African Peace and Security

The number of armed conflicts has increased in Sub-Saharan Africa, with the threat from armed non-state actors, organized crime and trafficking, and protracted power struggles undermining institutions and stability.

Image — A Sudanese soldier walks in a procession during President Omar al-Bashir's tour in Darfur on 21 September. Photo: Getty Images.

Instability in the Horn of Africa is a key focus of the Africa Programme’s work on peace and security, with research and convenings taking place in support of peaceful outcomes, as well as more informed bilateral and multilateral responses. Research activities to understand the transnational dimensions of conflict in the Horn of Africa and beyond are covered by the Cross-Border Conflict Evidence, Policy and Trends (XCEPT) project.

Programme research on the wars in Sudan and Ethiopia has highlighted how commodities can form part of a transnational conflict ecosystem, which sustains war and exacerbates humanitarian crises. Outputs include research papers on gold and the war in Sudan and the ‘conflict economy’ of sesame in Ethiopia and Sudan.

Growing instability in the Sahel remains a critical focus of the Africa Programme’s work, as the region grapples with escalating conflicts, unconstitutional changes of government and the spread of violent extremism. The Programme is collaborating with the UNDP on lessons learned from African peace processes, while ongoing work on insecurity and peace processes in the Democratic Republic of the Congo aims to help policymakers identify factors that contribute to the durability of peace agreements.

Research focus

Insecurity in the Horn of Africa
Transnational conflict responses
Western Sahel security dynamics
The war in Sudan
Conflict and instability in the Great Lakes region
African Peace Processes
African Peace and Security Architecture

Project work

A man distributes food at an Emergency Response Room communal kitchen in Bir Hamada, in Khartoum state, Sudan, March 2025.

Guests discuss the vital role Sudan Emergency Response Rooms play in the humanitarian response to the ongoing war – particularly the less documented contributions of Sudanese women.

Following a panel event on West African security with foreign ministers of Ghana and Nigeria at Chatham House, Paul Ejime and Paul Melly join the podcast to discuss the ministers’ call for local security solutions in the region.

A group of Somali troops peering over a fortified fence.

A special episode with HE Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, African Union (AU) Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS).

Cristóvão Artur Chume, defence minister of Mozambique, reflects on his efforts to reform and modernize his country’s military infrastructure in response to the conflict in northern Mozambique.

Young man with a Malian flag during a demonstration in Bamako to celebrate France's announcement to withdraw troops from Mali. Photo by FLORENT VERGNES/AFP via Getty Images.

Ukraine draws focus away from Africa’s conflict hotspots, a key concern at the AU and UN Joint Strategic Assessment on Security in the Sahel high-level consultation.

The sudden end of the 30-year rule of President Idriss Déby Itno with his unexpected death leaves massive uncertainty hanging over the future of Chad itself.

Strengthening the social contract, tackling governance failures, and replacing a counterterrorism imperative with a focus on human security are long overdue in the Western Sahel.

Nigeria’s newly appointed service chiefs have a brief window of opportunity to change their strategic approach, embrace reform and move beyond past failures before old habits set in.

Nigeria is experiencing a powerful moment in its democratic journey, as anger and frustration pour out over allegations of police brutality.

Sudan is looking towards a brighter future after the initialling of the Juba peace agreement on August 31, an important first step towards bringing peace to the conflict zones and laying the foundation for democratic transition and economic reform throughout the country.

Press conference in Kati after the military arrested Malian president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and he officially resigned. Photo by ANNIE RISEMBERG / AFP via Getty Images.

This coup was not unexpected as it followed months of mass protests against alleged corruption, a worsening economy and disputed elections.

Ethiopia is experiencing a turbulent transition. The uncompromising approach of political forces threatens to tear the country apart and reverse the hard-won gains made in recent years.

A papal visit will highlight the importance of the recently signed peace agreement between the government and opposition.

Sudan has a unique opportunity to embrace democratic transition but there is no room for complacency. Comprehensive reforms and a united democratic front will be key to achieving peace, freedom and justice, as will continued international pressure.

This paper examines how the deal to end civil conflict was achieved and highlights potential risks in the run-up to the October 2019 elections and beyond.

This publication draws on and updates the briefing note published following a meeting of the All- Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Angola on 26 April 2017. It also incorporates insights from a Chatham House Africa Programme conference session on the legacies of the Angolan Civil War, held on 23 March 2018; and draws on the Africa Programme’s research into conservation-driven development models in Southern Africa.

Sudanese protesters open their smartphones lights as they gather for a million-strong march outside the army headquarters in Khartoum on April 25, 2019. Photo by OZAN KOSE/AFP/Getty Images.

Sudan has seen more change in the last four months than in the previous 30 years, and there is now a mixture of euphoria and caution about the future, following the removal of Omar Al Bashir.

There is an urgent need to address widespread failings in Nigeria’s security services, but so far President Buhari has not tackled these challenges.

Sudanese MPs attend a parliamentary seesion in Khartoum, as lawmakers discuss the measure imposed by the president to quell anti-government protests. Photo by ASHRAF SHAZLY/AFP/Getty Images.

The longer genuine political and economic reform is delayed in Sudan, the greater the risk of wider instability and deepening economic crisis.

The country still faces a plethora of problems that have ruined past peace efforts, and it is uncertain whether the latest peace deal will last. But there are steps that could be taken to make this more likely.

With a growing number of think-tanks worldwide, find out 12 things you should know about their history and what lies for them ahead.

A fresh insurrection by Biafra secessionists would plunge the country into deeper insecurity.

A wave of devastating attacks and reprisals in the southern part of the state is a chilling reminder of rural Nigeria’s vast security vulnerabilities and communal tensions.

The ongoing struggle for greater influence, inclusion, accountability and representation in northern Nigeria is central to understanding transformations in the region’s politics, especially in the context of its security challenges and a looming general election in 2015.

Member content

The rise of a radical jihadist group to international infamy

Past events

This event, in partnership with the UNDP, examines the experiences gained from peace negotiations on the African continent and the role played by local, regional and international actors.

This panel discussion explores perspectives on the war and discusses scenarios for its evolution and resolution.

A hybrid event in Addis Ababa reflecting on Mozambique’s 2019 peace agreement and the lessons it offers for the African Union’s ‘Silencing the Guns’ agenda by 2030.