As the world awaits news on who will be Iran’s next president, The Conversation discusses who is likely to become Iran’s next supreme leader after the death of President Ebrahim Raisi, the man many expected to take on the supreme leader role after Ali Khamenei. In this article, Arshin Adib-Moghaddam, Professor at SOAS university in London, argues that Raisi was unlikely to succeed Khamenei, given his lackluster religious credentials, and posits that even the Iranian political establishment does not know who is likely to succeed an increasingly unpopular Khamemei, to take on the role as one of the most powerful…

A recent panel discussion explored the complex relationship between emerging technologies and national security, with artificial intelligence (AI), autonomous weapons, and cyber warfare at the centre of the conversation. Leading experts examined the potential benefits and the lurking threats these advancements pose. Cybersecurity emerged as a primary concern. The sophistication of cyberattacks is likely to skyrocket as malicious actors leverage AI for more targeted and disruptive operations. The potential for AI to be weaponised for social control and warfare also sparked ethical concerns. “AI can be used by governments to suppress dissent,” warned a panellist, raising the spectre of authoritarian…

As the South African elections get under way, ISS Africa examines how vulnerable South Africa is to misinformation and disinformation through unverifiable social media posts, designed to influence voters. ISS discusses how information integrity is essential to protect democratic principals and processes. In this article, which we are republishing with ISS Africa’s permission, ISS reveals how its research has shown coordinated techniques similar to those used in other election settings, including ‘follow trains’ and ‘hashjacking’, to push particular agendas, often without readers being aware of such manipulation. Without access to social media data, ensuring voters have verifiable information rather than…

The ANC’s choice of coalition partner could not only alter South Africa’s path but also have wider regional and geopolitical implications due to the country’s strategic location along key maritime routes and its influence in African politics.

The end of official mourning for Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi has kick-started a competition in which as many as 20 potential successors have been proposed.All candidates have to be cleared by the 12-strong elite body known as the Guardian Council, and the regime is torn between ensuring continuity and allowing an open competition that affords the successful candidate true legitimacy.The election on 28h June, triggered by Raisi’s death in a helicopter accident last Sunday, has the potential to expose political divisions within the regime, something that the supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei will seek to avoid in the search for…

In the lead-up to South Africa’s national elections on May 29, an average of at least one politically motivated assassination occurred every two weeks between January and April 2024. This alarming trend is detailed in a new report, The Politics of Murder: Criminal Governance and Targeted Killings in South Africa, by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (Gi-TOC). One of the report’s authors, Chwayita Thobela, discussed in an interview with National Security News how political killings are on the rise in South Africa. Thobela identified key drivers as intra-party conflicts over political positions and competition for lucrative municipal tenders.…

As the digital battlefield rapidly evolves, the Russia-Ukraine conflict has become a critical case study in the effectiveness and strategies of cyber operations during crises. A recent cybersecurity conference in London hosted by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) painted a picture of a shifting cyberwar landscape. Experts highlighted a move away from the predicted cyber blitz towards a new era of digital espionage. “Early predictions focused on widespread disruption,” said Dmitri Alperovitch, Chairman of Silverado Policy Accelerator. However, the reality has been scattered attacks and a struggle for Russia to leverage compromised systems for tactical gains. Alperovitch noted the…

US President Joe Biden has named Kenya as a major non-Nato ally, making it the first sub-Saharan African country to receive that designation. Mr Biden announced the move during a three-day state visit by Kenyan President William Ruto. It is the first such visit to Washington by an African leader in more than 15 years and comes as Russia and China have expanded their influence across the continent. Several governments in the Sahel region and western Africa have also fallen to military coups, leading to the removal of co-operation missions with western nations. The extension of major non-Nato ally status…

A coup attempt against President Félix Tshisekedi’s government in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has been foiled, resulting in three deaths.

Latvia could make the use of deepfakes in political campaigns illegal. President Edgars Rinkēvičs has proposed a law that would make the use of deepfake technology to spread false information about political candidates a criminal offense, punishable by up to five years in prison. This proposal reflects growing concerns that such technology is being weaponised to undermine democratic processes. In a proposed amendment to the Criminal Law, Rinkēvičs wrote, “Deliberately producing or disseminating false discrediting information about candidates for the position of the highest state officials in connection with the process of election, appointment or confirmation of these officials, using…

As the world moves away from fossil fuels, ISS Africa examines how Africa can transition to cleaner energies whilst dealing with increases in energy demand as the continent continues to experience rapid population growth. While other regions are transitioning to renewables, ISS Africa’s modelling, which we are republishing with their permission, shows that the continent is likely to struggle to meet its energy demands whilst making the difficult switch away from fossil fuels. Nuclear, ISS Africa argues, poses the most reliable and feasible solution for the continent. Africa’s large base-load energy demand will require a substantial investment in nuclear. In…

Russia is too scared to deploy its “cutting edge” Armata tank to Ukraine because President Vladimir Putin fears they will all be destroyed, the British Ministry of Defence has claimed. Intelligence chiefs have revealed that the Kremlin fears that its “prestige tank”, known as the T-14, could become an embarrassment to Russia due to “vulnerabilities” exposed cross the country’s tank fleet. Russia has already lost 2,600 tanks, with thousands destroyed in action or abandoned due to mechanical failure, as well as sustaining 450,000 casualties since the war in Ukraine began in 2022. The Armata, which costs between £3m and £7m…