Publications

With organized DDR initiatives in 10 African states, there is widespread recognition of the importance of these programs to advancing stability on the continent. Even so, these initiatives are often u...chevron_right

According to Terje Ostebo, ‘ill-considered’ Western military interventions in the Sahel and Horn of Africa may indeed backfire – e.g., they may inadvertently reinforce popular support for the areas’ Islamic militants, particularly within marginalized communities.chevron_right

Growing security threats posed by agile and maneuverable forces have underscored the critical importance of security force mobility to monitor and protect Africa's enormous land mass and coastline. Wh...chevron_right

This paper looks at the conflict in Africa’s Great Lakes region. The author argues that while previous peace agreements have made important contributions to stability, they have not addressed some key...chevron_right

A surge in large-scale attacks over the past year by Nigerian Islamist terrorist organization Boko Haram presents a serious threat to stability in West Africa’s most populous state and the world’s six...chevron_right

Legacies of a national identity crisis fostered during ten years of exploitation of ethnic and regional divisions have left Côte d’Ivoire vulnerable to further instability. Avoiding this will require ...chevron_right

Efforts to counter al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb’s (AQIM) growing influence in both the Maghreb and the Sahel are fragmented because of the inability of neighbors to forge collaborative partnerships...chevron_right

Military acceptance of civilian authority remains a missing piece of Africa’s democratic transition puzzle. While the continent's militaries often perceive the doctrine of democratic civilian control ...chevron_right

Despite numerous attempts at modernization, many African countries are still struggling to establish functional, timely, and trusted judicial systems. Alternative Dispute Resolution is an increasingly...chevron_right

This brief argues that security threats in Mauritania and the Sahel are characterized by layers of intertwined and crosscutting interests at the local, national, and regional levels, international par...chevron_right

Political violence in South Africa is worsening and indicates the country’s potential fragility. Since the end of apartheid, steadily rising inequality has deepened the divide between a wealthy minori...chevron_right

While focusing on the city of Jos, this article argues that 1) Nigeria’s statutory framework grants local officials the authority to extend or deny basic rights to citizens in their jurisdictions, the...chevron_right

Combating irregular forces has become a common feature of the contemporary African security landscape. However, the security sector in most African countries is ill-prepared to conduct effective count...chevron_right

Estimates are that more than half of all Africans will live in cities by 2025. This rapid pace of urbanization is creating a new locus of fragility in many African states – as evidenced by the burgeon...chevron_right

While new information technologies can facilitate crime and politically motivated violence, on the whole they are enhancing human security and sustainable economic development across Africa. In this p...chevron_right