ISS, Institute for Security Studies
Is Zimbabwe facing another November 2017?
31st March 2025 Mnangagwa looks beyond his second term, prompting war veterans backing Vice-President Chiwenga to threaten an ‘uprising’ on 31 March. Tensions are... →
Chapo-Mondlane meeting presents a glimmer of hope for Mozambique
28th March 2025 Despite scepticism about the government’s intentions, the meeting shows a shift in President Chapo’s hardline approach to resolving post-election... →
Cue the cameras: how SAPS bodycams can deliver tangible results
27th March 2025 What should police body-worn cameras aim to achieve, and how will we know if they are working? The South African Police Service (SAPS) plans to... →
Could prolonged warfare in Sudan lead to the country splitting?
25th March 2025 Shifting military dynamics, political fragmentation and external interference could escalate clashes, pushing the country towards partition. The... →
Namibia’s first woman president takes the helm
24th March 2025 President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah presents herself as an implementer – can she meet the country’s high expectations and reverse SWAPO’s decline? On... →
‘Transition fatigue’ in South Sudan ramps up tensions
20th March 2025 The recent conflict is rooted in repeated extensions of the transition timeframe and enduring political and security problems. Recent deadly... →
Africa’s democracies must guard against local online influencer networks
19th March 2025 New research shows that key figures in South Africa’s domestic online influence industry are engaged in transnational disinformation campaigns. A... →
Lake Chad Basin insurgents raise the stakes with weaponised drones
18th March 2025 ISWAP’s enhanced operations and use of drone attacks represent a turning point for counter-terrorism in the region. The 24 December 2024 attack on... →
Iran and the price of the ANC’s nostalgia
14th March 2025 The African National Congress’ friendship with Tehran is becoming the main bugbear in US relations with South Africa. Back in 2022 and 2023 after... →
Türkiye throws Somalia a lifeline to catch illegal fishers
14th March 2025 A long-term maritime agreement could boost Somalia’s naval capacity to curb illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. Somalia loses around... →
Lessons from Kenya’s bold but poorly executed visa-free policy
13th March 2025 Kenya’s experience can help countries balance practical realities with Africa’s goal of open borders and regional connections. In January 2024,... →
Can African philanthropy fill in for American aid cuts?
12th March 2025 Africa must look within to improve resource allocation and promote social impact investments that go beyond just boosting profits. On the day he... →
Can Zimbabwe’s Independent Complaints Commission win civil society over?
11th March 2025 The new commission is a step in the right direction for security sector reform, but faces several tough challenges. Since gaining independence in... →
Ethiopia’s Special Prosecutor’s Office needs an international cooperation unit
10th March 2025 To effectively deliver justice for international crimes, an independent international cooperation unit is essential. Ethiopia is drafting... →
Will Ghana’s Mahama grasp the nettle of constitutional reform?
7th March 2025 Ghana’s constitution allows an excessively powerful presidency to influence all levels of administration – it must be reformed. John Mahama won... →
South Africa’s trade deficit dilemma with China
6th March 2025 South Africa needs to benefit more from its active, albeit highly unequal, trading partnership with China. South Africa’s total bilateral trade... →
West African wildlife sanctuary becomes a hub of insecurity
5th March 2025 Spanning three countries, the vast W-Arly-Pendjari Complex is being used to facilitate organised crime, terrorism and local conflicts. The... →
Civil society needs a role in Mali’s security reforms
3rd March 2025 Security sector reforms that began well before the country’s two coups still suffer from a lack of effective civil society participation. Since its... →
Data modelling reveals the heavy toll of USAID cuts on Africa
28th February 2025 Given the US’ major contribution to aid, Trump’s cuts could push 5.7-million more Africans into extreme poverty next year. Since returning to... →
AU ‘Year of Reparations’ should look to the future and the past
27th February 2025 Reparations aim to repair relationships and prevent violence – a forward-looking approach could foster a more just global order. The African... →
US Paris climate agreement exit will hit Africa hard
27th February 2025 This week’s G20 finance meeting must galvanise a global climate agenda to mitigate the grave impact of the US withdrawal. On his first day in... →
ECOWAS is still pivotal to steadying The Gambia’s transition
26th February 2025 Divisions over the latest draft constitution, which extends executive power and term limits, necessitate ECOWAS’ involvement. Eight years ago, the... →
Turning Africa’s legal advantages into benefits for climate refugees
24th February 2025 On paper, Africa is ahead of the world on climate-linked migration, but needs support to implement its progressive frameworks. The number of people... →
How will Africa adapt to a disappearing ‘West’?
21st February 2025 As Trump drives a wedge between US-Europe relations, Africa should cleave closer to reliable friends and safeguard multilateralism. The widening... →
Traffic cop corruption tarnishes all policing in South Africa
21st February 2025 Anti-corruption measures targeting traffic police, not just SAPS, are vital to improve safety in SA’s major cities. One of the biggest challenges... →
Funding for Somalia’s new AU peace mission hangs in the balance
20th February 2025 With delays in activating a new UN-AU cost-sharing mechanism, both organisations must now re-double their efforts to secure funds. A new African... →
All bets are off between Washington and Pretoria
17th February 2025 Bilateral relations are now in uncharted territory, necessitating a radical rethink by South Africa of its US foreign policy. Now that United... →
Is Trump giving US companies the green light on bribery?
14th February 2025 Trump’s suspension of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act turns back the clock 50 years on global anti-corruption efforts. United States (US)... →
South Africa’s G20 presidency faces mounting pressure
13th February 2025 The challenge isn’t just defending Africa’s interests but managing a G20 in which one of its most powerful members is actively disengaged. When... →
Nigeria’s schoolchildren again targeted in mass abductions
13th February 2025 Driven initially by extremist ideology, the kidnappings have become ransom-seeking operations by cross-border criminal groups. Since Boko Haram’s... →
Overcoming security dilemmas in the Great Lakes region
12th February 2025 Mistrust between leaders and the region’s militaristic past make security cooperation between affected countries difficult – but essential. Since... →
Technology looks set to transform governance in Madagascar
10th February 2025 One of the world’s poorest countries is poised to become a beacon of innovation in digitising public administration. Madagascar is one of the... →
Eastern DRC: unpacking the difficult task of regional diplomacy
10th February 2025 As M23 continues its destructive march, the EAC-SADC summit must consider lessons from failed peace efforts. On 27 January, Rwanda-backed Mouvement... →
Trump’s funding cuts will hurt South Africa and the region
6th February 2025 Despite Ramaphosa’s downplaying of their potential impact, the reality is that South Africa and the continent are at grave risk. It has been four... →
Foreign interest in Africa comes with damaging disinformation tactics
6th February 2025 Digital propaganda and manipulated information by external actors erode public confidence in democracy on the continent. For the past three... →
How Africa can make 2025 its ‘super year’ for ocean governance
4th February 2025 Active engagement on three initiatives could see Africa’s needs reflected in global ocean governance decisions. In 2022, global ocean governance... →
Africa’s private sector boosts AU Peace Fund
31st January 2025 As private sector donations increase, the 21 African countries still not contributing to the fund must pay up. The African Union (AU) Peace Fund... →
Europe and Africa: finding love in a time of Trump?
30th January 2025 In response to a new wave of American insularity, European policymakers should pursue rapprochement with Africa. The re-emergence of United States... →
Trump attacks global minimum tax
28th January 2025 President Donald Trump’s withdrawal from the OECD minimum 15% global tax deal could hurt Africa. Amid Trump’s blizzard of executive orders fired... →
Africa’s nuclear energy future
24th January 2025 A rapid increase in demand may leave Africa no choice but to make a substantial investment in nuclear energy. In a world that must urgently move... →
Ghana’s road to rebuilding public trust starts with security reforms
23rd January 2025 In the interest of national stability, Ghana’s new government must tackle threats and gaps in the security sector. Ghana’s new President John... →
