ISS, Institute for Security Studies
Five steps for Africa to thrive under the new US security strategy
13th February 2026 America will remain a vital partner, so African governments should expand, not reduce, their options to advance their interests. Relations with the... →
Continued voter disinterest undermines democratic governance in Benin
13th February 2026 Ahead of the April presidential polls, low voter turnout in legislative and local elections calls for an assessment of electoral laws. Just two... →
The AU has frozen the Somaliland debate: political solutions are needed
12th February 2026 Israel’s Somaliland recognition generated unusual cohesion in Africa and beyond, but condemnation hasn’t delivered a consensual solution. Israel’s... →
Task team a small step towards justice for SA police corruption
10th February 2026 Allegations against the Ekurhuleni-based group expose major gaps in the current approach to overseeing and investigating police corruption. Under... →
Blue justice will be the real test of the Chagos deal
9th February 2026 Politicking in the US and UK distracts from Chagossians’ need to determine their resettlement and role in blue economy governance. The 2025 United... →
US airstrikes were a constrained choice for Nigeria
5th February 2026 The American operation exposes the risks to Africa posed by AFRICOM’s push for relevance under Trump’s second term. On Christmas night 2025, the... →
African elections: will the AU remain chronicler rather than referee?
4th February 2026 The AU’s response to the 2025 elections shows that it prioritises procedure over political competitiveness and democratic substance. Africa’s 2025... →
After a decade of AU reform, collective African security remains elusive
3rd February 2026 The same leaders who routinely invoke ‘African solutions’ seek external conflict mediation and treat African-led initiatives as optional or... →
Lakurawa: Nigeria’s hybrid threat that attracted US missile fire
2nd February 2026 Sustained pressure and cross-border operations, not sporadic airstrikes, are needed to halt the group’s rapid transnational expansion. In January,... →
Lessons for Africa from US military action in Venezuela
2nd February 2026 Had Maduro enjoyed undisputed electoral legitimacy, his capture by a foreign power would have been far more costly. America’s military removal of... →
Decision making under pressure: Africa’s test in 2026
29th January 2026 The greatest risk to Africa’s future is not inaction, but reactive crisis responses that inadvertently lock in long-term constraints. Within just... →
Cameroon’s contested election sends ripples across fragile border economies
29th January 2026 Post-election ‘ghost town’ protests disrupted trade, revealing neighbouring countries’ economic reliance on stability in Cameroon. When Cameroon’s... →
Rwanda: a ‘smart power’ without a regional peace strategy
27th January 2026 Rwanda’s military dominance in the Great Lakes Region deters countries from sending troops to help stabilise eastern DRC. In early December 2025,... →
Did Uganda’s internet shutdowns during elections backfire?
27th January 2026 The state cited the need to prevent disinformation – but the ban may have increased citizens’ mistrust instead. As Uganda emerges from an internet... →
Madagascar’s ‘coup’ prompts contrasting responses
26th January 2026 Whether or not Andry Rajoelina’s toppling was a coup, the key is how long it takes to restore democratic civilian government. Coups have once again... →
SA’s naval-gazing reflects a deep defence and foreign policy disconnect
23rd January 2026 Exercise Will for Peace exposed a disjointed maritime approach that could cost the country dearly. Exercise Will for Peace, the multinational naval... →
Trump’s Africa policy: strategy or shakedown?
21st January 2026 The 2025 US National Security Strategy recasts Africa from partner to price tag in a transactional, resource-driven era of great-power rivalry.... →
2026: Africa’s year to turn climate ambition into action
21st January 2026 Before global constraints become irreversible, countries must show how loss and damage can be measured and linked to development and debt. The 2025... →
Stilfontein mine disaster: the deadly cost of information failure
19th January 2026 Last year’s tragic events at an abandoned gold mine in South Africa show the danger of poor information in policing operations. In mid-January a... →
As the BBNJ Agreement takes effect, Africa must lead from the helm
19th January 2026 Several steps can ensure that Africa uses its numerical advantage in the agreement to influence critical upcoming negotiations. The watershed BBNJ... →
Deal-making trumps democratic principles in US approach to Africa
15th January 2026 Donald Trump’s national security strategy mentions Africa in passing as a source of critical minerals and a counter to China’s dominance. In... →
African cities must rise to meet the climate crisis
14th January 2026 African cities bear the brunt of climate impacts, and cannot afford to wait for international solidarity that may never come. Multilateral climate... →
Dialogue must complement military action in Cabo Delgado
13th January 2026 Rather than focusing on counter-terrorism operations, dialogue should be supported as a way to tackle local dynamics sustaining the insurgency.... →
MONUSCO’s rigid mandate hinders civilian protection in eastern DRC
12th January 2026 Operational constraints and regional tensions prevent the UN peacekeeping mission from responding effectively to escalating violence. The United... →
Africa must take heed of the UN Gaza Commission’s genocide report
18th December 2025 Two months after the United Nations (UN) Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory concluded that a... →
Sierra Leone risks another disputed election without urgent reforms
17th December 2025 Revising post-war Sierra Leone’s Constitution to strengthen democratic governance and guarantee sustainable peace and stability was a key... →
Addressing regional escalation in the Great Lakes Region
17th December 2025 On 4 December, the presidents of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) signed the Washington Accords for Peace and Prosperity at a... →
Two years on, UNSCR 2719 on peace operations remains at a crossroads
15th December 2025 The United States of America’s (US) retreat from multilateralism has put the financing of multinational peacekeeping to the test. This is most... →
Pragmatic or principled? The AU’s security dilemma in the Sahel
15th December 2025 Responding to growing terror threats and prioritising the restoration of constitutional order are often competing imperatives in countries going... →
Boko Haram’s intelligence networks fuel its deadly resurgence
11th December 2025 Since launching its Camp Holocaust offensive at the beginning of 2025, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) has carried out over 200 attacks,... →
Post-war Liberia’s ongoing quest to reverse the culture of impunity
11th December 2025 Two decades after Liberia’s civil wars ended, new laws are a chance to learn from past mistakes that impeded transitional justice. Liberian... →
No time to lose in establishing SA’s new anti-corruption agency
9th December 2025 Long-established norms of human rights, diversity and democracy are under attack worldwide. Conflict, fascism and disinformation are on the rise.... →
Can Zambia capitalise on intensifying great power rivalry?
9th December 2025 Diplomatic overtures and strategic deals in Southern Africa have set the tone for a packed international itinerary in the neighbourhood recently.... →
On paper, it was Africa’s G20
5th December 2025 The G20 Leaders’ Summit Declaration in Johannesburg stressed Africa’s interests – but will it survive Trump? On paper, South Africa’s G20, which... →
Southern Ocean and Antarctica: correcting the blind spot on SA’s radar
4th December 2025 Given its obligations in the region, South Africa is uniquely positioned to represent Africa’s interests in Antarctic governance. The Southern... →
Nigeria’s deep insecurity demands more than an emergency declaration
4th December 2025 The country’s security sector is beset by long-standing challenges that undermine its ability to address violence and insecurity. Nigeria’s... →
South Africa: latest target in Israel's relocation of Palestinians?
2nd December 2025 Israel will be well aware of the quandary created by accepting people as part of an ethnic cleansing campaign. Since the end of October, two... →
Trust between police and foreign nationals can improve safety for all
1st December 2025 Sound relations with foreign nationals living in South Africa will help police gather intelligence, solve cases and prevent violence. According to... →
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... →
