ALC Pan-African Radio: Recent Episodes
ALC Pan-African Radio
ALC Pan-African Radio is a public interest radio established by the African Leadership Centre (ALC) with a core focus on peace, security and leadership in Africa. It will serve audiences across Africa and in the Diaspora. Programmes broadcast will fall broadly in the area of peace and security, discuss leadership dimensions and responses, engage all shades of African opinion, and adhere to a set of core values.
In today's climate of violence across Nigeria, where communities often lack adequate government protection, one organisation stands out in its relief efforts: the Neem Foundation. A non-governmental organisation whose mission is to achieve ‘global peace through social and psychological well-being’ within communities in Nigeria, Neem Foundation works to protect people and communities affected by violence and insurgence by the terrorist group, Boko Haram, especially girls.
Sudan is not just at war—it is unraveling in the face of non-responsive global leadership. The country has descended into a brutal conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) that has plunged the country into a spiraling state of desolation and a catastrophic humanitarian crisis.As of late April 2025, over 12.7 million people have been forcibly displaced, including a staggering 4 million children - an unprecedented humanitarian disaster, the largest displacement crisis the world is witnessing..Geoffrey Lou Duke, a fellow at the Africa Leadership Centre looks at how the international community’s failure to stem weapons flows is fueling war crimes and imperiling regional security and stability:
Over the past decade, Africa has seen 11 successful military coups across eight countries — a resurgence that’s reignited tough questions. Are these coups a rejection of democracy, a call for sovereignty, or something more complex? To help us unpack this, ALC fellow Esther Wadzanai Mano takes us to Zimbabwe — the setting of one of the most overlooked but revealing contested changes of government of recent times.
Since Siad Barre overthrew Somalia’s civilian government in 1969, the country has struggled to find its footing and deal with ongoing political instability. Amal Mohamed, a fellow at the African Leadership Centre, reflects on how Barre’s leadership initially promised unity and reform, but ultimately deepened the country’s divisions, and what lessons his legacy holds for leadership today.
This discussion programme explores how the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) has become more than a football tournament, serving as a symbol of national unity, regional solidarity, and a platform for peace messaging. The episode examines the tensions and political reactions that emerge after the final whistle, revealing deeper dynamics of power, peace, and development across the continent. Through social media debates and public discourse, it interrogates questions of identity and belonging, highlighting how AFCON can unite, but also divide and stereotype in Africa.
Since independence in 2011, South Sudan has only experienced one year of peace before descending into repeated transitional governments and conflict. Civil society voices blame political leaders, particularly President Salva Kiir and Vice President Riek Machar, for derailing progress and fostering division. The population continues to suffer under the grip of a small elite maintaining the status quo. There is widespread disillusionment as hopes for democracy fade. Calls grow louder for genuine leadership and structural change to avoid yet another cycle of violence.
Women Building Peace in Sudan: Overcoming Challenges through Local Initiatives by ALC Pan-African Radio
Nigeria's Struggle for National Unity: Navigating Ethno-Nationalism and Security Challenges by ALC Pan-African Radio
Femicide in Kenya as A Gendered Injustice and Leadership Challenge by ALC Pan-African Radio
Catalyzing Equality in Africa: Spotlighting Women's Leadership and Agency in Gender-Responsive Financing
The ALC Pan-African radio program featured Kaltumi Abdulazeez ALC Women Fellow, and Merceline Odhiambo ALC African Women in Leadership and Peacebuilding Fellow, who shared their experiences as founders of women-led organizations. The program aimed to discuss the challenges faced by women in political governance and peacebuilding. The discussion highlighted the differences in experiences between women and men in leadership spaces, as well as the prevalence of violence against women in those spaces.
Talking Africa Programme with Dr Fola on Niger Coup and the Role of Military by ALC Pan-African Radio
Discussion Programme: Ethiopia Watch report and Conflict in Africa by ALC Pan-African Radio
Talking Africa Programme with Kenneth Mpyisi African inter-party Dialogue by ALC Pan-African Radio
Tackling the electricity issue in West Africa - The West African Power Pool (WAPP) by ALC Pan-African Radio
Corruption’s Security Consequences in Developing Countries A Case Study of Nigeria by ALC Pan-African Radio
Why South Sudanese women must seize the constitutional moment in the country by ALC Pan-African Radio
'Blood Diamonds' or a 'girl's best friend' – An analysis of Zimbabwe's Chiadzwa-Marange Diamonds by ALC Pan-African Radio
The Implications of Poor Implementation of the Juba Agreement for Peace on Security in Sudan by ALC Pan-African Radio
Political Control: Tanzania’s Most Prominent Security Sector Governance Challenge by ALC Pan-African Radio
Magazine Programme: An exhibition challenging oriental stereotype of Algerian women: NO TO TORTURE by ALC Pan-African Radio
Reconceptualising the state through new media: a case of the Building Bridges Initiative Kenya by ALC Pan-African Radio
Peter Da Costa Memorial Lecture: Continuities & discontinuities in Africa: governance, development & regional peace & security was delivered by keynote speaker, Professor Chidi Anselm Odinkalu, International Human Rights Lawyer, Professor of Practice in International Human Rights Law, The Fletcher School at Tufts University.
Les pays francophones d'Afrique de l'Ouest ont une histoire complexe et interdépendante. Ayant traversé l'esclavage, la colonisation et accédé à l'indépendance au cours de la même décennie, ils sont aujourd'hui politiquement et économiquement liés par le biais de deux principales institutions régionales, à savoir la CEDEAO (Communauté économique des États de l'Afrique de l'Ouest) et l'UEMOA (Union économique et monétaire ouest-africaine). Cependant, malgré la fin du colonialisme, la France maintient toujours une forte présence dans ces pays et certains d'entre eux ont connu un niveau d'insécurité sans précédent ces dernières années. Raïssa Zoungrana, membre de l'African Leadership Centre s'intéressant aux questions de sécurité en Afrique de l'Ouest/Sahel, elle en explique les causes et comment différents acteurs dans les pays francophones prétendent résoudre la situation.
In the age of globalization food security and stability are interlinked; armed conflicts are a key driver of food insecurity affecting regions beyond the battlefield. The ongoing Ukraine war is testament to this notion as it has created new food insecurity whilst highlighted existing systemic weaknesses in global food security. The European Union’s partial embargo of Russian oil and its plans to phase imports of Russian natural gas, creates an opportunity for African oil and natural gas-producing countries to access global market. Sara Tadesse a fellow at the Africa Leadership Centre has an academic background in International Relations and African Studies. She looks at the implications of the ongoing war in the Ukraine on food security in the continent.
In 2013, the African Union adopted its Silencing the Guns initiative with the aim of silencing all guns and ending all conflicts by 2020. For the past nine years the African Union has undertaken efforts to realise this laudable objective, guided by the AU Master Roadmap of Practical Steps to Silence the Guns in Africa. In a quest to ensure that all guns are silenced in Africa, the AU has earmarked September as the Africa amnesty month, where all Africans can return their guns without fear of prosecution. Gorata Chepete shares with us what the amnesty month means and how Africa can better prepare for its success. She is a Motswana criminologist with a Degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Botswana and a Diploma in Political Economic Risk Analysis from the University of Stellenbosch. She is currently a Fellow on the African Leadership Centre’s (ALC) Peace, Security and Development Fellowship Programme for Early Career Women in partnership with King’s College London (KCL). She previously worked closely with the African Union on its year of the Silencing the Guns programme, actively reporting to the AU Peace and Security department about violence/insurgency in Africa particularly about the effective rolling out of the programme through an African focused consultancy firm.She is now focused on terrorism and counterterrorism.
Wokedje Homawoo is a Togolese and French Leadership and Development MSc student and Peace, Security, and Development Associate Fellow at the King’s College London African Leadership Centre. She holds an International Management BSc from The University of Manchester Alliance Business School and The Chinese University of Hong Kong. With experiences in both the private and non-profit sectors, her research interests include food security and sustainable agriculture, education access, and digital transformation. Today we will be exploring notions of media and communications in the African context. What role do media and communications play in governance and culture? How can an intergovernmental continental institution such as the African Union openly admit their inefficiency in communicating with its constituents?
West African francophone countries shave a complex interrelated history. Having gone through slavery, colonization and reaching independence within the same decade, today they are politically, and economically interwined through two main regional institutions, namely ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States), and WAEMU (West African Economic and Monetary Union). However, despite the end of colonialism, France still maintains a strong presence in these countries and some of them have been witnessed an unprecedented level of insecurity in recent years. Raïssa Zoungrana a fellow at the African Leadership Centre with an interest in security issues in West Africa or the Sahel, discusses how different actors in Francophone countries are pretending to resolve the situation.
Since the years of independence, Africa has experienced more coups than any other continent. The social, political and economic conditions prevailing in different African countries are have been the driving force behind destabilising nations, creating environments for coups on the continent. Social discontent, largely expressed through protest, has been met with varying degrees of suppression, co-option and consolidation of the status quo. Chelsea Cohen, a woman fellow at the African Leadership Centre with an interest in the intersection between leadership and the socio-political factors that contribute to peace and (in)security dynamics. She examines the recent spate in coups on the continent and what these coups are telling us about our domestic affairs.
The current African Cup of Nations taking place in Cameroon has been marred by controversy from the start. First, there was the chaos in the match between Tunisia and Mali that the Zambian referee decided to finish twice before the ninety minutes, then the kick-off of the match between Gambia and Mauritania being delayed by fourty five minutes and the wrong national anthem being played three times for the Mauritania team, the volatile security situation in the country and the coronavirus pandemic which has affected many players from most teams. All these challenges and more have made some people especially from several European countries and few from North Africa speak openly about the need for the tournament to be either postponed. This has angered Cameroonian football officials and well - known former players. To discuss this, we are joined by: Hubert Kinkoh a peace, security and development researcher across Africa and Research Associate and Coordinator of the Peace, Security and Development Fellowship Programmes at the African Leadership Centre; having previously worked with several international organisations. Hubert is originally from Cameroon.
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Judith Macharia, an alumni of the African Leadership Centre, King’s College London Fellowship programme and a consultant at the Football Foundation of Africa. Judith is also the Programme Coordinator of the Africa Football Development Network. She also manages grassroot sport for development initiatives in Africa through her organization known as Roads to Goals. Judith is from Kenya.
Fakhrriyyah Abdallah, a fellow at the ALC, speaks about Neem foundation, and how they are supporting peace efforts through psychosocial support in the North East of Nigeria.
Audio Clip: BBC News Africa & Neem Foundation
Susanne Mbise, a fellow at the ALC gives a glimpse to the journey of women’s representation in political leadership in Tanzania.
Abdullahi Rage a fellow at the ALC, traces Abiy's rise to power and examines how he is handling the highly controversial war in Tigray.
Audio Clip: Al Jazeera & CGTN Africa
South Africa, like most countries across the globe, continues to criminalize sex work under the Sexual Offences Act drafted during the apartheid period. Sex workers therefore continue to be insecure and at risk of encountering violence and harassment by both the police and clients. Let alone stigma when they seek public healthcare services. Not to mention, how the Covid-19 pandemic has worsened the situation for them. Sara Soumaya Abed, a fellow at the ALC, reflects on how two South African sex workers-led organizations, SWEAT and Sisonke, respond to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Audio clips: eNCA
Halima Ahmed, a peace, security and development early-career women fellow at the ALC from Kenya, looks at Police Brutality and Inequality in Nairobi, Kenya during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Audio Clip: Global News
Leonie Mills, a fellow at the ALC from Ghana looks at Rwanda's history; how the country has been able to avoid new conflicts and how President Kagame emerged.
Audio Clip: Open Society Foundations & FRANCE 24 English
PI Africa was launched in Nairobi in December 2019, the first of four regional hubs of Protection International, a Brussels-based organisation that supports human rights defenders. Susan Muriungi, Regional Director of PI Africa, talks about how this will help in ensuring more timely interventions where threats exist.
Dr Albert Mbiatem from Cameroon, who recently co-authored a book, Whose Peace Are We Building? Leadership for Peace in Africa, with Youssef Mahmoud, tells Desmond Davies how the project evolved. He also spoke about the current state of leadership in Africa.
Mounira Chaieb is a former BBC Arabic Service Journalist, Freelance writer and mentor at The African Leadership Centre.
Tunde Zack-Williams, Emeritus Professor of Sociology, University of Central Lancashire in the UK, has been, for the last 50 years, at the forefront of reshaping African Studies on the continent and in the West. He shares his experiences with Talking Africa.
Image: ASAUK (African Studies Association UK)
UN peacekeeping has been beset with conflicting expectations and outcomes. Youssef Mahmoud, who headed two peacekeeping operations in Africa, gives an insight to the lessons he learnt during his stints at the helm of bringing peace and stability to intra-state conflicts.
Why is there no comprehensive sexual harassment policy in the AU? Varaidzo Mupunga a fellow from the African Leadership Centre discusses the #METOO! Movement in the African Union and unpacks findings of the High Level Committee set up to investigate allegations of sexual harassment and assault in the AU.
The flare up in Tigray on November 4, 2020 took many by surprise. But Dr Hibist Kassa, Senior Researcher at the Institute of African Alternatives in Cape Town, says the telltale signs have been there since the overthrow of the Derg regime in 1991.
In this Magazine Programme, our Editor and Presenter, Mounira Chaieb speaks to Larbi Touaf Professor of English and Comparative Literature at Mohammed Premier University, Oujda, Morocco and Dr. Marwa Maziad an international relations and Middle East media and politics expert. In this edition we look at why certain North African Countries have been showing a keen Economic interest in Countries South of Sahara in recent years.
For this Talking Africa programme Professor Toyin Falola of the University of Texas at Austin discusses the US election and governance in Africa.
Image:https://bit.ly/33lOois
October marks black history month in UK, which was first celebrated in 1987. The events undertaken throughout the month are intended to highlight the contribution and achievements of people of African descent. It’s also an opportunity to raise awareness about issues people of African descent go through such as racism, discrimination and how to challenge those issues. Over the years, the Africa Leadership Center at King’s College London has been marking Black History Month through holding events to showcase the work of various departments, units and academics that engage in research, education and outreach activities relating to Africa; and to facilitate interaction between academics across King’s faculties working on Africa and African policy practitioners as well as experts from partner institutions. This year, the ALC held what it called ‘Africa Week” and in this edition of the Magazine programme, we highlight some of the issues discussed recently. Professor Fumni Olonisakin, Co-Founder of the African Leadership Centre at King’s College London, Vice-President and Vice-Principal International had a conversation with Professor David Olusuga - who’s himself of African descent- Journalist and leading Public Historian at the University of Manchester in the north of England on the importance of global black histories;
For the second part of the Discussion Programme our Editor Desmond Davies engages with our Women and Early-Career Fellows, Chimwemwe Fabiano (MALAWI) Tabitha Mwangi (KNYA). Ikran Abdullahi (KENYA) and Margaret LoWilla Nyoka (SOUTH SUDANESE)on their Fellowship journey and how Covid-19 has affected their Studies.
For this Talking Africa programme Desmond Davies speaks to Professor Cheryl Hendricks, Executive Director of the Africa Institute of South Africa, Human Sciences Research Council. The interview discusses South Africa's relations with the Continent.
In this Discussion Programme our Editor Desmond Davies engages with our MSc Security, Leadership and Development Fellows, Ivy NYAWIRA (Kenya),Essa NJIE (The Gambia) and Ibrahim MACHINA (Nigeria) on their Fellowship journey and how Covid-19 has affected their Studies.
For this Talking Africa programme Desmond Davies speaks to Mr. Kojo Yankah, the Former Government Minister in Ghana and Founder of Pan African World Heritage Museum which was Launched virtually in September 21 and will be based in Ghana. The interview discusses Black culture and the need for Africans to tell their own story.
Dr. Peter Kofi Da Costa who passed away on 18 August 2019 was Vice-Chair of ALC’s Board of Trustees as well as mentor at the Centre. Dr. Da Costa was instrumental in shaping the strategic direction of ALC’s knowledge transfer agenda and projection of ALC voice to a broader constituency of actors. He steered the Centre’s effort to improve data and research communication so as to upscale the impact and reach of the ALC. In this Lecture titled “Peter Kofi Da Costa and leadership of Africa's knowledge revolution from the sidelines” delivered by ALC’s Founding Director, Prof. Funmi Olonisakin who is currently Vice President & Vice-Principal International King’s College London, Dr. Da Costa would be remember by he led a knowledge revolution framed by a particular worldview and position in relation to the politics of knowledge. The Lecture served as the Launch of what will become a part of several legacy projects to be dedicated to his Legacy by the Centre.
In this Magazine Programme, our Editor and Presenter, Mounira Chaieb interviewed four African artists: Boitumelo;Tumy Motsoatsoe - Head of Programs, Business and Arts, BASA South Africa, Makhtar Fall AKA Xumman - Musician, Broadcaster, Valerie Asiimwe Amani - Artist and Ahmed El Attar -Theatre Director, Playwright and cultural manager who are using different forms of Arts from Music, Fashion Activism to Technology, on challenges and problems faced by activists, different ways artist are using to expressing themselves, to platforms they are using to express themselves and the misconceptions that surrounds the industry and how they have managed to go about that.
Diana Russell in her book the ‘politics of woman killing’ defines femicide as the killing of women by men because they are women. Russell argues that while men are murdered more frequently than women, they are rarely murdered simply because they are men. South Africa has experienced the worst of Gender Based Violence in what has been termed by the nation a Femicide crisis with more cases being reported than any other country in Africa. A South African police service report stated that femicide increased by eleven percent between 2016 and 2018. Despite these numbers, limited action has been taken by the government.
For many, it is easier to perceive women in their non-threatening domestic roles. Nonetheless, they often defy expectations to fight in the front lines for the rights and freedoms of their people. In the recent Sudanese uprising in 2019, women took to the streets to protest against the President Omar al-Bashir government. A government that for many decades was oppressive. However, the recent uprising was not the first of its kind. Sudan has twice previously removed the authoritarian regimes of Ibrahim Abboud and Jafa’ar Nimeiri; where similarly women were intricately involved. Unfortunately, their contributions were minimized and not reflected in subsequent governance structures.
African women have made and continue to make significant contributions to Peace and Security since the colonial period. Colonial disruptions deepened assigned gender roles within African society, which was accompanied by gender discrimination. Therefore, in addition to economic oppression, the colonial administration instituted oppressive patriarchal governance structures that excluded women from political participation and from political power.
The Sudanese women’s movement emerged from the anti-colonial and nationalist movements of the 1950s and 60s. At this time, Sudanese women were heavily involved in the fight for democracy and human rights. It was through this liberation struggle that they were able to secure their political and economic rights and some of their social rights. Their participation is first notable in the October 1964 Revolution against the military dictatorship of Ibrahim Abboud; and then in the April 1985 Intifada which broke out after years of economic crisis. The situation was so bad that locals could no longer afford their basic needs. These frustrations were common among citizens and led to the movement which forced the May Regime of Jafa’ar Nimeiri to step down.
Signs of the third Sudanese revolution began in December 2018. Several protests against President Omar al-Bashir took place, nationwide and on social media, demanding economic reforms and the resignation of the president. That was Alaa Salah standing on a car, leading other protesters In February 2019, a state of emergency was declared as a result of the protests. Two months later in April saw the largest protests since the declaration of the state of emergency. During this time, a picture circulated on the internet of a young woman draped in white clothing, adorned with a pair of round, gold earrings, standing on a car, leading other protestors in chants and songs. The picture went viral and earned her the titles “Woman in White” and “Lady Liberty”. Her name is Alaa Salah. She would be the face of the third Sudanese revolution. Eventually the protests led to the military forcefully removing al-Bashir from power and in his place they installed a transitional council. This was not to the protesters’ satisfaction. The demonstrators, some who were former ALC women fellows like Gihan Eltahir, wanted more than a change of leadership of the same regime- they demanded a civilian transitional council. Furthermore, Salah stressed the importance of women participating in formal political spaces. She noted that despite women often accounting for seventy per cent of protesters, they were side-lined in the creation of transitional institutions. This speaks to the experience of several other women movements in Africa and provides insight into the deep contestations between African women and the state about the exercise of power.
In May 1991 Somaliland a country that is located in the North eastern part of Somalia seceded as a self-declared state from Somalia. However, it is yet to gain international recognition from the United Nations. Somaliland faced civil war under the Somali president Siad Barre whose aim was to unite the greater Somalia. During the war, 95 % of the infrastructure and institutions were destroyed. Many people who had previously worked as doctors were killed while the few remaining ones either emigrated to western countries or were displaced. Edna Adan Ismail, former first lady and a former senior diplomat who had worked for the World Health Organisation for 32 years and studied in London South Bank University, embarked on a journey in 1993 to construct the first maternity hospital in the capital city Hargeisa, Somaliland. Maternal and infant deaths had been a major health concern to the government of Somaliland but there was no single maternity center. According to UNICEF, at the time, close to 60 percent of women gave birth at home in Somaliland with the help of traditional midwives. As a result, child mortality was very high as every 7th child perished before their fifth birthday. Women’s healthcare was also affected by the drought, lack of food, lack of safe drinking water and scarcity of proper sanitary services and general health services. To begin with, Edna started constructing a hospital which was completed in 2002. Construction work took long – four years- because of the lack of human labor and skills. Incredibly, the first baby was born within 10 hours of the hospital’s opening. Today, the hospital has been successful in facilitating the delivery of more than 12000 babies. However, having a fully equipped medical hospital required medical personnel. As such, the next step for Edna Adan Ismael was to have a training centre where she could train young women who could run the hospital. The hospital became an academic medical centre where skills, knowledge and competency for nurses and midwives were taught. She trained more than 1000 nurses and midwives. Her students knew what they were doing as far as patient care was concerned. They cared with compassion and treated while upholding the dignity for patients. Her greatest passion was to multiply the number of doctors, nurses and midwives. As a result, her efforts produced practitioners capable of giving back to societies across Somaliland. Most women who visited the hospital were referred because of pregnancy-related complications. However, the hospital also assisted members of the society who had other medical conditions. The site that was once a garbage dump had been transformed into a successful hospital that could perform procedures on highly complex cases affecting children. Somaliland still has the highest maternal mortality rate in the world but among the 12000 babies delivered successfully, the hospital had been able to reduce the maternal mortality to a quarter of the national average. The achievement was brought about by the emergency preparedness that the hospital takes pride in having doctors and nurses who are on stand by to treat any emergencies.
Successful leadership requires tireless work to meet the needs of the society during a crisis. Edna and her society emerged in a crisis situation to bring her expertise forward to improve reproductive health in her community and reduce infant and maternal mortality. Edna set an inspiring example by choosing to use her pension to establish a hospital and make a difference in the society, that is a challenge to us all to play our roles in changing society. Edna Ismael is a leaving proof that says where there is a will there is a way.
On the day of the attack, Abdul Haji, a Nairobi based businessman received a distress message from his brother saying that he was at Westgate Mall where what he described as a terror attack was underway. Abdul drove to Westgate mall intending to try save his brother. At the mall, Abdul found a group of licensed civilian gun holders and police officers involved in rescue efforts. Armed with just a single handgun and a clip full of ammunition, he provided cover to the Kenya Red Cross personnel rescuing the wounded as he looked for his brother. Effective government response during the crisis was affected by poor communication and coordination by government agencies, inadequate special forces personnel and equipment, round the clock media coverage where unverified information was shared and al Shabaab’s use of social media to sneer Kenyans and threaten more violence. As such, people who put their lives on the line to rescue victims were regarded as heroes. Leadership is the process through which individuals or groups are influenced to behave in a certain way to achieve shared goals. Haji’s desire to save his brother aligned with the interests of the Red Cross and police involved in the rescue efforts. This merging of interests is known as mutuality. Leaders can only influence others through the merging of interests from the leader and followers. The kind of leadership shown here is situational leadership where leaders arise because of a specific reason or context. In Haji’s case, his initial intention of rescuing his brother was extended to helping others. Abdul emerged as a leader because he had useful skills needed to lead to safety. Also, being armed and able to use a firearm made people to trust him because he could protect them. Abdul’s father had been the Minister for Security and he had taught his children how to handle guns for their personal security. Abdul’s story resonated with many Kenyans who had been overcome by fear as he showed courage and commitment to transform the situation. His efforts helped victims trapped in the complex and the rescue workers who needed cover to fulfil their duties. Besides, Abdul continued to help with rescue efforts despite knowing that his brother had already been rescued. This made him a likeable individual. Leadership scholars would classify this likeability under referent power which refers to the capability of an individual to be liked by others because they can relate with them.
Rescuing people reduced the number of those killed in the attack. Abdul’s actions echoed the president’s statement that said that despite the attack, Kenyans remained resilient and as bold as the lions on the country’s coat of arms. Abdul’s identity as a Muslim and a Somali leading rescue effort was an act of defiance and contrary to al Shabaab’s ideology that pits Muslims and non-Muslims. His actions demonstrated that al Shabaab militants are violent individuals who seek political goals for themselves through targeting/ or threatening to target everyone who opposes their violent Although the crisis was one of the worst recent attacks for the country, Kenyan society has been better off in its aftermath because many measures were put in place to improve the government’s response. For instance, the National Counter Terrorism Centre was restructured for multiagency cooperation; there was increased training of media personnel on how to report terror-related incidents; security personnel continue to received more training on rescue operations and there is increased community- government cooperation through community policing. Additionally, many licensed gun owners now help with rescue efforts.
Since 2009, violent attacks by the militant group Jama’atu Ahlussunnah Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (commonly known as Boko Haram) has not only disrupted socio-economic and political activities in North East Nigeria but has led to forced displacement, the death and abduction of thousands of people and destruction of livelihoods. This caused a large scale humanitarian crisis in the North East region of Nigeria. Out of the 13 million people living in the states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa, 7 million are in dire need of humanitarian assistance. Among them, close to 2 million are internally displaced while close to 1 million are living in areas that are hard to reach by the humanitarian agencies because of insecurity. What the communities in North East Nigeria are demanding is eradication of Boko Haram and an effective response to the humanitarian crisis. After President Muhammadu Buhari assumed power in May 2015, the Nigerian military response recorded some success against the insurgents. For example, most of the territory in North East Nigeria previously under the control of Boko Haram was recaptured by the Nigeria military. Also, the government has succeeded in negotiating the release of some of the kidnapped Dapchi and Chibok girls. This led the government to declare that it had ‘technically won the war’ against the insurgents because Boko Haram could no longer mount ‘conventional attacks’ against government establishment, security forces or civilian population. However, recent activities in the North East indicate that Boko Haram is still active and is proof that the military approach alone cannot tackle the Boko Haram insurgency. While hard-power tactics may have immediate success, it cannot establish strategic long term and sustainable solutions. To achieve sustainable peace, I strongly believe that government and relevant stakeholders should adopt a broad national response that will build effective partnership between the government, the security forces and communities in North East Nigeria. Currently, there is a disconnect and lack of trust between people in North East and the government. Also, current approach by the government fails to recognise the role of relevant stakeholders in the society such as community leaders who play a prominent role in building peace without occupying any formal position. Also, factors that led to the emergence of Boko Haram in the first place need to be addressed. Indeed, President Muhammadu Buhari is under intense pressure to act decisively in order to end the insurgency. Some call for the sacking of the current heads of the security forces. I believe, government should rethink its current military strategies of fighting the insurgency and develop a concerted effort that will address the root causes of the problem.
Academic freedom protects the right to ask sensitive and even dangerous questions that matter to society. Academic freedom is not just for scholars and students to ask questions but the freedom for everyone to think and ask questions that really matter to them and society today. Questions about the environment, questions about security, questions about poverty and development, questions about justice, questions about truth.
In 2011 academic freedom in Malawi came under threat when Dr Blessings Chinsinga, a lecturer at the University of Malawi was summoned by the Inspector General of the Police. Dr Chinsinga was questioned, because, during a lecture he had drawn parallels between the foreign currency and fuel shortage in Malawi at the time, and the causes of the 2011 Arab Spring that was underway in Egypt and Tunisia. But the summon and questioning was contrary to the constitution of Malawi. The constitution of Malawi spells out that academic freedom cannot be constrained even in an officially declared state of emergency.
Fearing regression into the dark days of a past regime when many scholars were detained, the academic staff union petitioned the University of Malawi Council authorities and the Inspector General of the Police. In response, the Inspector General argued that academic freedom should be balanced with national security; and the President supported the Inspector General’s statement. Dr Edge Kanyongolo a renowned professor of Law in Malawi made this observation: To protest the restraint on academic freedom, the academic staff union boycotted classes. In response the University Council dismissed four of the lecturers which included Dr Edge Kanyongolo, the professor of law and the chairperson of the academic staff union, Dr Jessie Kabwila Kapasula. They were dismissed for misconduct, insubordination and embarking on industrial action.
The academia led protests which lasted eight months were later joined by students, citizens and the civil society culminating in nationwide protests. The civil society and citizens petitioned government with twenty demands. These demands included the re-assurance of academic freedom and the cancellation of newly introduced protest fees.
After eight months of protests, the President conceded and re-affirmed academic freedom as is it is spelled-out in the constitution. Academic freedom must not and cannot be constrained. Ultimately the protests were successful, and perhaps fostered a transient guard against any threat to the democratic governance of Malawi across class and other societal divides. Dr Jessie Kabwila Kapasula, captured the experience as follows:
This is the year the academia showed Malawi and the world that we are public intellectuals who can network with villagers, taxi drivers, market vendors and help the nation articulate how much it values academic freedom and other constitutional rights.” “This year we demonstrated that one can be educated but not be elitist, the space between the university and village can be narrowed. Academic freedom is something that is understood and valued not just by ‘educated’ people but even those who are educated in the non-formal, rural and so called ‘illiterate’ ways.
Academic freedom protects the right to ask sensitive and even dangerous questions that matter to society. Academic freedom is not just for scholars and students to ask questions but the freedom for everyone to think and ask questions that really matter to them and society today. As Dr Edge Kanyongolo observed, a threat to academic freedom anywhere is a threat to academic freedom everywhere. It must be guarded jealously.
Who says women cannot put an end to a war? Who says women are not good at putting to pressure on their governments to deliver? Liberian women have proven to be leaders worthy to talk about in the discourse of leadership and security in Africa. Liberia this uncolonized West-African Country had to through two Civil wars before Peace could Finally Arrive. Post-independence Africa witnessed numerous conflicts, especially in West Africa; in the Casamance region of Senegal, in Sierra Leone and of course Liberia. Today, Liberia continues to experience governance challenges under President George Weah. Such challenges were partly responsible for the outbreak of the second civil war in 1999. But women are in fact in the lead in ensuring government accountability to avoid a slip back to the 1999 ugly scenario. We may not be pessimistic but should be cautious. Liberia’s second civil war ended in 2003. Who was behind the end of this war? In this programme, I shall take you through the role of the Liberian women peace movement under the leadership of a Nobel peace prize winner and a peace advocate, Leymar Gbowee in ending the country’s second civil war. The war erupted when rebel group, Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD) emerged in the north of the country. These were disenfranchised warlords who started confrontation with Taylor’s regime in 1999. The country’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission estimated that over 250, 000 people were killed and about one million more displaced. The war also destroyed the economy and livelihoods in the country. and the entire Liberian nation was traumatised and hopes shattered. Rape was more evident during the war which triggered the rise of the Mass Action for Peace; the women peace movement in responding to the crisis, with the goal of attaining peace. As rebels advanced towards Monrovia, Leymah Gbowee, a woman, got inspired to prepare a response; a desire that brought Christian and Muslim women together to form a peace movement as an effective response mechanism. While Taylor tried to use the church to advance his goal, Leymah provided a counternarrative; the idea to bring women of both the Christian and Muslim faiths to start a peace movement. In the context of situational leadership analysis, Gbowee’s ideas were religiously inspired that motivated the peace movement. The unity found at the heart of the Mass Action for Peace which included the women peace movement was a struggle to attain peace. Their shared experience as mothers, sisters, aunts and daughters united them on a common purpose. Bernard Bass and Ronald Riggio posit that transformational leadership is anchored on the involvement of both men and women-the gender dimension of leadership. Gbowee’s leadership style of persistence, energising the women group towards their common goal paid dividend. A peace deal was signed, and a transitional government set up to oversee a democratic election. This election marked a new beginning of hope, democracy and stability in Liberia. The second Liberian civil war impacted negatively on the people: from loss of lives to rape and pillage. It is worthy to note that women were the key drivers of peace in the country through various forms of engagement. Liberia became better off as the country underwent a post-conflict development and peacebuilding process, including Security Sector Reform (SSR) as part of its transitional justice program. In addition, the election of Allen Johnson Sirleaf marked the country’s true transition to democracy; Liberia stands out as a beacon of democracy and stability in West Africa. It is safe to conclude that Liberia is heading towards democratic consolidation. Without the non-violent, yet effective response from the women peace movement, it is arguable that Liberia would have now been a failed state. Liberian has won!!!
In this Discussion Programme our Editor and Presenter, Mounira Chaieb engages Nancy Adimora Founding Editor,AFREADA and Yovanka Paquete Bissau-Guinean Writer, Editor and Translator on African Literature, their experience and expectations.
In this discussion Program, Desmond Davis engages Prof. Funmi Olonisakin Prof. of Security, Leadership and Development and Prof. Medhane Tadesse Horn of Africa expert on Governance and Security. The panellists discusses about Africa at King’s and the State of Regional Peace and Stability in the Horn of Africa'.
In this Magazine Programme, our Editor and Presenter, Mounira Chaieb features Kader Attia a French-Algerian artist who exhibits his work for the first time in the UK; The Exhibition is called “The Museum of Emotion”. He uses sculptures, collections, videos and photographs to show case the control put by western societies and how colonialism continues to shape how Western societies represent and engage with non-Western cultures and offers a passionate critique of modern Western systems of control that define everything from traditional museology to the design of modernist social housing’. The Artists captures moments experienced in the course of a precarious and difficult existence and explores strong emotions such as joy, fear and humiliation as a way of healing rather than a source of conflict.
Photo:Kadar Attia/Facebook
Democracy in much of Africa is constrained from delivering on its development potential for three reasons. Scholars and practitioners have summed this up in the lack of governance capacity, and malpractices that undermine electoral democracy. But does this mean the future of democracy is bleak? In this Talking Africa Program, Desmond Davis engages Professor. Karuti Kanyinga Associate Research Professor of Development Studies at the Institute for Development Studies (IDS), University of Nairobi. Professor Karuti discusses the future of Africa and how Africans see themselves and their future of governance and the significant changes taking place with some countries institutionalizing democratic reforms.
Emerging powers such as China are shifting global trade relationships. For example, trade between Africa and China has grown from 10 to 20 per cent annually in recent years. Most of China’s imports from Africa have been natural resources. These exports have increased by about 46% from 38 billion dollars to 46 billion dollars over the last 10 years. But despite this growth, there have been complaints of unfair trade contracts. In 1998, the Zambian government sold 85 per cent shares in the country’s copper mines to Chinese companies. They ended up making considerably more than they should have made from the deal. There have also been reports of unfair contracts between the government and Chinese companies involved in diamond mining in Zimbabwe. Then there are the issues of market deregulation and corporate social responsibility. Countries have fully or partially introduced deregulation of their extractive industries, particularly oil and gas, and mining, to allow increased private sector participation in the natural resource industry. Countries that cannot deregulate end up adopting innovative joint venture options. This is believed to have led to improved efficiency, competition and comparative transparency in the sector because of the involvement of multiple companies. Although deregulation has opened the doors to more competition, and stiff tariffs have been reduced, the effects are not all positive. Reduced influence of government in areas with natural resources has posed challenges to communities in which companies operate. When governments cannot monitor and enforce regulatory standards, serious socio-economic challenges have directly affected these communities. Constant oil spills in the petroleum sector, for example, have led to conflict between Shell and the people of the Niger Delta in Nigeria. Corruption and accountability are other aspects of natural resource governance. These thrive where state institutions are weak. In many African countries, there have been reports of warlords trading with international actors illegally. In other cases, state actors trade illegally, such as in the Democratic Republic of Congo and in Liberia and Sierra Leone. Illegal diamond mining in Sierra Leone has led to forged documents to back this trade. Corruption and embezzlement of extractive proceeds have come to light in many resource-rich countries in the developing world. To combat this, much attention has been placed on the extractive industry transparency initiative (EITI) as a global standard for the good governance of oil, gas and mineral resources. It is seen as a scheme that would help in achieving transparency in rich mineral developing countries. While the EITI has increased accountability in the extractive sector, it has also been riddled with some challenges. Although the EITI tracks income from extractive industries it does not focus on spending, missing out on tracking illicit financial flows and expenditure-level corruption. Also, the framework does not have sanctioning powers. Finally, the link between natural resources and armed conflict has been contested in some quarters although there is evidence to support the correlation, particularly in developing countries. But natural resources are really never the causes of conflict. However, they are linked to conflict when we have increased economic marginalization, political exclusion and struggles for economic control of these resources. It is often thought that natural resources contribute to conflict in three major ways. First, allocating wealth derived from natural resources often lead to conflict with groups looking to control more of this wealth. Secondly, communities, which need scarce resources for livelihood may differ over the allocation of such resources to one community at the expense of another. Conflict may arise when governments depend on tax revenues from natural resources but are disconnected from the realities of citizens in these regions.
Transcript
To consider this question, it is sensible to first define collective leadership. According to scholars, at the core of the concept of shared leadership, or collective leadership is the idea that instances of leadership can be attributed to the collective leading itself. Some scholars define collective leadership as a dynamic, interactive influence process among individuals in groups for which the objective is to lead one another to the achievement of group or organizational goal. Others define ‘public leadership’ as a form of collective leadership that improves life in communities through the effort of public, private, and voluntary individuals. The focal unit of analysis for this type of leadership is the group, organisation or collective and its engagement with external factors. Within the collective, leadership does not sit in the hands of a single individual. This is despite the fact sometimes one person is seen as representing the collective, even if this person does not wield a monopoly over influence. This seems to be what President Mandela was referring to in the clip we heard earlier. Collective leadership is not static. The ability of leadership to endure over time depends on the ability of the collective to remain connected by a mutual goal. Therefore, the emergence of new or unexpected challenges and the divergence of individual interests over time is a challenge to collective leadership. Historically, student movements in particular, have been powerful vehicles for challenging the status quo in African countries and around the world. When I speak about students here, I am particularly referring to university students, although the recent global Youth Strike for Climate clearly demonstrates that even students in primary school and younger can demand more from leaders through collective action. As a socio-political space, the university has a unique capacity to become the site of radical or revolutionary activism. Students exist as a distinct social group and their politics are a distinctive form of political action within the broader society. According to scholars, student movements exert influence through collective or distributive power. While the power dynamic that defines individual power is the power of A over B, collective or distributive power is the power of A and B together. Thus, the ability of individuals to cooperate and organize on university campuses is important for the strengthening of collective power. The capacity of student movements to generate mutuality with broader socio-economic and usually working-class concerns is important for determining the scale of activism and its potential to challenge existing socio-political structures. Thus, student protests that grow into general protests tend to be closely tied with wider societal disaffection and industrial action in particular. It has been argued that in post-colonial Africa, the privileged status that student have in society positioned them well for collective action. Students existed as a privileged group due to the relative weakness of other groups in civil society, a shared identity with political elites, societal perceptions about the status conferred by education and the scarcity of opportunities for tertiary education. This has changed considerably in contemporary times. In many African countries, jobs for university graduates are few, youth unemployment rates high and the instrumental value and utility of tertiary education is increasingly questionable. How then therefore do we measure the success of collective leadership that is exercised by a student movement? Success can be measured based on the ability of the student movement to gain traction, visibility and eventually form a protest. This requires the successful establishment of mutuality with the working class and other social groups.
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Are there merits to military conscription? In this programme, I will discuss diverse views of surrounding military conscription. Scholars have, in the past, linked military conscription and nation-building. They argue that conscription can either shore up or undermine the national construct. Military conscription is a policy, which relies on coercion to compulsorily recruit members into the military. Modernization theorists have hailed military conscription as a modern model of organization that is dedicated to nation building especially in newly formed states. In addition, proponents of military conscription argue that, military conscription is an essential tool for building a sense of nationalism and a strong feeling of citizenship particularly in young conscripts. It is considered as a unifying process and a critical instrument for national unity and social integration. In this regard, Amita Etzion, a prominent social anthropologist scholar, views military conscription as, and I quote, a Sociological Mixer, end of quote, that is a powerful means to integrate heterogeneous societies. Scholars also equate military conscription as a and I quote school of nation, end of quote. This term refers to a disciplined environment in which citizens would learn transferable skills, the value of social engagement and the importance of self- sacrifice. Military conscription is also seen by scholars (name) an institutional setting well suited to increase “communicative effectiveness” and thus breaking down dividing lines based on race, ethnicity, religion or class. Since conscripts are required to perform common tasks in a highly structured environment and in close quarters individuals therefore from diverse backgrounds would not just interact but would learn how to effectively communicate with each other. In this regard, Eritrean military service, for instance, has partially contributed for Eritreans to have a share common identity and solidarity. However, the unconstructive impact outweighed the good given the justification of the current massive Eritrean youth exodus. Opponents of military conscription argue that it is often divisive and does not unify a nation. In addition, military services do not lead to inclusive common identities or solidarity but rather reinforce existing cleavages. In South Africa, when military conscription was compulsory for all white males to join the South African Army in the sixties, the Army, was not only used to fight liberation movements in the neighbouring countries such as Angola Mozambique and Namibia, but it was also used to uphold the apartheid regime in the country. Opponents further argue that conscription limits citizens' opportunity to explore other things other non-military experiences and that might have serious consequences in society such as productivity of the citizens. This has potential to weaken society. Other scholars point out that the negative experiences of some of the conscripts might lead them to detest the military. In the end the country’s armed forces may face low morale and disciplinary problems due to the presence of unwilling conscripts. In addition, opponents of military conscription have studied the paradoxes underpinned it. Even though conscription's is seen by governments as a means of building a sense of nationalism or citizenship, it depends whether conscripts come out with a positive attitude. Studies have shown there is a strong correlation between the professionalism within the army and the willingness of young people to join freely. Nationalism is pointless unless the citizens have the power to achieve their goals, privileged opportunities and have the vision to change their communities and the nation.
Transcript
In Kenya where failing socio-economic standards are among the many challenges facing the young people in particular, sports is supposed to provide an alternative for them. Sports can also serve as an avenue for personal and national development. Young people are keen to follow the sporting path to make the most of their talents. But many of them are worried about the low returns from engaging sports.
The Sports industry in Kenya continues to grapple with issues of, misappropriation of funds, general mismanagement of players, inadequate infrastructure and minimal investments amongst others. These challenges stem primarily from the ineffective leadership of the sector. Government appointees in the sports ministry for instance, are randomly appointed even without any sporting experience.
The lack of investment in sports infrastructure also reflects failing leadership. For example, the current Kenyan government promised in their first manifesto in 2013, to build new 'state of the art 'stadia across the country. In addition, they also promised to upgrade the existing facilities in the various counties. However, the first project was only completed six years later. Furthermore, although the government had released funds towards these projects, to date the county government are yet to receive the funds. Nonetheless, counties like Mombasa and Kisii have opted to develop their sports facilities at their county’s expense.
The misappropriation of funds as well as embezzlement has severely crippled the industry. Recently, a former Sports Minister and the deputy were both charged in court for involvement in financial misconduct surrounding Kenya’s participation in 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. The scandal involved the misappropriation of over thirty million Kenyan shillings or approximately three million US dollar. The misappropriated funds were meant to finance athletes’ participation in the Olympic games were instead used to finance the sports officials and their family members trips to Rio De Janeiro. Nevertheless, the Kenyan team managed to win the second largest haul of medals in the competition.
Lack of investment in Kenya’s sports often results to many sports personalities living in desolate conditions. This has created a negative societal view of the industry and has discouraged the youth from engaging in sports. The industry can transform the lives of young people by creating a sense of independency by providing employment. However, this has been hampered by these factors including, lack of a national leadership that does not recognize the potential of Sports in national development.
I am convinced that with 1) real political will 2) leadership that identifies gaps in the industry and three a leadership that is willing to effect change at whatever cost, transformation will be achieved.
Transcript: The growing threat of violent extremist groups in the Horn of Africa has seen the emergence of a wide range of security, political and development responses to the threats posed. One of them is Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism in short PCVE, A soft approach version of Counter-Terrorism. However, there is a lack of a universally accepted definition for ‘violent extremism’, which is sometimes used inaccurately as an alternative term for ‘terrorism’, which also lacks a standard definition. Gendered analysis has over the years been central in peace and security discourse since the adoption of Security Council resolution (1325) by the UN in early 2000. However, perspectives on CVE tends to underestimate the role of women in prevention of violent extremism. Although there has been growing interest in the gendered dynamics in CVE, recent ideas have been oversimplified and mainly tend to view women’s role through binary lenses as just as mothers or wives of men engaged in CVE. Gender dynamic is a complex process, which often intersects the formal and informal and fuses into the economic and political spheres. Moreover, understanding gender dynamics helps in providing insights on power such as gender hierarchies in the economic and political context between men and women. Gender dynamics in social-cultural norms of femininity and masculinity varies. However, it remains a key identity factor that intersects with class, ethnicity, race, or age. Notably, the analysis of gender is highly significant to understanding shifting norms, especially how gender is instrumentalized and essentialized. It is even more important to have a deeper understanding of the role of gender plays when dealing with extremist groups like the so called Islamic State or Daesh and Al Shabaab. Without a gendered perspective in the analysis of violent extremism, policy deliberations reinforce stereotypical views of men and women: men fight and women do not. Such notions are regressive and do not improve our understanding of violent extremism, and therefore become a hindrance to our responses.
Nigeria’s President Elect Muhammadu Buhari is set to be sworn into office for a second term following his victory against his arch-rival and former vice president, Atiku Abubakar in the one closely contested Presidential election that attracted seventy three candidates.
In this discussion Program, Desmond Davis engages Dr Wale Ismail a Senior Research Fellow at the African Leadership Centre and Adewale Ajadi author, consultant and leadership expert from Nigeria. The panellists discuss dynamics and complexities of the just concluded Presidential elections in the most populous country in Africa and how the process faired amidst ethnic and religious polarization and external influences. Desmond Davis asks the experts what Nigeria’s electoral experience means for the country and Africa’s democratic process in general.
Adewale Ajadi Photo:Paul Munene
In leadership the ability of an individual or organization to "lead" or guide other individuals or team is often considered relative and at times it’s challenging to pin down what really leadership is and the attributes a leader is expected to have.
In a conversation on the Practice of Leadership with Kings college Leadership students the former president of East Timor Jose Ramos Horta talked on how Leadership should be exercised through persuasion and humility and not coercion. President Jose Ramos Horta argued that as a leader one important quality you should have is that you care about people and issues, be compassionate and humble and use your position to try and effect change.
President Ramos-Horta who is today known for his work and promoting peace in conflict-on countries was a recipient of the Nobel Peace prize in 1996 for his work in achieving a just and peaceful solution to the East-Timor conflict. In his political role, he had brought about Timor’s independence from Indonesia and transitioned from UN stewardship towards a Democracy.
The conversation with the students was chaired by Professor 'Funmi Olonisakin, Vice-President & Vice-Principal (International) King College London.
Nigeria is set to hold its General Elections in February 2019. The election will be another test of the democratic gains Nigeria has made since it returned to multiparty democracy in 1999 after more than three decades of military rule. This has been evident with the high number of participants registered to take part in the elections; with thirty-nine individuals having already declared their interest to contest for the presidential position. For about six years now the violent insurgency by the extremist group Boko Haram has been the main issue affecting Nigeria, this alongside the slow economic, growth corruption, tribalism and religion polarization are the main issues at heart of this election. The question on the minds of the 84 million registered voters remains which candidate is best suited to tackle these issues head on. ALC Radio sat down with Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili, one of the Presidential hopefuls in the upcoming election. The core question is whether Dr. Obiageli, co-founder of transparency international co-founder of Transparency International the Global Anti-Corruption body based in Berlin Germany and a previous federal Minister of Solid Minerals and later Minister of Education during the President Olusegun Obasanjo’s Presidency will be able to challenge the current two top contenders – the incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari, and former vice president Atiku Abubakar. Dr. Obiageli says she wants Nigerian politics to take a radical departure from what it has been known to be, but will she?
Photo: FOW 24 News
Leadership is an essential feature of all government and governance. Leadership scholars suggest that weak leadership contributes to government failures, and strong leadership is indispensable if a government is to succeed. But does that mean young people contribute to government failure because they are young and lack the so called leadership skills?
In Africa, for the longest time, young Africans have been excluded from issues leadership. This is because it is stereotypically viewed as a space for older experienced people, and not young ones, because they are perceived to have many years to live and hence they still have time to lead.
This was the theme of the inaugural lecture for the African Global Engagement series. This series was established in 2018, with the aim of inviting prominent African leaders to King’s College London to interrogate the leadership dimension of the security-development nexus in Africa and other parts of the developing world. The inaugural lecture titled 'Demystifying The Leadership Capacity Deficit of African Youth: Our Future is in Their Hands’ was delivered by former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo. President Obasanjo looks at the issues young Africans face and what the government and those leaders in power need to do, in order to create more opportunities and platforms for young upcoming African leaders.
In the Lecture, president Obasanjo urges the leaders to nurture and encourage young people and have good succession plans for young then.
This lecture was chaired by Professor 'Funmi Olonisakin, Vice-President & Vice-Principal (International) King College and an introductory statement was made by Professor Edward Byrne AC, President & Principal, King’s College London.
Africa is often depicted as a continent of mass migration, following its high number of migrants experienced in the past few years. According to statistics, As of 2007, there were an estimated seven million African migrants living in Organisation For Economic Co-Operations and Development countries. This increase in numbers has been constituted by: Climate change and environmental degradation, armed conflict, and political, economic and food crises which has continued to force people to flee hence the high number.
African migration has largely become synonymous with the European migration crisis; in doing so, it has neglected and silenced other inspiring and compelling narratives from Africa.
This debate Not Just A Crisis: A Conversation On African Migration looks at the modern day African Migration complexities, Identity, Residency, Citizenship and breaks down who best defines how we view ourselves and our own identity through stories of two scholars based at King’s College London.
Through their stories it’s evident that there is a crisis in both intra-regional migrations and extra-regional migration.
The debate began with introductory statements by Aida Abbashar a final year History and International Relations student at King's College London followed by Natasha Chilambo from Zambia and Wadeisor Rukato from Zimbabwe and who are both Masters students in Leadership, Security and Development at the African Leadership Centre, King’s College London.
Elections have been the usual mechanism by which citizens of a country democratically elect officials who represents them. During elections citizens are able to exercise their rights and freedoms of choosing whomever they would like to govern them.
But recent events in several African countries have seen many electoral processes lack integrity and credibility which has made voters question the value and relevance of the process and some others have contemplated on whether they need to vote at all.
In this programme event titled the Futility of Elections in African with a focus on Kenya and Zimbabwe brought together experts with wide knowledge of elections in Kenya and Zimbabwe. They include: Tawanda Chimhini from Election Resource Centre in Zimbabwe, Glen Mpani from Shikamo Africa, Willis Otieno - Election Expert, an Advocate from Kenya, and Prof. Karuti Kanyinga from University of Nairobi.
This is a recording of Prof. Funmi Olonisakin inaugural lecture that she delivered on 9th of July 2018 at Kings College London.
In this lecture, titled Leadership and Conversation in Dialogue: Securing Peace in the Unromantic Context Prof. Funmi noted that the pursuit of stable peace in conflict-torn societies needs to put into account leadership dynamics in these contexts.
Prof. Funmi argued that understanding the predominant situation, the domain and society levels in which leadership emerges, and the quality of leadership process particularly how influence is exchanged between leaders and followers is important in building a shared response to the situation.
Prof. Funmi Olonisakin is a Professor of Security, Leadership & Development at the University and is internationally renowned for her passion and expertise in the area of effective leadership in peace building and security.
Photo taken by Alfred Muteru.
Soukaina Hamia a fellow at the ALC examines he Contributions of Youth-led organizations to peace processes in Somalia. Audio Clip: United Nations.
Mamello Mosiana a Fellow at the ALC examines the validity of debates about the different leadership styles of men and women.
Kholosa Nonkenge a fellow at the ALC, explores the power that followers have in influencing political leadership within South Africa's ruling party, African National Congress (ANC) and the opposition party Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF). Audio clip: SABC News Digital.
Martha Nyalam a Fellow at the ALC, traces the events that have led to the failure of peace intervention efforts in South Sudan. Audio Clip: Aljazeera English.
Fatou Bintou Sallah a fellow at the ALC analyses the various transtional justice mechanisms employed by the first and second republics of the Gambia from a leadership perspective. Audio Clip: Robert H. Jackson Center
Linganaden Murday a Fellow at the ALC explores the Late Nobel Laureate Wangari Maathai's transformational leadership in dealing with human security in Kenya using environmental means. Audio clip from: Taking Root: The Vision of Wangari Maathai - Jeff Powel.
Desmond Davies talks to Dauda Garuba on extractive industries in Nigeria and the main challenges the country faces in utilising its natural resources including Oil for economic development. Dauda Garuba is the Technical Adviser in Nigeria's Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI).
In part one of a four series programme on Leadership and Democratic Transitions in Africa by ALC Pan-African Radio, Desmond Davies talks to Prof. Medhane Tadesse, on recent transition dynamics in Ethiopia's ruling political party - Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Democratic Front and the role of regional actors including the African Union. Prof. Medhane is a visiting Professor at King's College London and former advisor to the African Union on Security Sector reforms. Photo: Alfred Muteru.
Desmond Davies talks to Omar Siedu on the role of research in informing government policies. Omar Siedu is the Head of Demographic Statistics and Coordinator for Sustainable Development Goals at the Ghana Statistical Service. The interview was recorded during the African Evidence Informed Policy Forum event held between 6 and 7th March 2018 in Nairobi, Kenya. The forum was jointly organised by the Think Tank Initiative and the Mastercard Foundation and coordinated in partnership with the African Leadership Centre. Technical production was done by Big City limited.
Desmond Davies talks to Dr. Ian Goldman on the politics of evidence and policy making in African States. Dr. Goldman is the Acting Deputy Director General and Head of Evaluation and Research at the South African Presidency’s Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (DPME).
This is a Discussion Programme on Evidence Informed Policy in Africa recorded during the The African Evidence Informed Policy Forum event held between 6 and 7th March 2018 in Nairobi, Kenya. The forum was jointly organised by the Think Tank Initiative and the Mastercard Foundation and coordinated in partnership with the African Leadership Centre. The programme was hosted by ALC Radio's Desmond Davies and featured three participants at the conference namely: Lilian Tamale from Advocates Coalition for Development and Environment (ACODE)in Uganda; Ibrahima Hathie from Initiative Prospective Agricole et Rurale (IPAR), Senegal; and Rama Salla Dieng a Doctoral Researcher and Mo-Ibrahim Scholar at School of African and Oriental Studies, London. Technical production was done by Big City limited.
This was the book launch event for 'A Theory of ISIS: Political Violence and the Transformation of the Global Order' that gives an original perspective on the genesis, nature, and trajectory of the Islamic State historicizing it in relation to colonialism, modernity, and globalization. The event was held at Kings College London on 13th February 2018.
In this programme Desmond Davies talks to Dr. Robtel Neajai Pailey author of Gbagba (loosely translated as 'trickery) and advocate on anti-corruption in Liberia. Dr. Pailey discusses about her book, the ongoing election process and peace and security situation in Libera. Photo: Asa Mathat via Flickr.
In this programme Mounira Chaieb talks to Mark Simpson a Director of Black History studies an organisation educate on people on Black History through and African perspective. Mounira talks to Simpson about his recent lecture on African Civilisations.
In this clip Prof. Abiodun Alao shares his perspectives on the role of natural resources governance in recent events in Zimbabwe. Prof. Abiodun Alao is a Professor of African Studies at King's College London. He is also the author of 'Mugabe and the Politics of Security in Zimbabwe' (2012) as well as Natural Resource Governance in Africa (2007) Image: Alfred Muteru.
In this clip Prof. Abiodun Alao shares his perspectives on the role and influence of the foreign actors in recent events in Zimbabwe. Prof. Abiodun Alao is a Professor of African Studies at King's College London. He is also the author of 'Mugabe and the Politics of Security in Zimbabwe'. Image: Alfred Muteru
In this clip Prof. Abiodun Alao shares his perspectives on the response of the African Union on recent events in Zimbabwe. Prof. Abiodun Alao is a Professor of African Studies at King's College London. He is also the author of 'Mugabe and the Politics of Security in Zimbabwe'. Image: Alfred Muteru.
In this clip Prof. Abiodun Alao shares his perspectives on the role and influence of the Military in the recent events in Zimbabwe. Prof. Abiodun Alao is a Professor of African Studies at King's College London. He is also the author of 'Mugabe and the Politics of Security in Zimbabwe'. Image: Alfred Muteru
Despite being one of Africa's resource-rich region in Africa, Central Africa Region continues to numerous challenges of autocratic rule, political instability, conflict, poverty and multifaceted humanitarian crisis. In this programme we talk to Prof. Abdoulaye Bathily former United Nation's Special Representative for Central Africa Regional Office to discuss what is at underpins these challenges.
In October, Kenyans head back to the polls after the annulment of the August 2017 Presidential election by the Supreme Court. With a long history of disputed elections, we look at how this year's election was conducted and whether Kenya is ready for another election. Photo: Carl De Souza/AFP/GETTY
This is a panel discussion on the Supreme Court nullification of the recent Presidential election results in Kenya. The discussion was jointly organised by the African Leadership Centre at Kings College London and the Centre for Gender Studies at SOAS and was recorded on 20th September 2017 at King's College London, Strand Campus.
In this Talking Africa programme Desmond Davies talks to Hon. Timothy Wanyoni MP for Westland Constituency in Kenya. Hon. Wanyonyi talks on the recent General Elections in Kenya and his leadership experiences as well as challenges as a Member of Parliament in Kenya.
In the lead up to the upcoming election in August 2017 ALC Radio visited Kirinyaga County to talk to young people on their views on the devolved governance structure in the county as well as how the past and incoming leadership has and will shape their future. In this programme, Desmond Davies talks to four young people - Evalyne Njeri, Irene Njoroge, Bernard Muthike and Anthony Mwangi from Kirinyaga County. Photo: Jacob Kamau - ALC
ALC Radio visited Mombasa County to talk to leaders and residents in the lead up to the upcoming election in August 2017 on political and socio-economic issues affecting Mombasa residents and how they are shaping the political discourse in the county. In this programme Desmond Davies talks to Khalef Khalifa - Chairperson of Muslim for Human Rights and Furaha Charo a program officer at Haki Yetu a civil society organisation in Mombasa County. .
In this programme, Desmond Davies talks to Hassan Abdille the Executive Director of Muslim for Human Rights a civil society organisation based in Mombasa, Kenya. Hassan Abdille who is also an Alumni of the African Leadership Centre fellowship programme talks about his work on youth vulnerability and radicalization in Mombasa County, Kenya.
In this programme Desmond Davies talks to Sureya Roble-Hersi the Executive Director of Advocacy for Women in Peace and Security in Africa (AWPS-Africa) and also Vice Chairperson of Maendeleo ya Wanawake Organization (MYWO). Sureya talks on Women and Radicalization in Mombasa, Kenya. Photo/ Andrew Kilonzi - Flickr.
In this programme Jennifer Salahub, an expert in security and development, talks to ALC Radio about trends on urban violence, poverty, and inequalities from research findings of the Safe and Inclusive Cities initiative. This initiative is a global research program jointly funded by Canada’s International Development Research Centre and the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development.
Caroline Moser who is an urban social anthropologist/social policy specialist talks to us on range of issues including urban development , urban poverty, urban violence, household asset vulnerability and accumulation in developing countries.
Dr. Mutuma Ruteere the Director of Centre for Human Rights and Policy Studies and United Nation’s Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, talks to ALC Radio on Security, violence and racism in Africa and around the globe.
Iris Nxumalo a fellow at the ALC examines what is giving rise to violence against Africans living in South Africa? and what explains the government’s violent response to student protests in the country? Audio courtesy of Youtube - Aljazeera English and Africa is a Country
Zekarias Abebe, a fellow at the ALC, examines how President Paul Kagame’s leadership has been able to change entrenched patriarchal norms
Leonide Azah Awah, a Fellow at the ALC looks at how leadership can play a major in influencing the outcome of transformation. Audio: Courtesy of Youtube - guiders14.
Sheila Kinya Gitonga, a fellow at the ALC looks at how activists are beginning to turn the tables at what they see as flawed thinking. Audio on Protests: Courtesy of Torontopia and AFP News Agency.
Radwa Saad explores how young Senegalese have used music to calm political tensions and thus enhance their leadership qualities. Audio Courtesy of Youtube - nautylusprod; RnW.org;Y'en a Marre Officiel
In August 2017 Kenya heads to the polls to elect the president, legislators and county representatives. Polls in Kenya have had history of violence with the worst being in 2007 where over one thousand people were killed and over three hundred thousand people were internally displaced in the country. In the August polls, President Uhuru Kenyatta is set to seek re-election against an opposition coalition led by various leaders including Raila Odinga. For this Talking Africa programme Desmond Davies speak to Ms. Gladwell Otieno, the Executive Director of Africa Centre for Open Governance (AFRICOG) to discuss the prospects of peace and the role of the civil society.
For this Talking Africa programme Desmond Davies speak to Ms Comfort Lamptey, the Regional Adviser on Governance, Peace and Security in the Regional Office for West and Central Africa, UN Women. The interview discusses the status of women peace and security in West Africa region. In particular, the discussion focuses on various challenges and opportunities on women participation in political and socio-economic processes in the region.
In this Discussion Programme Alfred Muteru talks Youth Leaders from various states in Africa where they share their perspectives on transitional justice in Africa as well as their perspectives on the recent move by African States to withdrawal from the ICC. In the programme also, Alfred also engages the youth on their role in Social movements in Africa.
Desmond Davis discuses on various issues related to reporting on conflict and violence in East Africa with Tracy Ahumuza an editor with the New Vision newspaper in Uganda, Anne Kiruku a reporter with East African News Agency and Dr. Pinki Megwe the Executive Director of Internationalisation at University of Johannesburg.
Desmond Davies talks to Retired Major General Idris 26th Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy on the relevance of Professional Military Education in Nigeria. Image: Flickr/Joanna Desmond
This is panel discussion chaired by: Professor Maria Schoeman: Professor and Head of Department of Political Sciences, University of Pretoria. The discussants were
Comfort Ero, Africa Programme Director, International Crisis Group Professor Cheryl Hendricks, Head of department of Politics and International Relations, University of Johannesburg Funmi Olonisakin, Founding Director, African Leadership Centre; Director, Security Leadership and Society Programme, King’s College, London; Member, UN Advisory Group of Experts on the Review of UN Peacebuilding Architecture