Silencing the Guns
On 21–22 October 2015, the African Union (AU), in collaboration with the Government of Namibia, hosted the Sixth AU High-level Retreat of Special Envoys and Mediators on the Promotion of Peace, Security and Stability in Africa in Windhoek, Namibia. Supported by the African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (ACCORD), and in partnership with […]
Setting the Stage for the UNGA’s High-Level Thematic Debate on UN, Peace and Security
On its 70th anniversary, the United Nations (UN) finds itself at a crossroads. Old and new threats, challenges and risks to international peace and security are increasingly testing the ability of the organisation and the efficacy of the instruments available to it as it attempts to fulfil its primary promise: to “save succeeding generations from […]
Policing in Peace Operation in Africa
The police component has begun to play a much greater role in peace support operations (PSOs) in recent years. It is a critical component that supports the development and implementation of PSOs’ mandates, yet there are still major gaps in understanding how it is effectively designed and deployed, and what areas need improvement. This is […]
Challenges and Priorities for Peace Operations Partnerships between the UN and Regional Organizations
Three considerations explain the importance of regional approaches to peace operations: (1) conflicts are rarely isolated within state borders, (2) those who are closer to the problem are often in a better position to understand and influence it, and (3) their proximity ensures that they have a long-term interest in its outcomes. Sometimes, however, the interests […]
Report of the Special Committee on Social Cohesion in KwaZulu-Natal
This report is the result of an enquiry into factors that threaten social cohesion in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) to determine these threats’ underlying causes and dynamics, and to provide recommendations to the Provincial Government’s Executive Council towards strengthening its policies and interventions. This investigation was conducted by a Special Committee on Social Cohesion, appointed by the […]
Report of the Special Reference Group on Migration and Community Integration in KwaZulu-Natal
TfP Annual report
The end of the year 2013 and beginning of 2014 saw several developments in Africa with significant importance for peace and security on the continent – and with consequences for the peace operations. The UN Security Council continued to give “stabilization” mandates to peacekeeping operations in Africa. In addition to the mission in Mali (MINUSMA), […]
Alternative Dispute Resolution and Peace Studies in Africa
A report on the proceedings of the Fourth International Africa Peace and Conflict Resolution Conference held in Johannesburg, South Africa, on 25 and 26 July 2014, hosted by the African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes and the Center for African Peace and Conflict Resolution, California State University, Sacramento.
South Africa’s Cooperation and Support to Civilian Capacities in the Aftermath of Conflict
According to the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General’s 2011 report titled “Civilian capacity in the aftermath of conflict” (United Nations 2011a) it is clear that countries emerging from conflict are typically confronted with a wide range of urgent demands to build and sustain peace; yet they often also face a critical shortage of capacity to attend […]
Southern Africa Consultation on the Occasion of the 10th Anniversary of the Peace and Security Council
The Peace and Security Council (PSC) is one of the main pillars of the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) established in 2004. In 2014 the PSC commemorates its 10th anniversary. During the past decade, Africa has made significant strides in preventing, containing and resolving conflicts across the continent. However, there is no gainsaying that […]