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This case study examines how public health data from the Brazilian Ministry of Health was used by activists and government officials to advocate for gun violence prevention and the 2003 Disarmament Statute. While data successfully shifted public discourse by framing gun violence as a health epidemic and debunking myths about self-protection, it proved insufficient to secure a 'yes' vote in the October 2005 national referendum to prohibit the sale of guns and ammunition, which was defeated by 64% of voters.

This research paper examines the Darfur conflict, arguing that simplistic media representations and international activism often overlook the deep-seated structural, political, and resource-based causes of the violence. The author contends that a focus on 'mass atrocity' statistics and international 'conflict management' can undermine local agency and the pursuit of an inclusive Sudanese state.

This policy brief examines the Violence Prevention Forum (VPF), a multisectoral platform convened by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) since 2015 to reduce and prevent violence in South Africa. Based on 2023 case study research, the document details how the VPF fosters collaboration between government, NGOs, academia, and the private sector by prioritizing relationship-building, collective sense-making, and the translation of evidence into policy and practice.

This briefing by the Institute for Security Studies examines the proliferation of competing peace initiatives in Sudan since the conflict began in April 2023. It argues that the multiplicity of mediation efforts—ranging from the African Union and UN to regional blocs and individual nations—has allowed the warring parties, the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, to play initiatives against one another to gain time rather than commit to peace, while the humanitarian crisis worsens.

The report evaluates the AU Peace and Security Council's efforts in conflict resolution and regional stability, highlighting failures in Sudan's mediation due to biased mediator selection and a lack of political focus. It examines the limitations of PSC field missions, the rising death toll of humanitarian workers in Africa, and the role of illegal natural resource exploitation in funding armed groups. Finally, it discusses the need for greater African agency and strategic coordination in infrastructure and security partnerships with China through FOCAC.

The Peace and Security Council Report No 176 analyzes the outcomes of the 38th AU Summit in February 2025, focusing on leadership transitions, the chairship of Angola, and the ongoing challenges of the 'Silencing the Guns' agenda. It highlights the election of Mahamoud Ali Youssouf as AUC chair and the debate over rotational versus permanent membership in the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC).

This policy brief examines the operational effectiveness, challenges, and potential future of South Africa’s Special Investigating Unit (SIU). While praised as an 'island of integrity' with a strong track record in civil recovery, the SIU faces significant hurdles including a cumbersome Presidential proclamation process, a precarious funding model, and safety risks for its personnel and whistleblowers. The document proposes various legal reforms to the SIU Act and evaluates a proposal by the National Anti-Corruption Advisory Council (NACAC) to transition the SIU into a dedicated Chapter 9 anti-corruption agency.

This policy brief examines the 1973 Lokiriama Peace Accord, an unwritten indigenous agreement between the Turkana of Kenya and the Matheniko of Uganda. The author argues that this community-centred, culturally sensitive approach to conflict resolution is more durable than modern, state-led interventions, which often focus on punishment rather than reconciliation. The document recommends that governments in the Karamoja Cluster integrate traditional governance structures into their peacebuilding strategies to address persistent intercommunal violence and the impacts of climate change.

The Valletta Declaration outlines the establishment and objectives of the International Institute for Justice and the Rule of Law Foundation (the Institute), a domestic foundation based in Malta. The Institute is designed as an international center to strengthen criminal justice and rule of law institutions, with a specific focus on countering terrorism and transnational criminal activities through training and capacity-building, particularly for countries in North, West, and East Africa and the Middle East.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies evaluates the 'rural protection plan' implemented in South Africa in 1997 to combat violent attacks on farms and smallholdings. Based on statistics from 1997 to 1999 and fieldwork in Gauteng, Mpumalanga, and KwaZulu-Natal, the report analyzes the motives behind these crimes, the effectiveness of security structures like the commando system, and the impact of socio-economic factors such as land hunger and poor labour relations.

This briefing by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA) signed on 5 May 2006. It argues that the conflict in Darfur is not merely a result of tribalism or ecological degradation, but is rooted in the broader struggle for power in Khartoum and a history of national marginalization. The document details the failures of the DPA to achieve broad legitimacy among rebel factions, the challenges facing the African Union Mission (AMIS), and the intricate links between the Darfur crisis and the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) between North and South Sudan.

This report documents a one-day brainstorming session held on 4 May 2012 in Nairobi, Kenya, co-hosted by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS), the African Leadership Centre (ALC), and Fahamu. The session aimed to map current discourses on gender, peace and security (GPS) in Africa, identify research gaps, and explore the creation of a pan-African think-tank to produce homegrown, evidence-based scholarship that moves beyond state-centric and Northern-led narratives.

This report details research by Professor Rudolph Zinn on residential robbery in South Africa, specifically focusing on perpetrators in Gauteng. It profiles offenders as typically young, unemployed males motivated by economic gain who often use inside information to target wealthy households. The report emphasizes that intelligence-led policing and securing the outer perimeter of homes are more effective than visible policing alone. It also provides behavioral advice for victims to minimize risk during an attack and suggests that convicted robbers can be a source of intelligence for police if given small incentives.

This synthesis report by the Training for Peace (TfP) research network examines the roles, challenges, and differences between African Union (AU) and United Nations (UN) policing in peace support operations (PSOs) in Africa. Based on research from missions in Somalia, Darfur, and Mali, the report analyzes the functions of individual police officers (IPOs) and formed police units (FPUs), highlighting the need for context-specific training and guidelines for stabilization environments.

This joint submission by Corruption Watch and the Institute for Security Studies details how the Executive under former South African President Jacob Zuma manipulated criminal justice agencies—including the SAPS, the Hawks, and the NPA—to entrench state capture. The report highlights the use of strategic appointments, the misuse of crime intelligence to influence ANC party processes, and the obstruction of corruption investigations (such as the Bosasa case) to ensure impunity for the ruling elite. It concludes with twelve recommendations to reform senior management, increase transparency in Executive-agency interfaces, and institutionalize professional appointment processes to prevent future political interference.

This fact sheet introduces evidence-based policing as a methodology to improve police effectiveness and public trust by basing activities on the best existing research rather than intuition or tradition. It outlines a three-step process of targeting, testing, and tracking, and advocates for the adoption of this approach within South African policing to ensure strategies are informed by reliable data and can withstand scrutiny.

The report argues that the success of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) depends heavily on improving the efficiency, capacity, and security of Africa's maritime transport and port infrastructure to facilitate the movement of goods across the continent.

This briefing by the Institute for Security Studies examines the environmental risks associated with the Red Sea crisis, highlighting how military conflict and the rerouting of shipping traffic threaten marine ecosystems, increase carbon emissions, and jeopardize the food security of coastal populations in Africa.

This report summarizes a public seminar held on November 20, 2009, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, jointly organized by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) and the Ethiopian International Institute for Peace and Development (EIIPD). The seminar, titled "Copenhagen Talks on Climate Change and Africa's Response," focused on strengthening a common African position regarding mitigation, adaptation, and compensation ahead of the Copenhagen climate negotiations.

This research paper outlines the systemic challenges of studying crime and criminal justice in Africa, emphasizing the impact of political repression, the legacy of colonialism, and the scarcity of reliable official data. It highlights how 'African solidarity' can lead to non-compliance with international legal protocols and suggests that regional cooperation through the African Union and SARPCCO offers a path toward greater transparency and institutionalized research.