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Security Sector Reform Resource Centre
Backgrounder – Factors behind South Sudan’s Persistent Insecurity
Margarita Yakovenko discusses the persistence of insecurity in South Sudan since the start of the civil war in December 2013. She outlines the main factors contributing to persisting instability, namely the political and military power struggle, the tribal tensions, failed SSR processes, and the corrupt leadership and weak institutions.
This SSR Country Snapshot on Burundi provides information on the state of the country’s security sector reform, particularly relevant amid the continued unrest and threat of violence ahead of June presidential elections.
News
South Sudanese military spending ‘highest’ in the region
A report released by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute revealed South Sudan as having the largest military spending budget in the East African region. —Sudan Tribune
Rouhani: Police should not enforce Islam
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has been criticized by conservative clerics in the country for stating that police should enforce the law and not Islam. —Arash Karami, Al Monitor
Defense bill recognizes Iraq’s Kurdish, Sunni militias as a ‘country’
Julian Pecquet discusses a U.S. draft House bill that “would require that the Kurdish peshmerga, the Sunni tribal security forces with a national security mission, and the Iraqi Sunni National guard be deemed a country” as a strategy to allow the U.S. to provide them with weapons directly. — Julian Pecquet, Al Monitor
No peacekeepers for Ukraine, EU tells Poroshenko
Despite a request by Ukrainian President Poroshenko for an EU peacekeeping mission to the region, the EU has maintained that such a mission would not be feasible. — Daniel McLaughlin, Irish Times
The drawdown of the UN Mission in Liberia resumes
Kerin Landgren discusses UNMIL’s drawdown in Liberia and the steps taken by the Liberian government to ensure a smooth handover of security duties to national forces. — Karin Langden, Huffington Post
Ivory Coast’s former rebels cling to their weapons
Pierre Donadieu discusses the ongoing problem of disarmament of Côte d’Ivoire’s former rebels who helped President Ouatarra come to power in 2011, and notes their potentially destabilizing role in the upcoming elections. — Pierre Donadieu, AFP
Following three-day visit to Montenegro, the OSCE Senior Adviser on Gender Issues, Ambassador Miroslava Beham noted that the country has made significant progress in promoting women’s rights and gender equality specifically in the defense sector, but noted more still needs to be done. — OSCE Newsroom
Colombian ex-spy chief gets 14-year prison sentence
Colombia’s Supreme Court sentenced former intelligence chief Maria del Pilar Hurtado to 14 years in prison for illegally spying on human rights activists, journalists, politicians and judges. — Latin American Herald Tribune
Ban calls for civilian protection in Yemen, urges ceasefire as fuel shortages hamper relief efforts
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon expressed great concern about continued fighting and aerial bombardments in Yemen, and urged all parties involved in military operations to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure. — UN News Centre
Sudan accuses UNAMID of seeking to cover up South Darfur incident
The Sudanese government accused the peacekeeping mission in Darfur, UNAMID, of seeking to cover up what it called the “heinous crime” committed by troops in the town of Kass in South Darfur. — Sudan Tribune
UN peacekeepers repel rebel attack in Timbuktu
UN peacekeepers in Mali said they repelled repeated attacks in Timbuktu as fighting continues, and in some cases intensifies, throughout northern Mali. — BBC
Uganda opposition groups demand electoral reform
Opposition groups and civil society in Uganda have launched a “citizens for reforms now” campaign pushing for electoral reform in the country ahead of general elections in 2016. — Peter Clottey, Voice of America
Analysis
Who are the Imbonerakure and is Burundi unraveling?
Ignatius Ssuuna looks into who are the Imbonerakure, the youth wing of the ruling party in Burundi, amid continued insecurity and unrest ahead of June presidential elections. — Ignatius Ssuuna, IRIN
Moving Nigeria away from fragility
Abdul-Hakeem Ajijola discusses Nigeria’s number 17 ranking on the Fund for Peace’s Fragile States Index, and explores ways in which Nigeria can become more stable in the coming years. — Abdul-Hakeem Ajijola, This Day Live
Vessela Tcherneva discusses the current political and security situation in Ukraine, arguing the government has reached a decisive moment wherein Ukrainian officials will have to address the overarching question of how to keep Ukraine together and how to maintain European unity. — Vessela Tcherneva, European Council on Foreign Relations
Johannes Wamberg Andersen examines the progress made by Ukraine’s post-revolution leaders in fundamental reforms of security and defense, energy, rule of law, public administration and land. — Johannes Wamberg Anderson, Kyiv Post
Briefing: Is Mali’s peace process in peril?
Katarina Hoije discusses ongoing conflict in Mali and explores how and why the peace agreement and cease-fire deal are currently under threat. — Katarina Hoije, IRIN
R2P at 10: The Central African Republic, the Holocaust and the promise of the doctrine
Naomi Kikoler discusses the R2P doctrine as it enters its second decade, noting that while the initial phase of the doctrine was a struggle over ideas, the next should focus on ensuring the doctrine in practice saves lives. — Naomi Kikoler, Open Canada
Start with Libya to combat illegal migration
Mustafa Fetouri discusses the EU’s response to the ongoing migrant crisis, noting that addressing conflict and instability in Libya is of central importance. — Mustafa Fetouri, Al Monitor.
Tribal divisions deepen Anbar battle controversy
Mushreq Abbas argues that in order to effectively combat Islamic State forces in Anbar province of Iraq, political parties must agree on a joint force composed of army and Popular Mobilisation units. — Mushreq Abbas, Al Monitor
Comparing Al Qaeda and ISIS: Different goals, different targets
In this recent Brookings report, Daniel Byman explores the differences in goals and targets between Al Qaeda and Islamic State (IS, ISIS, formerly ISIL). — Daniel Byman, Brookings.
Burma: Police reforms expand women’s roles
Andrew Selth discusses the growing number and expanding role of women in Burma’s police force. — Andrew Selth, Lowy Intepreter
Don’t turn your back on peace, Burundi
Yolande Bouka discusses ongoing unrest in Burundi following President Pierre Nkurunziza’s announcement he will run for a third term. — Yolande Bouka, ISS Today
Publications
European action in Middle East conflicts
In this recent Clingendael policy brief, Shadi Hamid and Daniel Byman discuss the security challenges ongoing conflicts in the Middle East pose to European security, and presents policy implications and recommendations for the European Union to address these pressing issues. — Shadi Hamid and Daniel Byman, Clingendael
A shaky equilibrium in Ukraine
The authors discuss the possibility of whether the Minsk-II agreement will hold in eastern Ukraine. — Andrew C. Kuchins and Jeffrey Mankoff, Center for Strategic and International Studies
The role of media in shaping Libya’s security sector narratives
Naji Abou Khalil and Laurence Hargraves explore Libya’s media landscape amid ongoing conflict, exploring how these information sources serve to shape public opinion and perceptions on Libya’s varied and fragmented security actors. — Naji Abou-Khalil and Laurence Hargreaves, United States Institute of Peace
This new Crisis Group report discusses the current electoral landscape in Myanmar ahead of the country’s planned November 2015 national elections. — International Crisis Group
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