ISS, Institute for Security Studies
Climate, conflict and aid: three-pronged solution needed for Mozambique
1st October 2024 The protracted crisis in Cabo Delgado requires a triple nexus approach to climate change, conflict and humanitarian assistance. Mozambique, like... →
Gauteng’s water crisis signals the risk of climate-water conflicts
30th September 2024 The prospect of extreme water scarcity makes South Africa vulnerable to climate change-induced crises which could trigger conflict. Gauteng is... →
Rethinking responses to coups in West Africa
30th September 2024 ECOWAS should use its special summit on regional integration in 2025 to reconsider its approach to managing coups. Recurrent coups since 2020 and... →
Will the Kenyan-led police mission in Haiti be replaced?
26th September 2024 Before the unique mission can get off the ground, a funding crisis could see it replaced by a traditional UN-led operation. In October 2023, the... →
Agoa, agoing, agoner? Risks of US trade policy for Africa
19th September 2024 AGOA expires in 2025, and Washington’s political climate suggests a ‘business-as-usual’ approach is unlikely to suffice. The future of the African... →
What’s in a game? Video games and Russian influence in Africa
18th September 2024 It may be time to bring gaming onto the information integrity radar, while supporting citizens’ right to choose their tech. In its latest iteration... →
Breaking patterns of violence and trauma in the home
17th September 2024 Parenting programmes like Free to Grow tackle mental health and trauma, and can help stop cycles of violence for women and children. At the heart... →
Can the AU move from theory to practice on citizen engagement?
13th September 2024 Despite some progress, several barriers still prevent citizens from effectively working with the African Union at its Peace and Security Council.... →
Accelerate, extend or abandon? Africa’s SDG dilemma
12th September 2024 This month’s UN Summit of the Future should confront the reality that Africa will likely miss most Sustainable Development Goal targets. As the... →
SA must look beyond prosecution for anti-corruption remedies that work
11th September 2024 Serious corruption cases are uniquely difficult to prosecute. Innovative solutions that prioritise prevention are needed. The public discourse in... →
Can Chad’s November elections improve on past disputed polls?
10th September 2024 The upcoming elections are vital for returning Chad to constitutional rule, but to do so, they must be fair and credible. Chad has been in... →
The end of ISWAP’s ‘hearts and minds’ strategy?
9th September 2024 As the terrorist group’s relations with civilians deteriorate, governments should use the opportunity to rebuild trust with affected communities.... →
Two Western Cape towns bridge the poverty and race divide
4th September 2024 The people of Hoekwil and Touwsranten recognised their shared desire for safety, and in 2021 they tried something different. Many people are deeply... →
Growing danger of terrorist jailbreaks in West Africa
3rd September 2024 The pattern of targeting detention facilities shows that insurgents are determined to break their members out of prison. The attack on the... →
Is peace possible between Sudan’s warring parties?
2nd September 2024 Achieving lasting peace requires parties to negotiate with adversaries – no matter how difficult this may be. Ever since conflict erupted in Sudan... →
New AU mission for Somalia: old problems, fresh solutions?
29th August 2024 To succeed in tackling al-Shabaab, the new peace support operation needs appropriate resourcing and protection from regional tensions. Seventeen... →
Can FOCAC adapt to meet Africa’s long-term needs?
29th August 2024 African countries’ bilateral deals with China should be clearly aligned with the continent’s development goals. The Forum on China-Africa... →
Better late than never? Uganda convicts rebel in landmark case
29th August 2024 After spending 15 years in custody, LRA Commander Thomas Kwoyelo’s conviction raises questions about Uganda’s commitment to trying international... →
A single anti-corruption agency is a high-risk option for South Africa
26th August 2024 Unless informed by local conditions and complexities, anti-corruption reforms could trigger political instability. Corruption and state capture... →
Ethiopia’s transitional justice: tensions around international experts’ role need swift resolution
21st August 2024 Ensuring national ownership of the transitional justice process need not preclude drawing on valuable international expertise. Ethiopia’s... →
Community-oriented policing: missing link in AU counter-terrorism operations
20th August 2024 Despite being recognised globally as an effective strategy, community-oriented policing has been underused in Africa’s peace missions. Since 2018,... →
African protest politics – coincidence, correction or contagion?
19th August 2024 In a new era of political activism and change, Africa’s youth are no longer content to sit on the sidelines. A wave of protests has swept across... →
Western Sahara’s quest for independence seems to be flagging
16th August 2024 More countries appear to be backing Morocco’s plan for ‘autonomy’ rather than independence, but will that be enough? The Sahrawi Arab Democratic... →
Angola’s crackdown on protesters could fuel separatist violence
15th August 2024 Using harsh justice to resolve a political struggle could lead to youth radicalisation and violence in eastern Angola. On 30 July, an Angolan court... →
When are African women athletes woman enough?
13th August 2024 The Paris Olympics were a reminder of how sports are the latest chapter in Eurocentric ideals that cruelly affect African women. The Paris Olympics... →
Democracy crisis or state crisis in Africa?
12th August 2024 For democracy and multilateralism in Africa to prosper, the continent needs strong states with institutions that deliver. Africa’s myriad... →
Is Russia’s war against Ukraine spilling over into Africa?
12th August 2024 Dangerous signs of a proxy Russia-Ukraine war on the continent could have grave implications for Africa. Russia appears to be intensifying its... →
Large-scale future migration will reshape global demographics
8th August 2024 Instead of reinforcing borders, African and Western governments should handle unprecedented migration levels by negotiating skilled-worker... →
AI can turn the tide on organised environmental crime in Africa
8th August 2024 Artificial intelligence offers innovative solutions to the expensive and time-consuming business of policing environmental crimes. Effective law... →
Sudanese are losing hope with each new peace initiative
7th August 2024 The array of peace processes has allowed the warring parties to forum-shop while the humanitarian crisis intensifies. After Sudan’s third civil war... →
AU Commissioners must be elected for their ideas, not personalities
6th August 2024 For the African Union to remain relevant, its leaders should be judged by their capacity to renew Africa’s broken multilateralism. The African... →
US military is leaving Niger even less secure: why it didn’t succeed in combating terrorism
5th August 2024 The United States is winding down its military operations in Niger ahead of a mid-September deadline agreed with the country’s ruling military... →
In Libya, everything comes down to military muscle
5th August 2024 The arrest of Libyans who allegedly received military training in South Africa hints at the nature of power in the north African country. Were 95... →
How would Trump 2.0 impact African economies?
1st August 2024 African winners will be those countries that pragmatically play to Trump’s ego and self-proclaimed dealmaker status. As America’s election race... →
Are the Olympics ‘wide open’ to Africans?
31st July 2024 Many Africans are denied access to sporting events, and athletes and performers are exposed to discrimination and racial abuse. The Olympics kicked... →
Cracks emerge in Hichilema’s bold anti-corruption platform
30th July 2024 The president’s dissolution of the anti-graft unit’s board raises questions as senior officials fall under the corruption spotlight. Zambia’s... →
ICJ rules that ending Palestine’s occupation is a global undertaking
25th July 2024 As the largest bloc of countries that recognises Palestine, Africa could lead the effort at the UN General Assembly. Barely 48 hours after Israel’s... →
Africa has much to gain from a more contained BRI
24th July 2024 Despite the Belt and Road’s mixed record in Africa, careful involvement in China’s smaller, greener projects could be beneficial. China’s Belt and... →
As AES and ECOWAS drift apart, dialogue on the fundamentals is vital
23rd July 2024 Stability in West Africa requires that both organisations take pragmatic and flexible approaches, and learn from past mistakes. Military juntas in... →
Time for Ethiopia’s political elite to demonstrate vision
22nd July 2024 The country needs a nationwide ceasefire and for political settlement through dialogue to be prioritised over factionalism and ethnic rivalry.... →
Is the world finally growing weary of Kagame’s excesses?
22nd July 2024 After another landslide election victory, there are signs that the international community is growing impatient with Rwanda’s president. Rwanda’s... →
