Africa's prospects for achieving universal access to safe water, adequate sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) by 2030, as outlined in Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6. Using the International Futures (IFs) forecasting system, the authors compare a 'Current Path' (business-as-usual) against two alternative scenarios: 'Universal Access' (an aggressive push for 97% coverage) and 'Balancing WASH' (a moderate approach based on 2015 baselines). The analysis highlights the massive infrastructure investment required, the potential for significant economic and human development gains, and the risk of spending trade-offs that could undermine health and education goals.

This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) argues that South Africa is caught in a 'middle-income trap' characterized by sluggish growth, deep inequality, and declining government effectiveness. The authors advocate for a paradigm shift away from a state-led developmental model toward a more flexible, labour-intensive economy and a knowledge-based society driven by private sector partnerships and technological innovation.

This policy brief examines the misuse of electric shock equipment by law enforcement agencies in Africa, arguing that such tools often facilitate torture and ill-treatment in violation of international and regional human rights frameworks. It specifically analyzes the legal landscape of anti-torture commitments in Africa and provides a detailed case study on the South African Police Service (SAPS), recommending the prohibition of handheld and body-worn electric shock devices.

The June 2016 Peace & Security Council Report examines the strained relationship between the African Union's Peace and Security Council (PSC) and the UN Security Council (UNSC), focusing on coordination failures, funding disputes for peacekeeping, and the AU's struggle to implement preventive diplomacy in member states like the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the proliferation of armed groups in Mali following the 2012 crisis, examining the motivations behind their creation, the dynamics of their alliances, and the challenges facing the implementation of the June 2015 peace agreement.

A case study detailing the impact of Institute for Security Studies (ISS) training on police officers from the Malawi Police Service preparing for deployment in UN, AU, and regional peace missions.

This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) examines the challenges of measuring and understanding public violence in South Africa. It critiques existing data sources, such as the South African Police Service (SAPS) IRIS system, and presents preliminary findings from the ISS's own Public Violence Monitoring project (2013-2015). The paper explores the drivers of collective violence, including socio-economic inequality and government unresponsiveness, and analyzes the roles of local government, community leadership, and the police in escalating or mitigating public disorder.