Background
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Africa Policy Research Institute, APRI, has been tracking the effects of the war on African countries through a series of essays written by experts in various sectors. The essays cover a range of topics from energy policy and changes in geopolitics to the effects on Africa’s digital transformation. On the 22nd of November, APRI will host a two-part discussion with the experts who wrote the essays, to discuss the effects the war in Ukraine has had on African countries.
The published authors reflected on the respective issues they raised in their essays, and how those issues have played out since the war broke out in February. The first part of the discussion focused on the following issues: internet governance, changes in the EU's security assistance and Great Power competition. Meanwhile, during the second part of the event we will discuss whether African countries should have taken a stronger stand in support of Ukraine. Furthermore, we will touch on Europe’s search for gas and how this affects Africa’s climate justice.
The discussion was held on Twitter Spaces.
Moderator
Christopher O. Ogunmodede is an associate editor for World Politics Review and a foreign affairs analyst. He specializes in diplomacy, development and international security, with a specialist focus on West African history, political institutions and foreign relations. His areas of interest include governance, elections, military dictatorships, comparative authoritarianism, trade and regional integration, migration, diasporism and social movements in Africa, with a focus on the West Africa region.
Speakers
Nanjira Sambuli is a researcher, policy analyst and strategist interested in and working on understanding the unfolding, gendered impacts of ICT adoption on governance, diplomacy, media, entrepreneurship and culture. Nanjira is a Fellow in the Technology and International Affairs Program at The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and a Ford Global Fellow. She is also a co-Chair of Transform Health, and board member at The New Humanitarian, Development Gateway, and Digital Impact Alliance
Aaliyah Vayez is a South African political and security risk analyst. Her main research interests include European politics, African foreign policy and regionalism. She holds a Masters degree in International Relations at the London School of Economics and Political Sciences, a Bachelor's degree of Social Science and an Honours degree in International Relations from the University of Cape Town.
Dr. Cliff Ochieng’ Mboya
Dr. Cliff Ochieng’ Mboya is an Africa-China analyst and International relations practitioner. He is currently a research fellow at the Afro-Sino-Centre of International Relations (ASCIR) and a research associate at the African Centre for the Study of the United States (ACSUS). He previously worked at the China Africa Project as the Africa editor and consultant. He has worked at the Chinese Embassy in Nairobi as information and public affairs officer and interned at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kenya.
Vincent Obisie-Orlu
Vincent Obisie-Orlu is a Natural Resource Governance Researcher. His research focuses on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) risks, the natural resource governance of critical minerals, oil and gas, energy and the energy transition, and advancing Africa's sustainable development.
Dr Toni Haastrup
Dr Toni Haastrup is Professor in International Politics at the University of Stirling. Her research broadly explores the nature of global power hierarchies (between the Global North and South) in knowledge and practice. I have worked in the area of global governance of security via regional security institutions - the African and European Unions. A part of her current research agenda draws on critical feminisms to understand the foreign policy practices of both institutions. In addition to research and teaching on gender and international security issues she sometimes offers media commentary, and advice to international organisations. Toni is a graduate of University of California, Davis (BA), University of Cape Town (MA), and the University of Edinburgh (PhD).