ISS, Institute for Security Studies
Time for Ethiopia’s political elite to demonstrate vision
Updated 6 hours ago 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?
Updated 6 hours ago After another landslide election victory, there are signs that the international community is growing impatient with Rwanda’s president. Rwanda’s... →
South Africa could build a united front on a just transition
19th July 2024 Could policy convergence on climate change be a ray of hope in the country’s new Government of National Unity? South Africa’s Government of... →
Will Kenya be better prepared when floods hit again?
16th July 2024 Flooding claimed many lives and left hundreds of thousands displaced, dispossessed and angry at the authorities who failed them. Barely two months... →
Stability in Mali requires more inclusive national dialogue
15th July 2024 Broad political consensus is needed for the country to benefit from some promising decisions made at the recent dialogue. Most of Mali’s political... →
Military muscle rather than mediation prevails in DRC
15th July 2024 Despite a growing military coalition, President Tshisekedi is failing to subdue the M23 rebels in his country’s east. A burgeoning coalition of... →
Ethiopia’s national dialogue needs a reset
11th July 2024 Considering that major political movements and actors reject the ongoing dialogue, a temporary pause and recalibration should be considered. Since... →
Why the African Union should weigh in on the Gaza crisis
10th July 2024 Unlike its ambiguous response to the Russia-Ukraine war, the AU’s position on the destruction of Gaza has been clear. Although not an African... →
Is Cape Town’s drop in business robbery a cause for concern?
9th July 2024 A fall in business robberies over the past decade could indicate rising levels of extortion and organised crime. South Africa is a country plagued... →
Mozambique can learn from other African countries about hosting IDPs
8th July 2024 Assisting internally displaced people is crucial for humanitarian and security reasons, but the government has no plan to support them.... →
Meaningful dialogue can forge positive change in South Africa
8th July 2024 Those convening the national dialogue promised by President Ramaphosa could learn from the innovative Violence Prevention Forum. On 30 June,... →
Hasty constitutional reforms deepen tensions in Togo
4th July 2024 Togo’s successive crises have been driven by conflicts relating to presidential term limits and democratic power transfers. Togo’s recently revised... →
Without peace in Ethiopia, transitional justice will be difficult
3rd July 2024 A comprehensive cessation of hostilities is necessary for the country to reap the benefits of effective transitional justice. Last month,... →
How will SA’s new coalition government steer foreign policy?
3rd July 2024 The challenge of decision making by consensus may see South Africa adopting more middle-of-the-road policies on pressing global challenges. South... →
Quality education delivers growth – but Africa’s scorecard remains poor
27th June 2024 The African Union has dedicated 2024 to improving education, a task requiring new thinking and rapid technological adoption. Better education in... →
Russia’s growing influence in Africa calls for more balanced partnerships
26th June 2024 As Moscow makes gains through bilateral deals, African states must avoid getting drawn into a global proxy conflict. In early June, Russian Foreign... →
Blue carbon markets: Africa must carefully balance risks and rewards
25th June 2024 Africa’s productive blue carbon ecosystems offer climate mitigation solutions, but countries must guard against the exploitation of local... →
Meagre gender data blocks equality for African women
24th June 2024 Without information on gender roles and relations, both gender inequality and sustainable development will remain a struggle. Information on... →
Saulos Chilima’s sudden death leaves a dangerous vacuum in Malawi
21st June 2024 The former vice-president’s death could create a political dilemma or an opportunity for President Lazarus Chakwera. Political tensions have been... →
African refugees neglected as crises worsen
20th June 2024 World Refugee Day is a reminder that Africa and the world cannot peacefully maintain the current pace of displacement. As of May, 120 million... →
Rampant cobalt smuggling and corruption deny billions to DRC
18th June 2024 The country’s extractive reform strategy doesn’t address the impact of illegal cobalt mining on people, the environment and the economy. The... →
Cabinda to Cape Town: how crime-proof are Africa’s Atlantic shores?
18th June 2024 With all eyes on pirates and politics in the Gulf of Guinea and the Indian Ocean, who is keeping an eye on Africa’s South Atlantic? The Atlantic... →
First Korea-Africa Summit: another missed opportunity for Africa
14th June 2024 African delegates arrived in Seoul last week without a collective plan. But did they need one? Kenyan President William Ruto is taking some ribbing... →
Is Ghana heading towards election-related unrest?
14th June 2024 Ahead of the December 2024 elections, heightened mistrust in state institutions and unresolved tensions threaten to disrupt the polls. On 7... →
Could Senegal help mediate tensions between ECOWAS and AES states?
12th June 2024 Given their favourable standing with Alliance of Sahel States (AES) countries, Senegal’s new leaders could resolve regional tensions. Since taking... →
UN funds for AU peace operations: Somalia as a test case
12th June 2024 Should the African Union focus on a single situation – or apply UN Security Council Resolution 2719 to various conflicts? Last December, the United... →
Can presidentialism save Tshisekedi from the ‘lame duck’ syndrome?
10th June 2024 By giving loyalists and technocrats ministerial posts, Tshisekedi hopes to insulate them from politics and ensure a fluid government. Five months... →
Samia Suluhu Hassan’s hesitant reforms
10th June 2024 Having initiated democratic change, Tanzania’s president appears to be fighting a rearguard action by Magufulist hardliners. After she succeeded... →
Better policing in South Africa is well within reach
7th June 2024 SA has the necessary skills and resources – we need the president and police minister to make reform their mission. Imagine a South Africa where... →
Debt relief should be the African Union’s focus at the G20
6th June 2024 To succeed, all six of the AU’s G20 priorities depend on improving the fiscal health of indebted countries. The African Union (AU) became a full... →
Governance scenarios in South Africa: growth vs stability?
5th June 2024 Two possible national coalitions (ANC-DA-IFP or ANC-MK) are a choice between economic growth and stability, with KZN as the sacrificial lamb. The... →
EU visa restrictions on Ethiopians reflect strained migration relations
3rd June 2024 The punitive measures reflect a history of major EU investment in Ethiopia’s migration governance – with few results. Since 29 April, the European... →
William Ruto wins in Washington – but does Kenya?
31st May 2024 Not all Kenyans are enchanted by the prospect of being America’s main partner in sub-Saharan Africa. Kenyan President William Ruto last week made... →
SAMIM withdrawal from Cabo Delgado: uncomfortable truths
30th May 2024 Why is the region turning away from an international terrorist organisation on its doorstep that is growing in influence? On 16 May, Islamic State... →
Dialogue and negotiation: alternative solutions to Boko Haram conflict?
30th May 2024 Military operations are needed, but haven’t stopped Boko Haram attacks. Complementary non-kinetic efforts must be considered. Fifteen years since... →
Elections will reveal SA’s exposure to digital influence as a service
28th May 2024 Without access to social media data, ensuring voters have verifiable information rather than manipulated content is difficult. Nationalist content... →
Faking cash and making cash in the DRC
22nd May 2024 The DRC is an origin, transit and destination country for counterfeit currency, most of which is US dollar-denominated. In February 2021, Ugandan... →
Lack of constitutional reform stalls The Gambia’s democratic transition
21st May 2024 Political divisions over limiting presidential power and terms in office have brought the process to a standstill. The Gambia’s ambitious... →
Could Mozambique’s next president change tack on Cabo Delgado?
20th May 2024 New leadership could take the long overdue step of balancing security and development policies to prevent terrorism. On 5 May, the ruling... →
Egypt tries to navigate around Rafah
17th May 2024 Israel’s long-feared attack on Rafah in southern Gaza has put Cairo on the spot. Israel’s deadly assault on Gaza – including the recent escalation... →
Retaining US influence in Africa requires bridge-building with China
15th May 2024 In a complex new multipolar world, a country’s allies and friends will determine the global pecking order. Despite its large population, Africa is... →
