September 10-12, 2019
Washington, D.C.
Overview of the Africa Center
Presented by:
- Dr. Raymond Gilpin (slides)
Required Reading:
- Website: www.africacenter.org
Plenary 1: Conflict Trends in Africa
Presented by:
Recommended readings:
- Ingrid Vik Bakken and Siri Aas Rustad, “Conflict Trends in Africa, 1989-2017,” PRIO Conflict Trends 06, 2018.
- “Africa and the Rule of Law: Statement of the International Development Legal Organization,” May 18, 2016.
Plenary 2: Security Implications of Megatrends
Presented by:
Recommended readings:
- Julia Bello-Schünemann et al. 2017. “African Futures: Key Trends to 2035.” Institute for Security Studies, Policy Brief 105.
- Anton du Plessis and Anya Kaspersen, “Seven trends shaping the future of peace and security in Africa,” World Economic Forum, June 21, 2016.
Plenary 3: Citizen and Community Security
Presented by:
Recommended readings:
- Claire Duguid, Catherine Lena Kelly, and Timothy Meyer, “How can the U.N. restore the rule of law to the Central African Republic?” The Washington Post Monkey Cage blog, April 3, 2018.
- Choose one of the following:
- Emily Cole and Ramatou Adamou Gado, “In Niger, Security Requires a Collaborative Strategy,” U.S. Institute of Peace, September 27, 2018.
- James Rupert, “Amid Rising Sahel Violence, Burkina Faso Builds a Response,” U.S. Institute of Peace, May 16, 2019.
Plenary 4: Maritime Security
Presented by:
Recommended readings:
- “Trends in African Maritime Security,” Africa Center for Strategic Studies, March 15, 2019.
- André Standing, “Criminality in Africa’s Fishing Industry: A Threat to Human Security,” Africa Security Brief No. 33, Africa Center for Strategic Studies, June 6, 2017.
Plenary 5: Cyber Security
Presented by:
- Mr. Benjamin Crockett
Recommended readings:
- Nir Kshetri, “Cybercrime and Cybersecurity in Africa,” Journal of Global Information Technology Management, April 9, 2019, 77-81.
- Emmah Wabuke, “Improving Electoral Cyber Security in Kenya,” Lawfare, September 1, 2017.
Plenary 6: Democratic Transitions
Presented by:
Recommended readings:
- Robert Mattes, “Four in Ten Africans are Deeply Committed to Democracy. That’s the Good News,” The Washington Post Monkey Cage blog, March 5, 2019.
- Meshack Simati, “Why do some elections in Africa turn violent?” The Washington Post Monkey Cage blog, November 22, 2017.
Plenary 7: Violent Extremism: Case Study of the Sahel
Presented by:
- Dr. Anouar Boukhars
Recommended readings:
- “Infographic: The Complex and Growing Threat of Militant Islamist Groups in the Sahel,” Africa Center for Strategic Studies, February 15, 2019.
- “Countering Militancy in the Sahel,” The New Humanitarian, February 26, 2019, http://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/in-depth/countering-militancy-sahel
- Luca Raineri, “If Victims Become Perpetrators: Factors contributing to vulnerability and resilience to violent extremism in the central Sahel,” International Alert, June 2018, especially pp. 7, 49-53.
Plenary 8: Riots and Protests: Case Study of Zimbabwe
Presented by:
- Dr. Shannon Smith (slides)
Recommended readings:
- Piers Pigou, “Revolt and Repression in Zimbabwe,” International Crisis Group, January 18, 2019.
- Jefcoate O’Donnell and Robbie Grammer, “Zimbabwe Crackdown Saps Hopes of Reform,” Foreign Policy, January 17, 2019.
- Nicholas Simpson and Matthias Kronke, “Police in Zimbabwe: Helping hand or iron fist?” Afrobarometer Dispatch No. 296, May 6, 2019.
Plenary 9: Civil War: Case Study of South Sudan
Presented by:
- Dr. Luka Kuol (slides)
Recommended readings:
- Katherine Noel, “Understanding the Roots of Conflict in South Sudan,” (interview with Alex de Waal), Council on Foreign Relations, September 14, 2016.
- Luka Kuol, “Three Trajectories Facing South Sudan,” in Envisioning a Stable South Sudan, Special Report No. 4, Africa Center for Strategic Studies, May 2018.
Case Study Exercise and Brief-Back: A Complex Emergency in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Format:
- Participants will be assigned to one of three sub-groups: crisis of political transitions; the conflict in Kasai, or the UN Organization Mission in DRC.
- Readings identified for each of the sub-groups are required, in order to facilitate discussion.
- As participants meet in their sub-groups, they will discuss the following:
- The pathway to the security challenge and how it has evolved;
- The ways that the security challenge creates obstacles to achieving peace and political development;
- The role and/or limitations for the international and regional communities to improve security.
Required Reading
Sub-Group 1: Assessing the Unrest in Kasai:
- “Report of the team of international experts on the situation in Kasai,” United Nations Human Rights Council, May 7, 2019.
- Congo Research Group, “Executive Summary and Recommendations,” Setting Fire to Your Own House. Crisis in Kasai: The Manipulation of Customary Power and the Instrumentalization of Disorder,” July 2018.
Sub-group 2: Assessing the Electoral Dynamics:
- Tatianna Carayannis & Herbert Weiss, “Congo Kicks the Can Down the Road: How a Failed Election Could Lead to a Violent Uprising,” Foreign Affairs, January 18, 2019.
- “Congo’s New President, Felix Tshisekedi, Does Not Call the Shots,” The Economist, May 23, 2019.
- Stanis Bujakera, “Congo President and Predecessor Agree on Division of Cabinet Posts,” Reuters, July 26, 2019.
Sub-group 3: Assessing the Challenges Facing MONUSCO:
- Thijs Van Laer, “Tough Times Ahead for UN Mission in Congo,” International Peace Institute Global Observatory, April 26, 2018.
- Effective Peace Operations Network, “Executive Summary,” Assessing the Effectiveness of the United Nations Mission in the DRC – MONUSCO, Norwegian Institute of International Affairs, 2019.
- Yvan Yenda Ilunga, “After Strategic Review, What Should Be Done With MONUSCO?” International Peace Institute Global Observatory, June 24, 2019.
Plenary 10: Continental Response: Africa’s Peace and Security Architecture
Presented by:
Recommended readings:
- Amanda Lucey & Moyosore Arewa, “Sustainable Peace: Driving the African Peace and Security Architecture through ECOWAS,” Institute for Security Studies Paper 301, November 2016, pp. 1-3 (Introduction), 11-13 (Conclusions and Annex).
- Paul Nantulya, “The African Union Wavers Between Reform and More of the Same.” Africa Center for Strategic Studies, April 19, 2019.
Plenary 11: National Responses to Security Challenges
Presented by:
- Mr. Mvemba Dizolele
Recommended readings:
- Paul Nantulya, “When Peace Agreements Fail: Lessons from Lesotho, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo,” Africa Center for Strategic Studies, April 30, 2018.
- Ernest Uwazie, “Alternative Dispute Resolution in Africa: Preventing Conflict and Enhancing Stability,” Africa Security Brief No. 16, November 30, 2011.
Plenary 12: Leveraging External Security Partners
Presented by:
- Ambassador David Shinn
Recommended readings:
- Lina Benabdallah, “China-Africa military ties have deepened. Here are 4 things to know,” The Washington Post Monkey Cage blog, July 6, 2018.
- Nick Turse, “U.S. General Worry About Rising Russian and Chinese Influence in Africa, Documents Show,” The Intercept, August 13, 2019.
Plenary 13: Towards Effective Security Sector Institutions in Africa
Presented by:
Recommended readings:
- Stephen Watts et al., Reforming Security Sector Assistance for Africa, RAND Corporation Research Brief, 2018.
- Kristen Harkness, “To Promote Stability and Democracy in Africa, Focus on Its Militaries,” Lawfare blog, October 9, 2016.
Alumni Community Overview
Presented by:
- Mr. Claude Tozé (slides)