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This policy brief argues for the urgent establishment of a standardised and integrated police roster system for the African Standby Force (ASF) to improve the recruitment, selection, and rapid deployment of qualified police personnel for peacekeeping missions.

The June 2013 Peace and Security Council (PSC) Report by the Institute for Security Studies provides detailed analysis of security crises in Somalia and Mali, evaluates the outcomes of the May 2013 AU Summit, and identifies early warning issues across Africa.

This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the political environment in Zimbabwe leading up to the 2013 general elections. It examines the impact of the March 2013 constitutional referendum, the role of international bodies like SADC and the UN, and the risks of electoral violence given the country's history and the partisan nature of its security sector.

This situation report by the Institute for Security Studies examines the mobilisation of private sector finance for climate change mitigation and adaptation, with a particular focus on developing countries and the role of the Green Climate Fund.

This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies examines the role of African states in the international nuclear security agenda, specifically in the context of the Nuclear Security Summit process and the 2013 IAEA International Conference on Nuclear Security. It argues for increased African engagement and cooperation to balance the peaceful use of nuclear technology with security requirements.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the political economy and organizational structures of armed groups in northern Mali, specifically Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), Ansar al-Dine, and the Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa (MUJWA). It details how these groups utilize a 'war economy' based on kidnapping for ransom and the taxation of illicit trafficking to fund their operations and gain local support in the absence of state presence.

The April 2013 Peace and Security Council (PSC) Report by the Institute for Security Studies provides early warning analysis and country-specific assessments for Egypt, Guinea-Bissau, and the Central African Republic (CAR), focusing on political instability, unconstitutional changes of government, and humanitarian crises.

This April 2013 report by the Institute for Security Studies provides early warning analyses for the African Union's Peace and Security Council (PSC), focusing on political crises and instability in Egypt, Guinea-Bissau, and the Central African Republic.

This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies provides analysis and recommendations for African states participating in the United Nations negotiations for the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) scheduled for March 2013. It argues that a legally binding international instrument is necessary to regulate the transfer of conventional arms, ammunition, and technology to preserve human security and prevent human suffering, particularly in Africa, which is heavily impacted by armed conflict.

The report examines the political and security shifts in Mali following the 2013 French military intervention. It notes a temporary strengthening of the interim presidency and a marginalization of the military junta, while highlighting the extreme difficulty of stabilizing the north due to the porous nature of armed groups and the lack of public trust in the MNLA. The author argues that while military gains were made, long-term stability requires deep governance reforms and a credible, inclusive electoral process rather than a simple return to the pre-coup political order.

The February 2013 Peace and Security Council (PSC) Report by the Institute for Security Studies provides analysis on critical security threats and political transitions across Africa. It focuses heavily on the upcoming general elections in Kenya, the military intervention and political transition in Mali, and the protection of women and children in armed conflict. Additionally, it reviews the outcomes of the 20th AU Assembly summit, including discussions on the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, South Sudan, Guinea-Bissau, and Somalia.

This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies evaluates the feasibility of the economic and human development targets established in South Africa's National Development Plan 2030, arguing that the core growth targets are highly ambitious and require structural economic changes to be successful.

This report documents the 6th African Conference of Commandants (ACoC), held in November 2012 in Abuja, Nigeria. The conference focused on the role of staff colleges in preparing military officers to address emerging security challenges in Africa, emphasizing the need for a balance between academic education, professional military studies, and tactical training to develop flexible, intellectual leaders.

This briefing from the Conflict Prevention and Risk Analysis (CPRA) division of the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) discusses reports of secret peace talks between the Nigerian government and Boko Haram in December 2012, analyzing the incoherence of the government's strategy and recommending a shift from military-oriented responses to political and preventive governance.

This briefing from the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) reports on a suspected coup attempt in Sudan in November 2012, detailing the arrests of high-ranking officials and analyzing the internal political and economic pressures facing President Omar al-Bashir's government.

This research paper analyzes the political standing of Tanzania's ruling party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), as of late 2012. It examines internal party restructuring, the impact of corruption allegations, and the growing strength of opposition parties ahead of the 2015 elections.

A briefing by the Institute for Security Studies detailing a November 2012 attempt by South African opposition parties to remove President Jacob Zuma via a vote of no confidence, the political hurdles to such a motion, and reports on public sector corruption.

This research paper examines the application of the 'complementarity' principle in Africa, arguing that a broader, 'positive' understanding of the concept—where domestic courts, regional bodies, and civil society actively fill impunity gaps—is essential for the success of international criminal justice on the continent.

The November 2012 Peace and Security Council Report by the Institute for Security Studies provides analysis on critical security threats in Africa, focusing on political instability in Madagascar, the crisis in Mali, the rise of al-Qaeda-affiliated terrorism, and the evolution of the African Union's (AU) civilian and legislative capacities.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies examines the internal displacement of pastoralist communities in northern Kenya, highlighting a significant gap in protection and assistance compared to other regions of the country. It analyzes the complex drivers of displacement—including colonial legacies, violence, human rights abuses, and climate factors—and argues that current responses are largely inadequate, short-term, and uncoordinated.