Martin Plaut, School of Advanced Study, University of London
As South Africa became an international pariah, it began working in shady ways through even more shady operators, including getting arms from the Soviet Union and China.
Africa is still witnessing an increase in social turbulence, unrest and protest. Only rapid, inclusive economic growth combined with good governance can make the continent less volatile.
Poor leadership in crime intelligence and a struggling detective service are affecting the ability of South Africa - where a murder happens every 28 minutes - to bring down crime.
The international conference for the economic recovery of Mali resulted in promises of substantial aid, but the areas targeted fail to address the country’s real needs.
Chair of the Board of Trustees and Head of African Futures & Innovation at the Institute for Security Studies. Extraordinary Professor in the Centre of Human Rights, University of Pretoria