ISS, Institute for Security Studies
How to get Ethiopia’s Transitional Justice process back on track
28th November 2025 The government’s renewed commitment to transitional justice efforts should lead to a carefully planned and sequenced resumption of the paused... →
Improper political interference in SA policing: where to draw the line?
27th November 2025 Given the grey area between policy and operations, transparency on the police minister’s directions to SAPS should be required. Inappropriate... →
Soft power: missing element in the Chad-Cameroon border defence pact?
26th November 2025 Strategies based on purely military operations can often alienate the very populations they aim to protect. The defence agreement signed by Chad... →
Can Africa bolster its bargaining power at the EU-AU summit?
24th November 2025 At this week’s Luanda summit, several thorny issues relating to the security partnership must be confronted head-on. On 24 and 25 November, leaders... →
AU Commission reform must align with Africa’s ambitious agenda
24th November 2025 The African Union needs more commissioners, not fewer, to efficiently handle the scope and complexity of continental challenges. When the African... →
As Somali pirates make a comeback, collaboration is key
20th November 2025 Overstretched naval deployments and a focus on Red Sea security have left parts of the Western Indian Ocean vulnerable. Somali pirate activity in... →
Guinea-Bissau’s unusual polls could spark another post-election crisis
19th November 2025 The exclusion of the main opposition and rivalry between military factions could destabilise the 23 November elections. Tensions are rising in... →
Diving hazards put Somalia’s crustacean fishermen in deep water
19th November 2025 Declining crustacean stocks force local fishermen to use improvised diving gear at greater depths and further from shore. Ahmed is paralysed from... →
Ethiopia’s unwatched customary courts
18th November 2025 Traditional justice is in high demand, but an unaccountable system could perpetuate discrimination and undermine human rights. Traditional justice... →
Organised corruption: a new threat to South Africa’s municipalities?
14th November 2025 Some local government corruption is highly organised, and will further undermine the delivery of essential services and democratic governance. How... →
Violent school bullying reflects South Africa’s broken society
13th November 2025 The school bullying crisis mirrors a society where violence is normalised, and parents and teachers play an important role. Last month’s viral... →
Can the ICGLR reclaim its relevance in the Great Lakes Region?
12th November 2025 The DRC is at the centre of the region’s security crisis; its position as ICGLR chair offers a chance to revive collective security. Nearly 10... →
Transitional justice is key to addressing Tigray’s conflict-related sexual violence
12th November 2025 The findings of the Tigray genocide inquiry should be read as a call to strengthen transitional justice, not repudiate it. On 16 October, the... →
Côte d’Ivoire’s presidential election entrenches democratic fragility
7th November 2025 Ouattara’s fourth term landslide win reflects the ongoing struggle to achieve inclusive and trusted democratic governance. Only half of Côte... →
Unchecked, Sudan’s war could trigger another genocide against Darfurians
6th November 2025 African and international efforts to stop the war have been slow. Now swift action, including possibly invoking R2P, is vital. After an 18-month... →
Denied fair elections, Tanzanians make their mark through protests
6th November 2025 Protests show that citizen-led power, if sustained, could pressure governments to implement meaningful and sustainable reforms. On 1 November,... →
Lake Chad Basin: repeated flooding weakens an already stricken region
5th November 2025 Better water retention infrastructure would enable communities to withstand the region’s many security and developmental challenges. The Lake Chad... →
Italy’s return to the Horn must come with an apology
4th November 2025 Italy’s stance on its historical atrocities against Ethiopia, Eritrea and Somalia contradicts principles in its Mattei Plan for Africa. The Mattei... →
Mnangagwa’s third term bid foments violence
31st October 2025 The ruling party’s decision to extend President Mnangagwa’s second term in office is inflaming tensions in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwean President Emmerson... →
Corruption prevention pays: why business must take the lead
30th October 2025 Working collectively, companies can use their market power to drive corruption from their sectors and reap the financial rewards. A recent Human... →
Gambia’s transitional justice momentum must not falter
30th October 2025 As delays fuel public concerns, the government and ECOWAS must turn political will into action with the help of international partners. The... →
Detective task teams: a stopgap response to SA’s crime crisis
28th October 2025 Testimony at police inquiries raises questions about the value of special units and task teams for investigating crime in South Africa.... →
Crime statistics belong to the public, not the police
23rd October 2025 Having Stats SA validate and release crime figures would separate the statistics from police performance and depoliticise the data. The release of... →
Time to double down after security strikes against Boko Haram leaders
21st October 2025 Terror groups have rebounded after past leadership losses, so Lake Chad Basin security forces cannot afford complacency. Over the past three... →
Does Ramkalawan’s defeat mean Seychelles' democracy is maturing?
20th October 2025 As the old guard storms back in recent elections, Seychelles may be entering a phase of stable power alternation. Patrick Herminie’s triumph in... →
A little too late? The ICC’s first Darfur conflict conviction
17th October 2025 With funding for global institutions shrinking, the slow, arduous and costly task of international justice will weigh on ICC member states. On 6... →
Tanzania polls: will election observers be the last line of defence?
16th October 2025 Domestic observers may not improve the quality of polls on 29 October, but could increase transparency and public awareness. Tanzania’s general... →
Water wars: has GERD reset Africa’s hydropolitics?
14th October 2025 Water scarcity in Africa is a crisis, and the GERD conflict shows why mutually beneficial cooperation agreements are vital. Ethiopia officially... →
Can Cameroon secure access to the ballot for those in conflict zones?
13th October 2025 Voting on 12 October may be difficult for people in conflict-affected regions, who comprise a large portion of the country's electorate. At 92,... →
Can Africa shift from victim to player at COP30?
10th October 2025 Shaping global climate diplomacy requires strategic thinking and a new script during the upcoming COP30 negotiations. Last month’s second Africa... →
Cabo Delgado insurgency persists amid failed military strategy
9th October 2025 Eight years on, northern Mozambique’s terrorist threat remains acute despite the deployment of thousands of local and foreign troops. Cabo... →
Sudan’s civil war reignites the illicit car trade into Chad
9th October 2025 Numerous actors are involved in this surging criminal enterprise, with members of the rebel Rapid Support Forces becoming key players. Sudan’s... →
Unity at any cost? AES states jointly leave the ICC
6th October 2025 Withdrawing from the global court shows that the Alliance of Sahel States prioritises joint action, whatever the consequences. On 22 September, the... →
Terrorist roadblocks strangle the economies of Mali and its neighbours
6th October 2025 JNIM’s blockades have become a strategic weapon that threatens regional commerce and the Malian army, and harms civilians. Since 3 September, the... →
Borno Model’s valuable lessons on handling Boko Haram deserters
1st October 2025 The approach of Nigeria’s Borno State shows how to manage more humane, locally grounded reintegration efforts that work. The death in 2021 of... →
Risk and reward of Kenya’s push to reverse FATF grey-listing
1st October 2025 Measures against money laundering and terrorist financing are positive, but the nature of implementation will be the real test. An amendment to... →
With three bold moves, maritime security in Africa could be plain sailing
17th September 2025 Maritime issues are on the African Union’s radar, but member states must push for a shift from ambition to action. As the African Union’s (AU)... →
What next for Mali as Wagner fails to defeat insurgents?
15th September 2025 A new report suggests that Niger, Burkina Faso – and Europe can learn a lot from Wagner’s failure in Mali. Last month The Sentry, a United States... →
Has external support given the CAR a false sense of security?
15th September 2025 With elections planned for December, authorities should use their position of strength to tackle the roots of the country’s crisis. Since his... →
JAS resurgence deepens Lake Chad Basin’s complex security crisis
11th September 2025 Focusing only on Boko Haram’s ISWAP faction is no longer an option for the region’s security forces. After being weakened by years of clashes with... →
Can electoral reforms deliver credible polls in Malawi?
10th September 2025 Next week’s election will be a test for democracy after the 2019 annulment triggered a raft of electoral reforms. Malawi returns to the polls on 16... →
