ISS, Institute for Security Studies
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... →
Can the Movement for Change break Ghana’s biparty democracy?
14th May 2024 With the right strategy, Ghana’s fledgling new party could become a political force to be reckoned with. For three decades, Ghana’s political... →
Kenya is once again in FATF’s crosshairs
9th May 2024 To curb money laundering, financial oversight of the real estate, legal, casino and transport sectors must be improved. The Financial Action Task... →
Ethiopia’s proposed Special Prosecutor: history repeating itself?
8th May 2024 The forthcoming Special Prosecutor’s Office must do better than the mechanism set up to deal with Dergue-era crimes. Ethiopia’s new transitional... →
Five worrying signs of Africa’s poor election quality
7th May 2024 Globally and in Africa, many electoral processes suffer from a lack of transparency, trust and oversight. This is a crucial election year for... →
Ukraine steps up its charm offensive in Africa
3rd May 2024 Ukraine has opened several new African embassies, still hoping for a better return on its investment. While struggling ever harder to prevent... →
Global carbon tax urgently needed to manage the climate crisis
2nd May 2024 ISS modelling shows that carbon taxing can have major benefits if all nations contribute based on their income status. As the world faces a climate... →
Defending democracy, the Senegalese way
30th April 2024 Senegal’s people stood up to protect their democracy rather than wait for the military or external help. After three tumultuous years, Senegal’s... →
Boko Haram factional violence worries Islamic State
26th April 2024 In its quest to expand beyond North East Nigeria, JAS–ISWAP clashes aren’t in the global terror group’s interests. In October 2023, Boko Haram’s... →
Time is right for a South Atlantic climate alliance
24th April 2024 With their leading roles regionally and in the G20 and COP30, a Brazil-South Africa partnership could prompt useful south-south ties. Africa’s... →
Will Senegal’s new president shake up external relations?
22nd April 2024 Despite pre-election rhetoric, long-standing principles and regional realities will likely guide international relations. Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s... →
Zimbabwe’s new ZiG doomed by overall lack of transparency
22nd April 2024 Economic mismanagement has stripped citizens’ trust in the government and threatens the new currency’s viability. The struggle to stabilise... →
Can dialogue rescue South Sudan from a perpetual transition?
18th April 2024 As in 2022, elections could again be postponed. What should the proposed dialogue do differently to break the cycle? The feasibility of South... →
Escalation of Middle East hostilities will have ripple effects for Africa
17th April 2024 Africa could be drawn into proxy battles that have domino effects on security, foreign investment and trade relationships. This weekend’s events in... →
Somalia’s EAC contribution depends on cutting organised crime
16th April 2024 East African Community member states must support Somalia’s efforts to curb destabilising criminal markets. On 15 December 2023, Somalia took a... →
