ISS, Institute for Security Studies
The Chagos conundrum – a high-stakes game of brinkmanship
16th April 2026 The Iran war has upended the process of transferring the archipelago’s sovereignty from the UK to Mauritius. The Chagos Archipelago has been in the... →
Justice in Sudan cannot wait for the war to end
15th April 2026 Planning a comprehensive, nationally grounded transitional justice process for Sudan must start sooner rather than later. Today, 15 April, Sudan... →
Digital radicalisation in Senegal: early warning of an evolving terror threat
15th April 2026 As the risk of jihadist influence grows in southeastern Senegal, the digital dimension must be integrated into terrorism prevention strategies. On... →
Africa and the Middle East crisis: better prepared, but not insulated
14th April 2026 The timing couldn’t be worse for a continent just beginning to recover from two recent global shocks. Africa is again staring down the barrel of an... →
Ruto bumps Ramaphosa from France’s G7 – or does he?
13th April 2026 US President Donald Trump had threatened to boycott the G7 summit if South Africa’s president attended. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa... →
Can the UN’s transatlantic slavery decision deliver meaningful reparations?
10th April 2026 The UN General Assembly’s landmark resolution is likely to be stymied by a world divided on how to right past wrongs. A Ghana-led resolution... →
Local election watch: SA’s future is tied to the health of its cities
8th April 2026 Municipal elections will decide whether cities are engines of growth or hotspots of failed governance and unemployment. South Africa’s upcoming... →
Macky Sall’s failed UN bid: a stress test for the African Union?
7th April 2026 Rather than indicating disunity, the outcome shows that the AU upheld its procedures for endorsing candidates to international positions. A draft... →
Breaking the code of silence is key to confronting SA police corruption
2nd April 2026 Fear of retribution and a leadership that does not prioritise police integrity discourage officers from reporting corrupt colleagues. Members of... →
Lessons from Rwanda’s threat to withdraw from Cabo Delgado
2nd April 2026 Kigali’s threat to remove its security forces exposes the limits of Mozambique’s fragile, natural resource-driven security strategy. Senior Rwandan... →
Race against time to stabilise South Sudan as elections loom
30th March 2026 With the window for holding meaningful elections fast closing, can the three initiatives underway deliver more than previous efforts? The December... →
Can the Iran war shift the dial on climate action?
30th March 2026 The war’s impact on Africa will be profound – but lessons learnt could spur a rapid energy transition to a more peaceful continent. The world is... →
Upstreaming offers SA a smarter response to organised crime and corruption
26th March 2026 As justice systems worldwide grapple with tech-driven financial crime, disruption and early intervention are becoming vital prevention tools. South... →
How ECOWAS can make its new counter-terrorism force effective
25th March 2026 Resourcing is key, but the real test will be whether the brigade can coordinate with the AES Unified Force. In February, the Economic Community of... →
Planning to fail: why SA is not preventing violence and crime
24th March 2026 For the past 16 years, South Africa’s government has not planned for the prevention of violence, particularly interpersonal violent crime. The... →
The Madagascar upheaval – coup, revolution or ‘coupvolution’?
23rd March 2026 Coups in the Sahel set a discouraging precedent for whether Madagascar's military leader will leave office in two years. The Southern African... →
Kenya’s chance to redefine Africa’s role in global ocean diplomacy
20th March 2026 As host of the first Our Ocean Conference in Africa, Kenya could pursue a three-pronged strategy to achieve decisive ocean action. The ocean’s... →
SA needs stronger partnerships, not promises, to curb gender-based violence
18th March 2026 President Cyril Ramaphosa recently declared gender-based violence a national disaster – but what does that mean in practice? Following sustained... →
African ship registries: a safe harbour for shadow fleets?
17th March 2026 The number of high-risk vessels flying African flags has surged, increasing risks to legitimate shipping interests and foreign investment. Sweden... →
Algeria’s return to the Sahel: an opportunity to show AES cohesion
16th March 2026 Although Mali remains sceptical, Niger and Burkina Faso’s thawing relationship with Algeria could pave the way for full re-engagement. Since the... →
AGOA changes add to Africa’s rollercoaster ride of US tariffs
13th March 2026 AGOA was designed to give investors predictability – yet its benefits are now threatened by the turmoil of shifting US trade rules. Like most of... →
Could short-term deals weaken Russia’s enduring influence in Africa?
11th March 2026 Russia’s Sahel approach responds to terrorism and fragile regimes – a very different scenario to its Southern Africa ties. As the war in Ukraine... →
National commissioner must lead on tackling SA police corruption
10th March 2026 The primary responsibility for curbing police corruption lies with SAPS leadership – not external agencies like the Independent Police... →
Congo-Brazzaville’s predictable election masks a brewing succession battle
9th March 2026 The growing pool of disaffected youth could test the ruling party’s grip on power, especially as succession questions loom. The Republic of the... →
Trump’s African health strategy falters
6th March 2026 The America First Global Health Strategy is being questioned as exploitative. The United States (US) has run into some problems with its America... →
Will the AES Unified Force succeed where the G5 Sahel failed?
5th March 2026 For Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger’s new force to succeed, relations with neighbouring countries need to be rebuilt. The Alliance of Sahel States’... →
Johannesburg’s water crisis clouds Africa’s bold new water vision
4th March 2026 The effects of Africa’s richest city running dry would be disastrous for its residents, the country’s economy, and the continent. African leaders... →
Mozambique’s LNG renewal: opportunity amid security and secrecy risks
3rd March 2026 Improving security beyond the project site is vital, as is ensuring that gas revenues are managed responsibly and transparently. The resumption of... →
ZANU-PF aims to recycle Mnangagwa through a ‘constitutional coup’
2nd March 2026 A constitutional amendment could give Zimbabwe’s president at least another two years in office, continuing Africa’s growing trend of lawfare.... →
US minerals diplomacy tests Sahel countries’ partnership choices
25th February 2026 Can the security-for-minerals approach yield win-win outcomes for Sahelian states beyond diplomatic recognition? In February, United States (US)... →
Can Mauritius save its credit rating?
25th February 2026 For a small, open economy, reputational strength is a core asset – but time is running out and decisive steps are needed. Mauritius has always... →
From SONA to the street: what real dialogue in South Africa looks like
24th February 2026 Whether national or local, dialogue is about listening, and doesn’t work as a once-off, performative undertaking. South African President Cyril... →
African conflicts barely registered at Munich – but China is paying attention
23rd February 2026 Last week’s Munich Security Conference clearly signalled that Africa needs security alliances beyond its traditional partners. The... →
African countries should resist Europe’s assertive migration diplomacy
19th February 2026 European leaders distance themselves from Trump’s hardline immigration tactics, but how different are their approaches? Since the 2015 ‘migration... →
Could Africa's youth bulge help fill Europe's military ranks?
18th February 2026 Military recruitment increasingly reflects the same demand-supply dynamics that shape global civilian migration. In November 2025, Ukraine’s... →
Regional protection scheme needed for Sudan’s displacement crisis
16th February 2026 The massive scale and fast pace of displacement cycles have overwhelmed support systems in Sudan and neighbouring countries. Almost three years... →
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... →
