ISS, Institute for Security Studies
How Houthi military aggression in the Red Sea threatens Africa
Updated 2 hours 50 minutes ago Growing ties between the Houthis and al-Shabaab could turn Red Sea instability into a more dangerous security threat for Africa. The United... →
Africa can see El Niño coming – will countries act in time?
8th October 2026 Early warnings must be heeded to protect coping capacity and prevent a foreseeable shock from becoming an irreversible setback. A strong El Niño... →
South Africa needs more than a five-point plan to prevent violence
7th October 2026 Violence against women is more likely to be reduced if violence among boys and among men is not accepted as normal and inevitable. The 9 September... →
Russia’s military recruitment networks exploit Western tech platforms
6th October 2026 African countries face an uphill battle in holding digital companies accountable for the use of their platforms in Russia’s war effort. An... →
Mozambique’s army is losing a crucial counter-insurgency battle
5th October 2026 Foreign training has strengthened the army, but abuses against civilians undermine the community support needed to defeat insurgents. When... →
Africa should prepare for a new Arctic shipping era
2nd October 2026 The Northern Sea Route could bypass African ports, but shifting trade patterns present opportunities to strengthen maritime and logistics networks.... →
Dangote and Musk: Africa needs both industrialists and tech innovators
1st October 2026 The two entrepreneurs represent distinct forms of business leadership, and governments must create the conditions for both to thrive. Africa’s... →
US-South Africa rift: separating the optics from the substance
30th September 2026 As political space between the countries widens, durable commercial ties and strategic interests provide room for a pragmatic bargain. Despite... →
South Africa’s police reset depends on 140 station commanders
29th September 2026 The new reform agenda puts high-crime stations in the spotlight, but their commanders need the tools and authority to succeed. Recommendations from... →
‘Wantam!’, ‘Tutam!’ political sloganeering divides Kenya’s electorate
28th September 2026 Youth frustration fuels calls to prevent Ruto from winning a second term, even as opposition splits strengthen his prospects for 2027. As next... →
Middle Eastern maritime chokepoints: no windfall for Southern Africa
28th September 2026 Disruptions are making Southern Africa more important to global shipping and energy markets without making the region more prosperous.... →
SA local elections will test voters’ ability to spot fake news
25th September 2026 Public confidence in identifying disinformation is falling just as AI and hyper-local campaigning make election manipulation harder to detect.... →
Can Kenya keep hired goons out of its 2027 election?
22nd September 2026 Youth gangs disrupt rallies, civil rights meetings and polling stations, yet the politicians who bankroll them go unpunished. The August attack at... →
Can South Africa catch the next state capture early?
21st September 2026 A new ISS anti-corruption tracker uses AI to identify patterns and warning signs in a wide range of government institutions. South Africa knows the... →
Instant payments outpace Central Africa’s anti-money laundering controls
17th September 2026 The region has joined an African cross-border payment system built for speed and trade – but it could accelerate financial crime. Sending money... →
Uganda’s military takes centre stage in Museveni succession
16th September 2026 The increased influence of Museveni’s son in government and his position as military chief threaten Uganda’s democracy. Uganda’s January elections,... →
Credible elections are no longer possible in South Sudan – what next?
16th September 2026 Attention should shift to preserving the peace deal that underpins the current government and is key to averting large-scale violence. South... →
Chad’s anti-corruption institutions buckle under political pressure
14th September 2026 An aborted oil sector audit exposes the gulf between Chad’s commitments and its willingness to investigate powerful interests. On 12 August, Chad’s... →
Africa fights for a fair share of global tax
14th September 2026 Tough negotiations for a UN tax agreement have not yet resolved fundamental differences. African countries and other global south members are... →
Will monitoring of eastern DRC’s ‘ceasefire’ improve compliance?
10th September 2026 The first deployment of the monitoring mechanism is positive, but current conflict conditions should temper expectations. The first mission to... →
Can Africa take ownership of the AU-US infrastructure deal?
8th September 2026 Early momentum is real, but AU member states, private capital and wary US investors have yet to be brought on board. Since the African Union... →
Europe’s heatwave warning for Africa: fast-track a climate leapfrog
7th September 2026 A looming super El Niño makes Africa’s leap from fossil fuels to a renewables-dominated energy mix urgent. The heatwave that swept Europe this... →
Has the AU successfully taken Africa’s G20 baton from South Africa?
7th September 2026 Africa’s G20 priorities have lost ground under the US presidency, with little pushback from the AU or other development-focused members. Has the... →
UN peace operations review may struggle to deliver for Africa
3rd September 2026 The review report reflects some of Africa’s demands, but major challenges threaten the implementation of its recommendations. The long-awaited... →
Can Mali’s FLA-JNIM insurgent alliance survive its internal divisions?
3rd September 2026 The two armed groups are currently united in their opposition to the government, but fundamental differences could break their bond. The coalition... →
Can the African Union remain relevant in Libya?
2nd September 2026 Unless the AU can help coordinate implementation of existing peace initiatives, its influence on the ground may continue to wane. Fifteen years... →
SA can’t tackle migration while ignoring Zimbabwe’s democratic backsliding
31st August 2026 South Africa and SADC’s reluctance to remedy misgovernance in their neighbourhood contributes to migration, sparking xenophobia and causing... →
Conflict and climate: double threat driving Great Lakes displacement
31st August 2026 Climate hazards are compounding decades of conflict-driven displacement, while fragmented responses expose vulnerable communities to repeated... →
Unusual suspects: elders in West Africa’s changing drug trade
27th August 2026 The apparent rise of trafficking by older adults could reflect a new criminal adaptation rather than individual criminality. Adults aged 50 and... →
Africa must unlock the capital beneath its farmers’ feet
26th August 2026 Agriculture is the foundation for Africa’s economic takeoff, but without land tenure reform, its potential will remain untapped. Africa’s quality... →
IDAC’s failures demand reform, not abolition
26th August 2026 South Africa needs IDAC’s specialist anti-corruption capability, but the institution must be repaired and strengthened. Madlanga Commission... →
Hichilema wins a stronger mandate, but Zambia’s democratic test isn’t over
25th August 2026 Late electoral reforms and weak checks on power expose democratic fault lines and raise the stakes for Hichilema’s second term. Zambia’s 13 August... →
SADC’s geopolitical moment will not wait
24th August 2026 The Durban summit identified the right economic priorities, but a geopolitical strategy and credible regional security approach are lacking. This... →
Why the EU’s new AI law matters for South African newsrooms
21st August 2026 SA and legacy media can use this world-first legislation to improve their role as guardians of information integrity in an African context. This... →
Chad’s quiet return to French military support
20th August 2026 Chad’s rapprochement clashes with its recent emphasis on national sovereignty and risks reviving insecurity among neighbours and disillusionment at... →
Can Mozambique’s new counter-terrorism centre deliver?
19th August 2026 The centre fills a major counter-insurgency gap in the north, but the challenge will be translating good intentions into results. In November 2025,... →
Criminal links of South Africa’s private security companies also require scrutiny
17th August 2026 Involvement of criminal actors in the private security industry raises questions about industries’ management of firearms. Whether for good reasons... →
Could the AU’s return to Khartoum bring Sudan closer to peace?
17th August 2026 Reopening its liaison office offers a narrow, but real, opportunity for the African Union to help achieve a ceasefire. The African Union’s (AU)... →
US-China rivalry puts Africa’s climate diplomacy to the test
17th August 2026 Current geopolitical tensions could be catastrophic for climate action, especially Africa’s renewable energy transition. Climate action,... →
Will Kenya investigate and prosecute Sudan’s RSF?
12th August 2026 Prosecuting Rapid Support Forces members in Kenya won’t be easy, but will ultimately depend more on politics than on law or capacity. In June, two... →
Community resilience and inclusion in protracted crises: lessons from the Syrian civil war
12th August 2026 By 2020, Syria's protracted civil war had created one of the world's largest humanitarian crises, including the forced displacement of about 50% of... →
