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African Peace & Security Annual Conference (APSACO) - 7th edition

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Add to Calendar 2023-07-10 10:00:00 2023-07-11 16:00:00 African Peace & Security Annual Conference (APSACO) - 7th edition Description Location Policy Center Policy Center Africa/Casablanca public

Post Conflict Reconstruction in Africa

 

APSACO

 

The Policy Center for the New South will organize the 7th edition of the African Peace and Security Annual Conference (APSACO) on July 10-11, 2023, under the theme “Post-Conflict Reconstruction in Africa”. This annual conference provides a platform that allows for the analysis of Africa’s peace and security structures and institutions by focusing on the continent’s assets, history, and its ability to overcome current and emerging challenges and gain global competitive advantage.

The debate on post-conflict reconstruction has been spurred in recent years by African efforts to provide the continent with a policy framework for the post-conflict or post-crisis period (political transition) in line with the African Union Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) and in the wake of the African Governance Architecture (AGA). This concern for sustainable peace on the continent is behind the adoption in Banjul (Gambia) in 2006 of the "AU Policy Framework on Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development (PCRD)" and the establishment of the African Solidarity Initiative (ASI) in July 2012 to coordinate continental financial contributions to the program.

The PCRD review workshop, organized by the AU Peace and Security Commission (PSC) in Accra, Ghana, in September 2022, proposes a better tailored understanding that is more adapted to the new challenges. These realities are not only limited to the changing nature of crises, but also to the issues of financing, the new forms of partnerships, the roles of African actors in creating the best conditions for the deployment of PCRD, and finally, the appropriation ways of the responses provided by the PCRD by states in post-conflict situations. The new version was validated at the meeting held in Cairo, Egypt in March 2023.

The effects of PCRD 2023 will, however, depend largely on its implementation. The previous framework essentially lacked African and international political will. The new one needs outstanding leadership and capacity to mobilize national, regional, and multilateral stakeholders to advance comprehensive solutions to the security, political, and socioeconomic challenges of post-conflict reconstruction.

The seventh edition of the African Peace and Security Annual Conference (APSACO) – scheduled for July 10-11, 2023 - aims to deepen the comparative knowledge on the challenges and catalysts of the implementation of peacebuilding in Africa in general, and PCRD in particular, through the following axes:

- Collective security in Africa: Towards a new conceptual framework?

- What prevention for a sustaining peace?

- African solidarity in times of financial crisis

- For an effective global partnership to enhance the PCRD

APSACO gathers experts from different parts of the world, fields, and professions – from the military and political world to academia and civil society – to promote high level conversations on peace and security in Africa. This annual conference provides a platform that allows for the analysis of Africa’s peace and security structures and institutions by focusing on the continent’s assets, history, and its ability to overcome current and emerging challenges and gain global competitive advantage.

 

 

July 10th, 2023        Day 1

11h30 – 11h40     

Welcoming Remarks

Rachid El Houdaigui, Senior Fellow, Policy Center for the New South

11h40 – 12h00   

Introductory Remarks

12h00 – 12h30   

Opening Conversation

Chair : Mounia Boucetta, Senior Fellow, Policy Center for the New South

 

Speakers:    

Her Excellency Catherine Samba-Panza, Former President, Central African Republic

14h00 – 15h15

Panel 1:  The African Approach to Collective Security

How can the African concept of collective security be improved based on current post-conflict situations in the continent?    

 

Chair: Sara Hasnaa Mokaddem, Manager - Strategic Monitoring & Analysis Unit, Policy Center for the New South

Speakers:

Abu Bakarr Bah, Presidential Research Professor, Northern Illinois University

Mohamed El-Amine Souef, Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission

Dawit Yohannes, Project Manager and Senior Researcher, Training for Peace, Institute for Security Studies

 

15h45 – 17h00    

Panel 2:  Reconciliation and Political Reconstruction   

What is the reconciliation model to be adopted to support and sustain emerging democratic structures?

 

Chair: Nizar Messari, Director of Social Science Research Institute, Al Akhawayn university

Speakers:

Badreddine El Harti, Director, Security Institutions Service United Nations Support Mission in Libya

Margaret Janes-Lucas, Regional Director – Sahel, Tony Blair Institute

Jan Erk, Associate Professor, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University 

17h30 – 18h45    

Panel 3:  Preventive Security Governance

How to promote the reconstruction and stabilization of a legitimate and functional security framework, operating under civilian control and supervision?

 

Chair: Abdelhak Bassou, Senior Fellow, Policy Center for the New South

Speakers:

General Birame Diop, Military Adviser, Office of Military Affairs, Department of Peace Operations, United Nations

Zakaria Hanafi, Director, Moroccan Center for Geopolitical Analysis and Anticipation

Frank Hanson, Air Vice Marshall, Gulf of Guinea Maritime Institute

Norman Sempijja, Associate Professor, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University

    

July 11th, 2023        Day 2

9h30 – 10h45   

Panel 4:  Women and Youth Inclusion in the Consolidation Process   

How to promote the position of women and youth in peacebuilding strategies from the first steps?

 

Chair: Nouzha Chekrouni, Senior Fellow, Policy Center for the New South

Speakers:         

Farida Jaidi, Coordinator, Moroccan Network of Women Mediators for Conflict Prevention and Resolution

Emamsy R. Mbossa Ngossoh, Co-Founder, African Youth Architects

Anny Modi, Executive Director, Afia Mama

Ruby Sandhu-Rojon, Senior Counsel, Hamilton-Advisors Inc

11h15 – 12h30    

Panel 5: Reconstruction and Development Facing Financial Constraints  

How to enhance traditional and alternative financing mechanisms for post-conflict reconstruction programs?

 

Chair: Mounia Boucetta, Senior Fellow, Policy Center for the New South

Speakers:   

Sandra Adong Oder, Head, Post-conflict Reconstruction and Development Unit, African Union

Abdou Souley Diop, Managing Director, MAZARS

Hachim El Ayoubi, Senior Expert, Economic Social and Environmental Council (CESE), Morocco

Frederik Teufel, Lead Coordinator, African Development Bank Group

14h00 – 15h15     

Panel 6: An Effective International Institutional Partnership for Peacebuilding  

What are the tracks for better synergy between the UN Peacebuilding Commission and the African Union on post-conflict reconstruction issues? What are the prospects for the AU’s different international partnerships?

 

Chair: Mohammed Loulichki, Senior Fellow, Policy Center for the New South

Speakers:

Ahmed Abdel-Latif, Ambassador, Director-General, The Cairo International Center for Conflict Resolution, Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding (CCCPA) and Chair, NeTT4Peace

Kidane Kiros, Senior Fellow, Policy Center for the New South

Nuno de Noronha Bragança, Coordinator, Atlantic Centre

Ignacio Fuente Cobo, Artillery Colonel, Spanish Institute for Strategic Studies (IEEE)

15h45 – 17h00    

Report Discussion: Annual Report on Africa’s Geopolitics   

 

Chair: Mehdi Benomar, Head – Research in International Relations, Policy Center for the New South

Speakers:

Jamal Machrouh, Senior Fellow, Policy Center for the New South

Nezha Alaoui M’hammdi, Senior Fellow, Policy Center for the New South

Sâ Benjamin Traoré, Assistant Professor, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University

Hind Zaamoun, PHD Student, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University

Discussants: 

Guido Lanfranchi, Research Fellow, Clingendael

Mahamadou N’fa Simpara, PHD Student, FSJES, Rabat

17h00 – 17h15   

Closing Remarks 

Karim El Aynaoui, Executive President, Policy Center for the New South

 

For more information, please contact: events@policycenter.ma.

Speakers
Ahmed Abdel-Latif
Ambassador, Director-General, The Cairo International Center for Conflict Resolution, Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding (CCCPA) and Chair, NeTT4Peace
Ambassador Ahmed Abdel-Latif, the Director-General of the Cairo International Centre for Conflict Resolution, Peacekeeping, and Peacebuilding (CCCPA) since October 2020. He is also the Executive Director of the Aswan Forum for Sustainable Peace and Development and the first Chair of the African Union’s Network of Think Tanks for Peace (NeTT4Peace) launched in February 2023. A career diplomat since 1997, he has a long-standing experience in multilateral affairs and was posted to Egypt’s mission to the UN and WTO (2000-2004). Prior to joining CCCPA, he was the Permanent Observer of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) to the UN. He joined the Agency in 2015 serving as Chief of Office of the Director General. Ambassador Abdel-Latif holds an LLM from LSE, a BA in pol ...
Sandra Adong Oder
Head, Post-conflict Reconstruction and Development Unit, African Union
Ms. Sandra Adong Oder is the head of the Post-conflict Reconstruction and Development (PCRD) Unit in the Governance and Conflict Prevention Directorate in the Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security of the African Union (AU) Commission. In this position, she facilitates the implementation of peacebuilding and post-conflict reconstruction and development programmes in prioritized countries in the continent within the framework of respective development plans. She was also responsible for facilitating the operationalization of the AU Centre for PCRD launched in December 2021. She also formulated and developed relevant policies and strategies for AU peace support operations and was involved in increasing the understanding of civilian aspects of the African Standby For ...
Nezha Alaoui M’hammdi
Senior Fellow
Mrs. Nezha Alaoui M’Hammdi is Senior Fellow at Policy Center for the New South (since 2020) and the current Ambassador of His Majesty the King of Morocco to Ethiopia and Djibouti since 2016. She has served as first Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Morocco after its return to the African Union by 2017, and to the Peace and Security Council of the AU (April 2018). She is currently Dean of the Council of Arab League Ambassadors to Ethiopia She also served from 2013 to 2016 as an Ambassador of Morocco to Ghana, Togo and Benin, being the first Moroccan female Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco in Africa. After joining the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Morocco in 1989, Mrs. Nezha Alaoui M’Hammdi served mainly in Italy and Ghana. During her assignment, from 2 ...
Abu Bakarr Bah
Presidential Research Professor, Northern Illinois University
Dr. Abu Bakarr Bah is Presidential Research Professor of Sociology at Northern Illinois University and Founding Director of the Institute for Research and Policy Integration in Africa (IRPIA). Professor Bah is also Editor-in-Chief of African Conflict and Peacebuilding Review and African Editor of Critical Sociology. He is Visiting Distinguished Faculty (at large) at Riara University (Kenya), and was Senior Fellow at the Canadian Centre for the Responsibility to Protect. Professor Bah is a frequent guest on international media such as Al Jazeera, FOX TV, and China Radio International. He has been an invited speaker at over forty major institutions such as Stanford University, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, University of South Florida, Renmin University (China), Uni ...
Abdelhak Bassou
Senior Fellow
Abdelhak Bassou is a Senior Fellow at the Policy Center for the New South and a non-resident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Africa Center. He is also an Affiliate Professor at Mohammed VI Polytechnic University. Bassou has had an extensive career in Moroccan National Security, where he served in various capacities including as head of the border division from 1978 to 1993. He was the former director of the Royal Institute of Police in 1998 and served as Head of Regional Security (Errachidia 1999-2003, Sidi Kacem 2003-2005) and as Central Director of General Intelligence from 2006 to 2009.   He holds a master's degree in political science and international studies from the Faculty of Law, Economics, and Social Sciences in Rabat. His academic research delves into ...
Mehdi Benomar
Head – Research in International Relations
Mehdi Benomar has cumulated 18 years of experience as analyst and occupied several positions in public organizations: in National Defense as head of division (2000-2008), in the cabinet of the ministry of Mines and Energy (2010-12) and in OCP Group (2012-2017). He also served as senior consultant in private firm Global Intelligence Partners (G.I.P.) (2008-2010) in Rabat. He specialized in strategic monitoring issues and contributed on different topics related to proliferation, energy and development in sub-Saharan Africa. Nuclear Engineer, he graduated from the Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives and has a master in sciences. ...
Mounia Boucetta
Senior Fellow
Senior Fellow at the Policy Center for the New South, Mounia Boucetta has over 20 years of experience in public administration, holding numerous managerial and leadership roles, and working particularly on the development of industrial and commercial policies. She was most recently Secretary of State to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Morocco from 2017 to 2019.   A graduate from the prestigious Mohammadia School of Engineers (Morocco), Mounia Boucetta joined the Ministry of Industry and Trade in 1991 where she held numerous positions before her appointment as its Secretary General in 2010. In this context, she contributed to numerous projects including, but not limited to, reorganizational projects, implementatio ...
Nouzha Chekrouni
Senior Fellow
Dr. Nouzha Chekrouni is a Senior Fellow at the Policy Center for the New South. She has extensive experience in academia, diplomacy and political leadership.  She has served as His Majesty’s Ambassador to Canada (2009-2016), and Dean of the Council of Arab League Ambassadors to Canada (2015-2016). Dr. Chekrouni was Minister for the Moroccan Community Living Abroad (2002-2007), a Member of Parliament (2002-2007), and the Minister for Women and Social Issues (1998-2002). She holds a Bachelor Degree from the Philological Faculty at the University of Fez, a Post-Graduate Diploma and a PhD in Linguistics from the Université Sorbonne Nouvelle in Paris. Dr. Chekrouni has also completed a Certificate in Ethics and International Relations at Harvard University. She is a 2016 Sen ...
Nuno de Noronha Bragança
Coordinator, Atlantic Centre
Rear Admiral Nuno António de Noronha Bragança is the coordinator of the Atlantic Centre. Previously he was Deputy Director General of the Portuguese Maritime Authority and Deputy Commander of the Portuguese Maritime Police. Throughout his career, RADM Noronha Bragança has held numerous other positions, out of which we highlight the following: Military Advisor to the National Defense Commission of the Portuguese Parliament; Chief of Cabinet of the Admiral Chief of Navy Staff and National Maritime Authority; Commander of the Navy Permanent Task Group for West Africa; Navy Military Advisor of the President of Portugal, and; Officer in the European Union Military Staff in Brussels. RADM de Noronha Bragança attended the Naval School, specializing in Communications and Electronic W ...
Abdou Souley Diop
Managing Director, MAZARS
Mr Abdou Souleye Diop is Partner of Mazars, a leading international audit, tax and advisory firm. He is the Managing Partner of Mazars in Morocco, member of the Board of Mazars in Africa and the Middle East and he is in charge of the Business Development of the Group in this region. Mr Diop has been practicing for over thirty years in advisory and audit across the african continent for governments, public interest companies or large corporates and international donors on strategic subjects, sector reforms or development policies. He also accompanies numerous moroccan companies in their development on the African continent such as banks, insurance companies, telecom companies, industrials, real estate companies… Mr Diop is the Chairman of the committee chair "Africa" of CGEM, t ...
General Birame Diop
Military Adviser, Office of Military Affairs, Department of Peace Operations, United Nations
General Birame Diop was born in Thies, Senegal on 29th March 1961. After completing his Secondary Education, the General joined Senegal Airforce initially completing training at the Royal School of Marrakech, Morocco. During his illustrious career, the General had held numerous key positions. Notably, he was appointed as Chief of the Airforce on promotion to the rank of Brigadier General in January 2015. He remained the Chief of Staff of the Private Staff of the President of Senegal from November 2017 to December 2019. On his promotion to the rank of Lieutenant General in January 2020, he took over as the Chief of the General Staff of the Senegal Armed Forces. He was promoted to the rank of Airforce General in January 2021. General Diop has a vast working experience as part ...
Mohamed El-Amine Souef
Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission
Ambassador Souef Mohamed El-Amine was appointed as the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (SRCC) for Somalia and Head of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) on September 1, 2022. Prior to this role, Amb. Souef served as the Regional Head of Office in the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission (MINUSMA) in Gao, Mali, both from 2015 to 2017 and since August 2020. He brings extensive experience in peacekeeping and foreign affairs, having held various positions within his government, including Comoros’ Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation from 1999 to 2006. Amb. Souef holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Comparative & Modern Literature from Sidi Mohamed Ibn Abdillah Universi ...
Karim El Aynaoui
Executive President
Karim El Aynaoui is Executive President of the Policy Center for the New South. He is also Executive Vice-President of Mohammed VI Polytechnic University and Dean of its Humanities, Economics and Social Sciences Cluster.   Karim El Aynaoui is an economist. From 2005 to 2012, he worked at the Central Bank of Morocco where he held the position of Director of Economics, Statistics, and International Relations. At the Central Bank of Morocco, he was in charge of the Research Department and equally a member of the Governor’s Cabinet. Previously, he worked for eight years at the World Bank as an Economist for its regional units of the Middle East and North Africa and Africa.   Karim El Aynaoui has published books and journal articles on macroeconomic issues in develop ...
Hachim El Ayoubi
Senior Expert, Economic Social and Environmental Council (CESE), Morocco
Hachim El Ayoubi holds a Master’s degree in fisheries management and marine policy. Currently, he serves as a senior expert at CESE Morocco, in charge of international cooperation and acting as a coordinator for the UCESA roadmap. Mr. El Ayoubi previously served as an international consultant and lead specialist in institutional development and program evaluation mainly in ACP regions, developing comprehensive strategic plans and frameworks that address key issues such as governance, employment, poverty eradication, and regional integration across the African continent. With over 20 years of expertise in project management and conducting performance evaluations, Mr. El Ayoubi has made significant contributions in the fields of economic integration, fiscal reform, food securi ...
Badreddine El Harti
Director, Security Institutions Service, United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL)
Mr. Badreddine El harti is currently Director, Security Institutions Service for the United Nations Support Mission in Libya. He served in 2021-2022 as  Head, Ceasefire Monitoring Component in Libya too. Previously,  he was the UN Special Adviser to the President of Burkina Faso for national security (2017-2021) and the Deputy Chief of policy at the UN Secretariat in New York (2011-2015). He has served and supported UN engagement in mediation, human security, Security Sector Governance, Disarmament Demobilization and Reintegration and Protection of Civilians in Haiti, Central African Republic, Libya, Yemen and Syria.,  He has also held senior responsibilities with the Moroccan defense institution as Chief of research and of training & equipme ...
Rachid El Houdaigui
Senior Fellow
Rachid El Houdaïgui is a Senior Fellow at the Policy Center for the New South and an Affiliate Professor at Mohammed VI Polytechnic University. He also serves as a professor of International Relations at Abdelmalek Essaadi University's Law Faculty in Tangier. His expertise encompasses international relations, geopolitics, defense and security, focusing on the Mediterranean region, North Africa, and the Arab world. He also serves as a professor at the Royal College of Advanced Military Studies in Kenitra and is a visiting professor at Cergy-Pontoise University (Paris), Cadiz University (Spain), and La Sagesse University (Beirut, Lebanon).   He is the founder of the Moroccan-Spanish review "Peace and International Security" and oversees the Observatory of Mediterranean St ...
Jan Erk
Associate Professor, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University
Mr. Jan Galip Erk is an Associate Professor at Mohammed VI Polytechnic University. His expertise covers a broad array of areas of high interest to our cluster, including comparative law, governance, public policy and conflict resolution. A few highlights among his affiliations include Bilkent University, Cambridge University, the University of the Western Cape and Leiden University. Professor Erk has also served as member of the editorial boards for such refereed journals as Ethnopolitics, Regional and Federal Studies, and the Law and Development Review; as well as member of the advisory boards of Publis: the Journal of Federalism and the Canadian Journal of Political Science. Professor Erk earned a Bachelor of Science in International Relations, a Masters’ degree in Europea ...
Ignacio Fuente Cobo
Artillery Colonel, Spanish Institute for Strategic Studies (IEEE)
Mr. Ignacio FUENTE COBO is a Spanish Artillery Colonel (Reserve) graduated from the Staff College and the NATO Defense College. He works as Senior Analyst at the Instituto Español de Estudios Estratégicos (IEEE) in Madrid, where he covers the area of, Mediterranean, Mahgreb/Sahel, Energy Security and NATO/EU issues. Previously he worked as a Faculty Adviser (professor) at the NATO Defense College (NDC) in Rome. He is a guest teacher in several Spanish universities such as Universidad de Granada, Universidad Carlos III (Madrid) and Universidad Rey Juan Carlos (Madrid). He has contributed to several books and journals and has published over 150 articles, papers and miscellaneous works in Spanish and foreign publications and newspapers. He is the Spanish Representative at the Ne ...
Zakaria Hanafi
Director, Moroccan Center for Geopolitical Analysis and Anticipation
Mr. Zakaria HANAFI is Director of the Moroccan Center for Geopolitical Analysis and Anticipation in Rabat, where he gives lectures and tutorials based on his own experience, at the Académie marocaine des études diplomatiques of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at Mohamed V University and at the Ecole nationale supérieure de l'administration. In Casablanca, he teaches courses in geopolitics, strategy and international relations at the Gendarmerie Officers' School and at Compétence-Afrique for executives from friendly countries. Abroad, he has shared his work on the strategic diagnosis of states with the Class of 2022 at the Collège des Hautes Études de Stratégie et de Défense in Kinshasa, and subsequently with the University of Bamako, as well as participating as an expert in ...
Frank Hanson
Air Vice Marshall, Gulf of Guinea Maritime Institute
Air Vice Marshal Frank Hanson was commissioned as a pilot into the Ghana Air Force in 1990. He’s currently a distinguished fellow of the Gulf of Guinea Maritime Institute where he provides intellectual base on maritime issues. At the strategic level, the Air Vice Marshal attended the Air War College at the Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama, USA. He attended the Senior Executive Certificate Course in National and International Security at the John F Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University in Cambridge Massachusetts, USA. In a distinguished military career spanning more than 32 years, He served in Eritrea, Ethiopia, as a strategic planner for the AU and UN for the mission in Somalia and was the Commander of the Ghana Aviation Unit (GHAV 1) in Mali. Air Vice Marshal Fr ...
Farida Jaïdi
Coordinator, Moroccan Network of Women Mediators for Conflict Prevention and Resolution
Farida Jaidi is a career diplomat. Throughout her 38-year career with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, she served as Head of Service and Head of Division, Director of Multilateral Cooperation, Consul General in Montreal, Ambassador of His Majesty the King of Morocco in Sweden, Brazil, Paraguay and Suriname and Diplomatic Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs. She participates in many conferences at the international level (UN, AU, UNEP, MNA, FAO). Farida Jaidi was adviser to the Prime Minister at the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF). She was part of the OIF delegation for the supervision of the elections in Mauritania and also chaired the OIF Delegation for the supervision of the elections in Niger. Currently Farida Jaidi is a trainer an ...
Margaret Janes-Lucas
Regional Director – Sahel, Tony Blair Institute
Ms. Maggie Janes-Lucas is an agile problem solver focused on addressing the major security and stability, economic, and natural resource challenges across Africa, with a specific focus on the Sahel and wider West Africa. She has over 15 years of experience leading the implementation of humanitarian, resilience and peace and stability priorities, mentoring diverse, multi-cultural teams in the USA, Africa, and Central Asia. Currently, the Sr. Advisor on the Sahel for the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, Ms. Janes-Lucas supports political leaders, advisors and regional institutes on strategy, policy and delivery using tech as an enabler, as well as leads policy dialogue, thought leadership and external partnership engagement to help clients deliver in their countries and a ...
Kidane Kiros
Senior Fellow
Dr. Kidane Kiros Bitsue is currently Professor-Researcher at Mohammed VI Polytechnic University’s Faculty of Humanities, Economics and Social Sciences and Senior Fellow at Policy Centre for the New South. He holds a PhD degree in Development Studies. Prior to joining Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Dr Kidane served as the Director of the Institute for Peace and Security Studies (IPSS) of Addis Ababa University (AAU) from March 2014 – June 2019. In his capacity as the Director of IPSS, he had directed the successful conduct of six (6) annual conferences of Tana High-Level Forum on Security in Africa that took place from 2014 – 2019. As a result of efforts done under his directorship in the areas of academic, research and outreach activities; IPSS had been rated among the t ...
Guido Lanfranchi
Research Fellow, Clingendael
Guido Lanfranchi is a research fellow at Clingendael’s Conflict Research Unit (CRU). He contributes to CRU’s Horn of Africa programme, focusing on Sudan, Ethiopia and Somalia. Guido’s research interests revolve around the interplay between economic, political and security dynamics, with a focus on how economic interests and business elites shape governance arrangements and conflict patterns. Guido also conducts research on geopolitical dynamics in the Horn of Africa, including the engagement of various foreign powers (Russia, China, Arab Gulf states, etc.). Guido holds a master’s degree in International Security from SciencesPo Paris and a bachelor's degree in International Studies from Leiden University. Prior to joining Clingendael, he interned at the Council of the EU, whe ...
Mohammed Loulichki
Senior Fellow
Mohammed Loulichki is a Senior Fellow at the Policy Center for the New South and an Affiliate Professor at Mohammed VI Polytechnic University. He brings over 40 years of comprehensive experience in diplomacy, conflict resolution, and human rights. He has served in various roles including as a member and Deputy Head of the Moroccan delegation to the 3rd Conference on the Law of the Sea (1982-1990), Head of the Department of Legal Affairs and Treaties at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1988-1991), and General Director for Multilateral Affairs in the same ministry (2003-2006).   He also acted as Morocco's Ambassador to Hungary, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Croatia (1995-1999), and was the Moroccan Government's Ambassador Coordinator with MINURSO (1999-2001). Furthermore, he se ...
Jamal Machrouh
Senior Fellow
Jamal Machrouh is Senior Fellow at the Policy Center for the New South where he focuses on Geopolitics and International Relations issues, as well as Adjunct Professor at the Faculty of Governance, Economic and Social Sciences of the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P). He is also professor of international relations at the National School of Business and Management, Ibn Toufaïl University, Kénitra. Mr. Machrouh is lecturer at the Royal College of Advanced Military Studies of Kénitra and at Södertörn University of Stockholm, Sweden. He is the author of a book titled Justice and Development under World Trade Organization and of various articles dealing with international relations and geopolitics. ...
Emamsy R. Mbossa Ngossoh
Co-Founder, African Youth Architects
Mr. Emamsy Mbossa is a Youth Ambassador for Peace and Human Rights Advocate, engaged in community service and Youth empowerment. Mr Mbossa is the cofounder and Board Chairman of African Youth Architects, a nonprofit that specializes in youth empowerment quality education, and entrepreneurship. He is also the founder of Conflict Insider, a consulting company that aims at empowering peaceful solutions and providing conflict prevention and mitigation training. Mr. Emamsy Mbossa earned his Master of Science in Negotiation and Conflict Resolution from Columbia University. He was awarded the Dean Excellence Award, which is the Greatest Honorary Prize granted by Columbia University for his excellent academic achievement and his professional promise through its humanitarian activities ...
Nizar Messari
Director of Social Science Research Institute, Al Akhawayn university
Nizar Messari is Associate Professor at Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane (AUI), Morocco. He served as Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, and then as Vice President for Academic Affairs at the same university. He was Rice Scholar at Yale University’s MacMillan Center during the academic year 2021-22. Before returning to Morocco in January 2010, he was Assistant Professor at PUC-Rio, Brazil. He has published in journals such as Security Dialogue, International Studies Perspective, Refugee Survey Quarterly, The Journal of North African Studies, Cultures & Conflits (in French), Contexto Internacional and Politica Externa (both in Portuguese) as well as in edited volumes in English, Portuguese and French. He is the co-author with João Pontes Nogueira of Teori ...
Anny Modi
Executive Director, Afia Mama
 Anny Tengamendite Modi is a co-founder and executive director of AFIA MAMA, an NGO focused on improving women's well-being and addressing issues such as stigma and discrimination faced by individuals living with HIV/AIDS, as well as survivors of gender-based violence. She is a feminist gender activist and expert in women's rights, justice, leadership, and development. Anny has been involved in various initiatives, including setting up a girl-led research unit and a volunteer working group called the Gender Champion Group. She played a significant role in a DFID/UKAID funded program called "La pépinière," conducting research on young women's economic empowerment. She also initiated a movement of young women leaders in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) with the suppor ...
Sara Hasnaa Mokaddem
Manager - Strategic Monitoring & Analysis Unit
Sara Mokaddem is the Manager of the Strategic Monitoring & Analysis Unit at the Policy Center for the New South. Prior to that, she has worked as a research analyst in charge of specific due-diligence reporting and risk analysis on private placements for a London-based investment fund focused on the mining and energy sectors. She has also worked with firms and individuals on attaining FCA authorization and regulation in the United Kingdom. Her previous professional experience includes a position as a visiting researcher at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) in 2011 and 2012 where she has produced research on the post-revolutionary situation in Tunisia and Libya and on the security of the Sahel. Having written modules on corporate forensics and on employee protectio ...
Catherine Samba-Panza
Former President, Central African Republic
A company lawyer, human rights activist, Catherine SAMBA-PANZA, has conducted numerous actions in favour of women's law. A woman of dialogue, a member of the National Council of Mediation and the group of Wise of the Central African Republic, she has often been involved in the processes of dialogue and national reconciliation in her country. Appointed Mayor of the city of Bangui in May 2013, then elected Head of State for the Transition of the Central African Republic in January 2014, she succeeded in completing the Transition by the organization in 2015 and 2016 of free, transparent and credible elections Which She has not been a candidate, thus complying with the provisions of the Transitional Constitutional Charter. Since the end of her term, Ms. SAMBA-PANZA has participa ...
Ruby Sandhu-Rojon
Senior Counsel, Hamilton-Advisors Inc
Ms. Ruby Sandhu-Rojon has had a diverse career in the UN system for over 34 years serving in both field based and HQ . Currently she provides leadership training through the UNSSC, mentors UN Resident Coordinators as well as supports the UN on developing the talent pipeline for the future leaders of the UN. She recently served as the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS). In this capacity, she provided overall leadership and shaping strategic thinking for UN’s engagement in the region including monitoring strategic direction. She has also served as the UNDP Deputy Assistant Administrator and Deputy Regional Director of the Regional Bureau for Africa. Prior to that She served as UN Resident C ...
Norman Sempijja
Associate Professor, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University
Norman Sempijja is an Associate Professor at Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, where his teaching specialisation is in international relations theory, contemporary issues in international relations, political philosophy and the African state. His research focuses on international security especially peacekeeping and peacebuilding in Africa. He also has research interests in inter-organisational cooperation in peacekeeping and peacebuilding with specific focus on the European Union, the United Nations and the African Union. He has published widely in journals like African Security, the Journal of Contemporary African Studies, Stability, Conflict Security and Development, Revista CIDOB d’Afers Internacionals, Africa Review and Politkon. He has published an edited book entitle ...
Mahamadou N’fa Simpara
PHD Student, FSJES, Rabat
Simpara Mahamadou N’fa is a specialist in peace and security governance in Africa. He is the author of the book "De l'OUA au G5 Sahel: une brève histoire de la gouvernance sécuritaire en Afrique," published by Harmattan-Paris, African Studies collections, in December 2022. He has worked with several research centers on the issues of peace and security, governance, migration and development in Africa. Mr. Simpara has served as a consultant to ICESCO for the development of a booklet on best practices to strengthen community resilience during times of crisis through empowering youth and women in 10 African countries He holds a master's degree in Diplomatic Studies and International Relations and is currently a doctoral candidate in International Relations at Mohammed V Universit ...
Frederik Teufel
Lead Coordinator, African Development Bank Group
Mr. Frederik Teufel is a Lead Coordinator in the Transition States Coordination Office at the African Development Bank (AfDB). He is responsible for promoting innovative financing mechanisms that raise resources for interventions at the humanitarian-development-peace-security nexus, including through the capital markets, and ensures that these are deployed effectively through holistic investment strategies that also leverage the private sector to build a resilient and peaceful continent. Frederik has 18 years of experience in development finance with a focus on Africa and Latin America where he managed and evaluated projects, facilitated investments in frontier markets, and carried out political economy assessments. Prior to his current position, he was the Advisor to AfDB’s ...
Sâ Benjamin Traoré
Professor of Law, Faculty of Governance, Economics and Social Sciences, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (FGSES-UM6P)
Professor Traoré holds a Doctorate in Law from the University of Neuchâtel (Switzerland), an LLM in International Law from the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights and a Master in Public Law from the University from Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso). Prior to joining UM6P, Prof Traoré worked as the Project Manager for the African Coalition for Corporate Accountability (ACCA). His work and research focused on the role of law in regulating business-related human rights and environmental impacts in Africa, traditional fields of international law and international relations, peace and security in Africa, human rights, international humanitarian law as well as the law related to refugees and internally displaced persons. He has published many academic articles ...
Dawit Yohannes
Project Manager and Senior Researcher, Training for Peace, Institute for Security Studies
Dawit Yohannes (PhD) is a Senior Researcher and Project Manager for the Training for Peace Programme at the Institute for Security Studies (ISS). He has worked as a researcher, academic coordinator, and programme manager for various organisations, including the ISS, the University of Leipzig, and Addis Ababa University. Dawit's current research focuses on the conflict prevention, peacebuilding, and peace support operations roles of the African Union and national dialogue and reconciliation processes in the Horn of Africa. He is a contributing author to three volumes of the Yearbook on the African Union, focusing on the peace and security roles of the AU in 2020, 2021, and 2022. Dawit has a PhD in Global Studies from the joint PhD programme of the University of Leipzig and Ad ...
Hind Zaamoun
PhD Student, Mohamed VI Polytechnic University
Mrs. Hind Zaamoun is a PhD student at Mohamed VI Polytechnic University. She holds a master’s degree in international relations from University of Turin (Italy). She previously held the position of research assistant at the UM6P. Her current PhD project explores the impact of the geopolitical dynamics on peacebuilding implementation in the context of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Her area of interest include: conflict resolution, post-conflict transitions, peacebuilding and DDR processes. ...