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This research paper evaluates the effectiveness of court specialisation in South Africa, focusing on the Specialised Commercial Crime Court (SCCC) in Pretoria. The author argues that the court's success is not derived from its specialised status, but from the deep integration of investigators from the SAPS Commercial Branch and prosecutors from the Specialised Commercial Crime Unit (SCCU). The document distinguishes between 'court specialisation' (statutory parallel courts) and 'court dedication' (reserving resources within existing courts), suggesting the latter is more practical and less risky. While the SCCC shows high conviction rates and efficiency, the author cautions that these results are influenced by high-quality personnel, private sector support from Business Against Crime, and the co-location of staff, making the model difficult to replicate universally.

This report evaluates the transition from peacekeeping to peace-building in Sierra Leone following the May 2002 national elections. It details the success of the disarmament and demobilisation (DD) process, the challenges of reintegrating over 70,000 ex-combatants, and the restructuring of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) and the Sierra Leone Police (SLP). The document also examines the role of the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) in providing security and public information, the efforts to extend state authority to the interior, the management of the diamond industry, and the implementation of transitional justice through the Special Court and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

This monograph by Afua Twum-Danso examines the phenomenon of child soldiering in Africa, challenging the notion that it is a product of African culture. Instead, the author argues that the recruitment and deployment of children are driven by socio-economic instability, political agendas, and pragmatic military strategies. The report provides a comprehensive overview of recruitment methods, the roles children play in conflicts, and the long-term physical and psychological consequences of their participation, with a specific focus on the often-overlooked experiences of girl soldiers.

This report assesses security at South African air and sea ports of entry to identify vulnerabilities in the prevention of firearms trafficking. It evaluates the implementation of international standards (ICAO, IMO, IATA, FAA) and national legislation. Key findings highlight systemic weaknesses such as staffing shortages, lack of professional training, and critical gaps in information sharing between airports (e.g., Lanseria). The report recommends enhanced risk profiling, integrated databases, and integrity testing for security personnel.

This report examines the recruitment, demobilisation, and reintegration experiences of female ex-combatants in Ethiopia, specifically those who joined the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) as children. Using semi-structured interviews and repertory grid analysis, the study explores how military socialisation shaped these women's identities and their subsequent conflict with traditional gender roles in civilian society.

This report analyzes the abduction and reintegration of child soldiers in Northern Uganda, specifically those forced into the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA). It details the extreme violence and sexual exploitation faced by children, the role of psychosocial centres in Gulu, and the use of traditional Acholi cleansing rituals to facilitate reconciliation. The authors argue that the focus on child soldiers often masks deeper political and economic marginalization of the Acholi people by the Ugandan government.

The document is a situation report from the Institute for Security Studies regarding the security and political environment in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, focusing on the role of MONUC, the transition to elections, and ongoing conflict in the east.

This situation report by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the context and significance of the local government elections in Mozambique scheduled for 19 November 2003. It examines the country's political transition from a one-party socialist state to a multi-party democracy, the tensions between the ruling Frelimo party and the opposition Renamo, and the socio-economic factors—including poverty and the HIV/AIDS epidemic—that influence electoral dynamics.

This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies examines the role of customary law within the criminal justice systems of Sierra Leone, Tanzania, and Zambia. It argues that while customary justice is often more accessible and culturally relevant to local populations than formal systems based on English common law, it frequently conflicts with human rights, particularly regarding the status of women.

This policy brief examines the expansion of marine fisheries eco-labelling in Southern and Eastern Africa, focusing on the roles of the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and Friends of the Sea (FOS). It analyzes the environmental and commercial incentives for certification, the challenges of including small-scale fisheries, and the necessity of state support and independent impact studies to ensure sustainable fisheries management.

This policy brief, produced by the Institute for Security Studies as part of the African Futures Project, uses the International Futures (IFs) model to analyze the impact of improving water and sanitation access across Africa. It argues that an aggressive annual improvement rate of just under 2 percentage points could significantly reduce child malnutrition and infant mortality, increase GDP, and lower the probability of state failure by 2050.

This policy brief, published by the Institute for Security Studies in June 2011, examines the governance of climate change funds—specifically the Adaptation Fund, the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), and Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD)—across several developing countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. It highlights systemic issues regarding accountability, stakeholder representation, and the risk of private sector interests overriding local needs.

This report chapter outlines the components of a comprehensive institutional response to HIV/AIDS in the workplace, emphasizing a holistic approach that combines prevention, treatment, and the mitigation of operational impacts. It details guiding principles, the necessity of workplace policies, and strategies for maintaining institutional continuity despite personnel loss.

This report presents a case study on the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic on local councils in Botswana, specifically examining Gaborone city council, Lobatse town council, and Kgatleng district council. It details how the epidemic increases demand for public services while simultaneously eroding the capacity of councils to supply them through staff attrition and illness. The document highlights a gap between Botswana's comprehensive national policy framework and the lack of institutionalised, internal workplace responses within local government councils.

This case study examines the impact of HIV/AIDS on the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MoAFS) in Lesotho. It details how the epidemic causes significant staff attrition, particularly among professional and technical cadres, and hampers the ministry's ability to deliver agricultural services and ensure food security. The document highlights a lack of internal policy frameworks, inadequate coordination, and the failure to effectively utilize allocated budgets to manage the virus within the workforce.

This report examines the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic on the capacity and effectiveness of public sector institutions in Southern Africa, specifically focusing on three case studies including the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water (MoAFS) in Lesotho and the Ministry of Public Service (MPS). It finds that AIDS-related attrition, combined with pre-existing organizational weaknesses, is undermining service delivery and institutional memory.

This document is a keynote address delivered by Hon. Okello Oryem Henry, Uganda's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, at a roundtable conference titled "State of the Union 2030: Security Threats and Responses" held in Kampala, Uganda, in July 2009. The address outlines potential security threats facing Africa leading up to 2030 and suggests areas for analysis to inform the African Union's peace and security strategies.

An opening speech by Ambassador W Makanda delivered during South Africa Week, reflecting on South Africa's transition to a non-racial democracy and advocating for negotiation and intellectual discourse over armed conflict to resolve political challenges in Africa and globally.

This report, produced by the Institute for Security Studies in collaboration with the Southern African Regional Police Chiefs Cooperation Organisation (SARPCCO), provides a comprehensive review of organised criminal activities in 12 southern African countries. It identifies a strong nexus between organised crime and corruption, noting that the region's porous borders and economic disparities facilitate the transnational movement of drugs, stolen vehicles, counterfeit goods, and endangered species. The report emphasizes that while some crimes are local, the most serious activities are transnational and often underpinned by systemic corruption within law enforcement and government institutions.

This research paper examines the relationship between civil society, the military, and democratic consolidation in Zambia. It argues that while civil society has grown, it has largely ignored the 'democratisation of the military,' leaving a void in civilian oversight of defence policy and budgeting. The author suggests that stable civil-military relations require a partnership between the military, parliament, and civil society to ensure transparency, accountability, and the subordination of the armed forces to civilian control.