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This briefing by the Institute for Security Studies examines the increasing risks of predatory cyber crime in South Africa, driven by the proliferation of smartphones, social networking, and broadband access. It highlights the prevalence of card cloning in the hospitality sector and the gap between the availability of legislative protections and public awareness of cyber risks.

This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies argues for the necessity of reaching a consensus to implement Guinea-Bissau's Justice Reform Programme (2015–2019), which has been stalled by political crises and disputes between the Ministry of Justice and the Supreme Court of Justice.

This research paper examines the potential economic and environmental implications of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) for shale gas in South Africa, presenting three distinct scenarios to evaluate the trade-offs between economic growth and ecological preservation.

This research paper examines the implementation of financial disclosure requirements for elected officials in South Africa from 2004 to 2008. It evaluates compliance, institutional capacity, oversight mechanisms, and public access to information to determine how these regulations control conflicts of interest and ensure political accountability.

This research paper examines the legal authority of the African Union (AU) to deploy the African Standby Force (ASF) in member states during 'grave circumstances' such as genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. The author argues that the AU's Constitutive Act establishes a legal right to intervene that is distinct from the 'enforcement action' defined by the UN Charter, meaning such interventions may not require prior authorization from the UN Security Council.

This situation report by the Institute for Security Studies reflects on the experience of Major General Patrick Cammaert regarding the use of force within the Eastern Division of the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC), specifically contrasting the mandates of Chapter VI and Chapter VII of the UN Charter.

This monograph aims to inform the revision of the 1977 OAU/AU Convention on the Elimination of Mercenarism in Africa, arguing for a new continental approach to address the rise of private military and security companies.

This briefing discusses a decline in piracy in the Gulf of Aden during early 2012, attributing the drop to maritime security practices and international naval tactics, while warning that corruption within the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and the diversion of pirate skills into other crimes threaten long-term stability in Somalia.

The Institute for Security Studies criticizes the South African government's Green Paper on Policing for its lack of transparency and public participation, arguing that the closed process misses an opportunity to rebuild trust between the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the public. The author advocates for a comprehensive, open consultative process similar to the one adopted by Kenya in 2009 to address systemic policing issues and public mistrust.

The paper explores the role of African subregional organizations in conflict management and security, noting that their diversity in structure and resources makes them less understood than the OAU or UN. It references a 1998 seminar on peacekeeping and aims to provide guidelines to enhance the effectiveness and definition of these subregional entities.

This text is the introductory material for a book titled 'The many faces of human security: Case studies of seven countries in Southern Africa', produced by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) with funding from the Royal Danish embassy in South Africa. It outlines the collaborative effort between the ISS, the Southern African Peace and Security Network (SAPSNet), and various academic and strategic partners across seven Southern African nations to explore the concept of human security in a region historically dominated by state security priorities.

This briefing by the Institute for Security Studies examines the prospects of a national dialogue in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) aimed at achieving political consensus and governance reform. It highlights critical challenges facing the dialogue, including an ambitious timeframe, the exclusion of opposition parties, and a lack of implementation mechanisms. The document also discusses the interconnectedness of these political talks with the security crisis in the eastern DRC, specifically the conflict between the government and the M23 rebellion and the role of the UN Intervention Brigade.

This research paper provides an overview of United States contributions to peace and security in Africa, focusing on the current period and immediate future. It defines the nature of instability and insecurity on the continent and outlines the various military, economic, and governance-related measures that Americans believe can attenuate these conditions.

This introductory text for a research paper describes how violent conflict, poverty, and repression drive migrants toward Europe, facilitated by a profitable and violent transnational smuggling industry. It emphasizes that effective policy responses must account for the specific demographics of migrants and the adaptability of smuggling networks.

This introductory text for Monograph 134 by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) outlines the African Union's efforts since 2002 to establish security architectures like the Peace and Security Council and the African Standby Force. It introduces a publication by the Training for Peace (TfP) Programme intended to enrich the discourse on protecting vulnerable populations and enhancing stability in Africa through non-prescriptive analysis.

This conference report outlines an analysis of the political dynamics and interests influencing decision-making processes within Africa's continental and regional organisations, emphasizing the need for external actors to better understand these complexities to improve global partnerships.

This introductory text for a policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) describes an analysis of the 2015 UN peacebuilding review. The brief focuses on how UN member states can apply the review's recommendations to enhance conflict prevention and sustain peace.

This research paper examines the introduction of private prisons in South Africa as a response to overcrowding and funding shortages within the Department of Correctional Services (DCS). It discusses the opening of the first private facilities in Bloemfontein and Louis Trichardt, comparing the South African model to those in the United Kingdom, United States, and Australia, while suggesting reforms for transparency and the expansion of private sector involvement in community corrections.

This executive summary outlines the purpose and goals of a victim survey conducted to analyze crime in Cape Town, emphasizing its role in supplementing police data and informing policy interventions.

This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies examines the African Union's (AU) strategy to increase troop levels for the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) following suicide bombings in Uganda in July 2010.