This issue of 'Focus' covers events in Southern Africa during August and September 1986, including violations of the Nkomati Accord by South Africa, arms supplies to the MNR in Mozambique, sabotage of the Beira oil pipeline, border tensions and attacks involving Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Lesotho, and Swaziland, and incidents involving ANC members. The publication also outlines the objectives and international affiliations of IDAF, and provides a list of sources and abbreviations used.

This issue documents South African destabilisation operations in Southern Africa during 1988-1989, including military attacks, support for insurgent groups (UNITA, MNR), cross-border raids, bombings, assassinations, and other forms of aggression in Angola, Mozambique, Zambia, Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland, and Zimbabwe. The article references numerous primary sources and provides context on the humanitarian impact, including displacement and refugee crises.

This supplement to FOCUS No. 87 provides an analysis of the steps taken and obstacles remaining in the process of negotiating an end to apartheid in South Africa as of early 1990. It details the partial reforms initiated by the apartheid regime, including the unbanning of political organisations, the release of some political prisoners, and the lifting of certain emergency regulations. The supplement critically examines the limitations of these reforms, the continued existence of repressive legislation, the ongoing state of emergency, and the regime's retention of significant powers of repression. It also covers the responses of the African National Congress (ANC) and the international community, and outlines the requirements of the Harare Declaration for genuine negotiations.