Webinars

Dr. Abdoulaye Kane is an Associate Professor in Anthropology at the Center for African Studies at the University of Florida. His teaching and research interest is on the transnational practices of Haalpulaar migrants in Europe and the United States and their impacts on the sending communities in the Senegal River Valley.

Dr. Wendy Williams’ research focuses on forced displacement and migration, violent extremist organizations, illicit financial flows, international human rights, humanitarian law, military professionalism, and the rule of law. Ms. Williams received a B.A. from Columbia College at Columbia University in New York and a J.D. from Columbia Law School and has written several articles on migration and human security.

Dakore Ekpendu is a multimedia journalist, who is dedicated to amplifying voices and stories that matter. With a focus on women, youth, peace, and a myriad of critical issues, her goal is to inform, inspire, and drive positive change through impactful storytelling.

Chriseddy Mwila is a social entrepreneur, award-winning governance expert, and the executive director at BeRelevant Afrika. Mwila holds a bachelor’s degree in politics and international relations from the University of Lusaka.

Vanessa Aboudi is a doctoral student in political science at the University of Yaoundé II, where she obtained her master II in the same discipline. Analyst in governance and democracy at the Nkafu Policy Institute of the Denis & Lenora Foretia Foundation, Vanessa Aboudi is author and co-author of several scientific articles and policy briefs addressing issues relating to governance and democracy, gender and human rights.

Josaphat Musamba, a Congolese researcher, is a PhD student at Ghent University. He is affiliated with the Group for Studies on Conflicts and Human Security (GECSH). He has also served as a liaison officer in the security and safety department of Handicap International and as a Congolese staff member in the United Nations Group of Experts on the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Peer Schouten is a senior researcher at the Danish Institute for International Studies, associate researcher at the International Peace Information Service, and editor-in-chief of Theory Talks. His work combines deep fieldwork in Central Africa with theory development and engagement with policy debates.

Ben Radley is a political economist and lecturer in international development at the University of Bath. His research centres on the interplay between green transitions and economic transformation in Central Africa, with a focus on labour dynamics and the roles played by northern corporations. He is the author of “Disrupted Development in the Congo: The Fragile Foundations of the African Mining Consensus,” to be published in November.

Adeoti Dipeolu is a research associate at the African Leadership Centre (ALC), King’s College London. She is also the coordinator of the ALC’s Leading Practitioners that convenes senior practitioners in the field of peace, security and development, and the Leading Feminist Voices in Africa project. She holds a PhD in Leadership Studies with reference to security and development from King’s College London, and an MA in Public Policy from the University of East Anglia. Her research interests include diaspora, migration, peacebuilding, peace and security.

Emmaculate A. Liaga holds a doctorate degree from the University of Pretoria. She is a post-doc researcher at the Institute for Pan African Thought and Conversation, University of Johannesburg. Her research investigates the peacebuilding strategies employed by both local and international organizations of peace operations in post-conflict communities. Her research interests include peace and security, conflict resolution, agency of communities in policymaking, and international relations theories.

Dr. Primerose Z. J. Bimha is a postdoctoral fellow at Stellenbosch University. She is an international relations and gender studies scholar who has worked in academia, government, and think tank environments. Her research interests include diplomacy, democracy, business strategy, migration management, and gender justice. She has authored and co-authored many works, including “The Status of African Women in Foreign Policy”.

Suntosh R. Pillay is a clinical psychologist, researcher and activist in South Africa. His areas of interest are community and social psychology, public mental health, psychotherapy, decoloniality, LGBTI+ affirmative practices, and socio-political change. He is the co-founder of KZN Mental Health Advocacy Group and is a council member – of the Psychological Society of South Africa (PsySSA).

On June 5, 2021, the Nigerian government announced its suspension of Twitter in the country on grounds that certain actions by the social media company jeopardized the country’s “corporate existence.” But the ban on Twitter was one of the many policies pursued by the Muhammadu Buhari regime that has stifled free speech. The country is also considering a social media bill that promises to limit the freedom of expression. African Liberty senior fellow, Feyisade Adeyemi gets the view of two Nigerian investigative journalists, Damiloa Banjo and Socrates Mbamalu (also of Kenyan descent) on the issue.