ISS, Institute for Security Studies
The African Union Commission at a crossroads
20th November 2024 With elections for new commissioners in February 2025, member states must decide what kind of commission they want. One weakness of the African... →
Positioning South Africa as guardian of the Cape route
20th November 2024 The country needs more than infrastructure upgrades to capitalise on the surge in shipping along the Cape Sea Route. The global shipping industry... →
On climate, will Trump have it all his own way?
19th November 2024 The US anti-climate juggernaut is worrying, but several factors could mitigate a potential catastrophe. Donald Trump’s comments during his 2024... →
Great expectations as democracy wins in Botswana
18th November 2024 After nearly six decades of BDP rule, the triumphant UDC government has the tough task of restoring sound governance. Botswana’s 30 October... →
Mozambique’s last stand for democracy?
15th November 2024 After 25 years of electoral fraud and one-party dominance, mass protests are the last resort for the opposition and the public. When Southern... →
Remittances can help fill funding gaps for climate adaptation
13th November 2024 More attention should be given to how remittances can help African countries withstand and adapt to climate change. The 2024 United Nations Climate... →
Aid workers are increasingly seen as fair game in violent conflicts
12th November 2024 In Gaza and several African countries, protection failures see local aid workers bearing the brunt of this alarming trend. Last year was the... →
Precision policing: a vital element of reducing firearm crime
12th November 2024 A safer South Africa is only possible with less gun crime. Achieving that requires more from police than recovering illegal guns. Mass killings... →
Are Southern Africa’s former liberation movements going out of fashion?
11th November 2024 In this month’s election, Namibia’s SWAPO ruling party could go the way of the ANC, BDP or perhaps FRELIMO. The main unstated aim of the Former... →
New Somali piracy threats require partnerships and holistic responses
7th November 2024 Somalia’s upcoming seat on the UN Security Council should allow it to shape international maritime security policies. Signs of a potential Somali... →
India and China vie for leadership of the global south
5th November 2024 Which of the two countries is better placed to champion Africa’s developmental aspirations? The rivalry between China and India, both Brics... →
Ghana’s judiciary must act fast to regain public trust
5th November 2024 With elections in December, widespread perceptions of political bias in the Supreme Court threaten the democratic process. Ghana’s Supreme Court... →
Deciphering Türkiye’s Africa policy
4th November 2024 Beyond Türkiye’s expanding African footprint that covers trade, investment and stability lie Erdoğan’s strategic ambitions. President Recep Tayyip... →
Can Tanzania bring East and Southern Africa together on east DRC?
1st November 2024 Tanzania’s geographical location and conflict mediation experience make it well placed to bridge the region’s various peace efforts. Tanzania is a... →
Brics Summit 2024: everything, everywhere, all at once?
30th October 2024 Ushering in a multipolar order requires a streamlined and coherent political agenda – not unfocused expansion. The 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan,... →
Kenya on the UN Human Rights Council – a chance for redemption?
29th October 2024 Kenya should seize the opportunity of its council membership to improve its human rights record at home. Kenya was among several African countries... →
Can SAMIDRC be spared the fate of previous peace missions?
28th October 2024 SADC member states must ensure that the operation in eastern DRC can overcome the challenges faced by its predecessors. Almost a year since... →
Customary courts in East Africa – more than a means to lighten caseloads
24th October 2024 The relevance of traditional justice should be assessed by factors other than its potential to reduce formal court backlogs. Several African... →
Latest elections widen Mozambique’s democratic deficit
23rd October 2024 SADC remains silent as electoral fraud, post-election violence and the murder of opposition figures undermine democracy. On 9 October, Mozambique... →
The revived Luanda Process – inching towards peace in east DRC?
22nd October 2024 Rwanda-DRC talks have resumed, but whether they can shift the fundamental barriers to peace remains to be seen. The Luanda Process was established... →
Africa gets its chance to lead the Commonwealth
21st October 2024 Africa takes the reins for the first time in 20 years, but will the new secretary-general adopt a more assertive stance? The Commonwealth holds its... →
Nile River Basin Commission: regional strife could make a difficult task impossible
17th October 2024 Disputes over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam intersect with conflicts sparked by Ethiopia’s Red Sea ambitions. The newly established Nile... →
Tigray must avert another cycle of war
17th October 2024 As tensions between two TPLF factions rise, urgent measures are needed to prevent another crisis in Ethiopia’s Tigray region. After two years of... →
Focused police patrols could curb South Africa’s crime wave
16th October 2024 An ISS pilot study of hotspot policing shows that targeted, evidence-based operations can reduce crime. South Africa faces some of the highest... →
Brics: a fairer global order – or a bigger Russian support group?
14th October 2024 This month’s Brics Summit should indicate the club’s future direction, which could see the three original democracies distancing themselves. Is... →
Can South Africa’s prosecution finally achieve independence under the GNU?
11th October 2024 Efforts to secure the NPA’s operational and financial independence have stalled, exposing the justice system to bureaucratic bottlenecks and... →
The AU takes aim at Africa’s new brand of mercenaries
9th October 2024 A draft convention against mercenarism is a welcome step, but must include a strong oversight committee and clear reporting lines. The often... →
Big step, small win as Chagos Islands restored to Mauritius
8th October 2024 The bitter wrangle with the UK has come to an end, but the devil will be in the treaty’s details. Mauritius and the United Kingdom (UK) have... →
South Africa’s GNU faces an uphill battle on migration policy
7th October 2024 Can the Government of National Unity reconcile its members’ competing interests and achieve a pragmatic, unified approach? Migration has become a... →
Saïed drives the last nail in the coffin of Tunisian democracy
3rd October 2024 To ensure he wins Sunday’s election, Tunisia’s president has effectively eliminated his opponents before the first vote is cast. Undeterred by... →
Guinea-Bissau must restore institutional legitimacy for credible elections
2nd October 2024 Achieving some consensus on the functionality and legitimacy of electoral institutions is key to promoting political stability. New members of the... →
Climate, conflict and aid: three-pronged solution needed for Mozambique
1st October 2024 The protracted crisis in Cabo Delgado requires a triple nexus approach to climate change, conflict and humanitarian assistance. Mozambique, like... →
Gauteng’s water crisis signals the risk of climate-water conflicts
30th September 2024 The prospect of extreme water scarcity makes South Africa vulnerable to climate change-induced crises which could trigger conflict. Gauteng is... →
Rethinking responses to coups in West Africa
30th September 2024 ECOWAS should use its special summit on regional integration in 2025 to reconsider its approach to managing coups. Recurrent coups since 2020 and... →
Will the Kenyan-led police mission in Haiti be replaced?
26th September 2024 Before the unique mission can get off the ground, a funding crisis could see it replaced by a traditional UN-led operation. In October 2023, the... →
Agoa, agoing, agoner? Risks of US trade policy for Africa
19th September 2024 AGOA expires in 2025, and Washington’s political climate suggests a ‘business-as-usual’ approach is unlikely to suffice. The future of the African... →
What’s in a game? Video games and Russian influence in Africa
18th September 2024 It may be time to bring gaming onto the information integrity radar, while supporting citizens’ right to choose their tech. In its latest iteration... →
Breaking patterns of violence and trauma in the home
17th September 2024 Parenting programmes like Free to Grow tackle mental health and trauma, and can help stop cycles of violence for women and children. At the heart... →
Can the AU move from theory to practice on citizen engagement?
13th September 2024 Despite some progress, several barriers still prevent citizens from effectively working with the African Union at its Peace and Security Council.... →
Accelerate, extend or abandon? Africa’s SDG dilemma
12th September 2024 This month’s UN Summit of the Future should confront the reality that Africa will likely miss most Sustainable Development Goal targets. As the... →
SA must look beyond prosecution for anti-corruption remedies that work
11th September 2024 Serious corruption cases are uniquely difficult to prosecute. Innovative solutions that prioritise prevention are needed. The public discourse in... →
