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West Africa now
Watch the recording of the seminar here
Amidst the global focus on events such as Russia's actions in Ukraine and Israel’s war in Gaza, West Africa is undergoing significant transformations that are redefining its political landscape and reverberating beyond its borders. Recent military coups in countries like Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea have underscored the fragility of democratic institutions and the governance challenges posed by both internal and external pressures. The closure of the UN mission in Mali serves as a poignant reminder of the intricate hurdles facing contemporary peacekeeping endeavors, while also signaling the diminishing influence of traditional Western powers, notably in Europe, and the expanding strategic foothold of China and Russia in the region.
As external stakeholders, neighbouring countries, and global powers grapple with their roles in Africa, states within West Africa are actively seeking solutions to multifaceted challenges spanning climate change, migration, military coups, and democratic setbacks. Through this seminar, we aim to illuminate the myriad challenges shaping West Africa, offering a platform for in-depth discussions on recent political upheavals, the growing influence of Russia, and the complex web of migration patterns intersecting the region and beyond. With key experts in their respective fields, the seminar delves into the historical and political complexities of West Africa’s current challenges and contemplate their enduring ramifications for the region and beyond.
Kwesi Aning is a Guest Researcher at the Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS), specialising in topics like peacekeeping, political violence, and security. His article, co-authored with Kwaku Danso, "African experiences and alternativity in International Relations theorizing about security," published in International Affairs, won the Chatham House International Affairs Centenary Prize in March 2023.
Nina Wilén is Research Director for the Africa Programme at the Egmont Institute for International Relations, Belgium, and Associate Professor at the Department of Political Science at Lund University, Sweden. Her research focuses on Security Force Assistance (SFA), Security Sector Reform (SSR), the politics of peacekeeping operations, and gender, all with a focus on the military institution. She is the author of the book Justifying Interventions: (De) Stabilizing Sovereignty in Liberia, Burundi and the Congo (Palgrave Macmillan), and African Peacekeeping (Cambridge University Press, 2022) with Jonathan Fisher.
Nauja Kleist is a Senior Researcher at the Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS)
Flemming Splidsboel Hansen is a Senior Researcher at the Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS)
Peter Albrecht is a Senior Researcher at the Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS)
Programme
15.00-15.05 Introduction, Peter Albrecht
15.05-15.25 The balancing act of ECOWAS: between security and democracy, Kwesi Aning
15.25-15.45 Procurement by proxies: how Sahelian juntas oust security partners, Nina Wilén
15.45-16.05 Mobile livelihoods and a pathway to a better life: Past and present migration in West Africa, Nauja Kleist
16.05-16.25 As Moscow looks to (West) Africa, Flemming Splidsboel Hansen
16.25-17.00 Q&A, moderated by Peter Albrecht
The seminar was held and recorded on 18 April 2024, 15.00-17.00 in DIIS Auditorium.
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