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This report summarizes an expert roundtable held on September 30, 2010, regarding the potential secession of Southern Sudan following its scheduled January 2011 self-determination referendum. It examines the unresolved issues between Northern and Southern Sudan, the internal challenges facing a potential new state, and the resulting security and economic implications for the Horn and central Africa regions.

This report documents the Fourth African Conference of Commandants (ACoC), held from 1 November to 3 November 2010 in Jinja, Uganda. The conference aimed to develop a framework for a common continental force to improve efficiency in multinational environments by reviewing the roles of military, police, and civilian components in African peace support operations (PSOs).

This briefing analyzes the upcoming January 9, 2011, referendum in Sudan and the separate plebiscite in the Abyei region to determine whether South Sudan will secede. It examines the tensions between the National Congress Party (NCP) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), the challenges of state viability for a potential new South Sudanese state, and the role of international mediators in preventing a return to armed conflict.

This policy brief analyzes the political transition in Zimbabwe as of December 2010, focusing on the challenges of the Interim Government (IG) and the likelihood of elections in 2011. It evaluates the role of the security sector, the efficacy of international sanctions, and the mediation efforts of South Africa and SADC, while proposing three potential scenarios for the country's future.

The Peace and Security Council Protocol No. 17, published by the Institute for Security Studies in December 2010, provides an analysis of security issues in West Africa, specifically focusing on political instability and elections in Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, and Guinea. It also reviews the operational progress of the African Standby Force (ASF) through Exercise AMANI Africa, the implementation of the Pelindaba Treaty for a nuclear-weapon-free Africa, and continental and regional strategies to combat drug trafficking.

This report documents the proceedings of the fourth African Commandants' Conference (ACoC), held from November 1-3, 2010, in Jinja, Uganda. The conference focused on developing a joint continental force to improve effectiveness in multinational environments by enhancing military education, training, and coordination among African staff colleges to support the African Standby Force (ASF) and Peace Support Operations (PSOs).

This August 2010 report by the Institute for Security Studies provides early warning analysis on several African security issues. It focuses on Kenya's constitutional referendum, the potential for water-related conflict in the Nile Basin, the transition to democracy in Guinea, and the results of the presidential election in Somaliland. Additionally, it reviews the annual consultative meeting between the African Union Peace and Security Council (PSC) and the UN Security Council (UNSC), the operationalisation of civil society engagement via the Livingstone Formula, and the outcomes of the International Criminal Court (ICC) Review Conference in Kampala.

This briefing by the Institute for Security Studies examines the efficacy of targeted sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe's ruling elite. It details the various restrictive measures implemented by Western governments and international bodies, argues that these 'smart sanctions' have been largely ineffective due to implementation loopholes and regional support for the Mugabe regime, and suggests a conditional, middle-ground approach to lifting some restrictions to encourage political progress under the Inclusive Government.

A statement delivered by Amelia Broodryk on May 7, 2010, at the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference in New York, representing a group of non-governmental experts from New Agenda Coalition (NAC) countries. The statement outlines seven specific criteria for measuring the success of the 2010 Review Conference in advancing international peace, security, and the goal of a nuclear-weapons-free world.

This briefing by the Institute for Security Studies examines the cycle of disarmament campaigns in Jonglei state, South Sudan, specifically comparing the failed 2006 effort with the 2009-2010 campaign. The author argues that the government's reliance on disarmament as the sole response to endemic violence ignores structural failures in local governance, the lack of civilian protection by the SPLA, and a cattle-based economy that incentivizes raiding and child abduction.

Dr. Jakkie Cilliers, Executive Director of the Institute for Security Studies (ISS), delivered opening remarks on April 13, 2010, to mark the official launch of the ISS's new and expanded office in Nairobi, Kenya.

This briefing examines the risks and logistical challenges surrounding Sudan's first multi-party elections since 1986, scheduled for 11 April 2010. The authors argue that the elections, mandated by the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), are occurring too late in the interim period to effectively influence the January 2011 self-determination referendum for Southern Sudan. The document highlights significant political risks, including the boycott of the presidential race by Yassir Arman, disputes over the 2008 population census, restrictive security laws, and the extreme complexity of the voting process for a largely illiterate population.

This guide provides an overview of the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (Treaty of Pelindaba), detailing its history, legal requirements for ratification, core prohibitions, and the mechanisms established to ensure compliance across the African continent.

This briefing by the Institute for Security Studies discusses the expectations and challenges surrounding the 16th Conference of Parties to the UNFCCC in Cancun, Mexico, following the perceived disappointment of the 2009 Copenhagen summit.

This briefing by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the political transition in Madagascar following the 2009 coup d'etat, focusing on a November 2010 referendum for a new constitution. The author argues that the process is unilateral, lacks inclusivity, and may be designed to consolidate the power of the current leader, Rajoelina, while bypassing international mediation efforts from SADC and the African Union.

This briefing by the Institute for Security Studies examines a firearm amnesty launched by South African Minister of Police Nathi Mthethwa from 11 January to 11 April 2010. The author analyzes the effectiveness of such amnesties in reducing violent crime, noting that while they reduce the total number of available weapons, evidence linking them to crime reduction is scarce due to complex variables.

This 2010 report by the International Forum for the Challenges of Peace Operations provides operational guidance for senior leadership in multidimensional United Nations peacekeeping missions. It outlines a framework for translating Security Council mandates into actionable plans across four core objectives: facilitating political processes, creating secure environments, strengthening the rule of law, and promoting socio-economic recovery. The document emphasizes the primacy of political leadership, the necessity of integrated planning between military, police, and civilian components, and the importance of balancing short-term security needs with long-term institutional reform and national ownership.

This 2010 training manual by the Institute for Security Studies provides a comprehensive framework for law enforcement agencies in Eastern and Southern Africa to identify, investigate, and prosecute environmental crimes. It covers the foundations of environmental law, the technical processes of inspection and evidence gathering, and the legal requirements for criminal prosecution, emphasizing a participant-centered learning approach for police, customs officials, and prosecutors.

This seminar report, compiled by the Institute for Security Studies, documents a two-day event held in September 2010 in Stellenbosch, South Africa. The seminar brought together researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to critically examine the nature of post-conflict reconstruction and peacebuilding, specifically questioning the 'liberal peace' model and its practical implementation in Africa.

This 2010 position paper by the Institute for Security Studies examines the legal and political tensions between the African Union (AU), the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), and the International Criminal Court (ICC), specifically regarding the use of Article 16 of the Rome Statute to defer prosecutions of Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir.