Senior Experts Meeting “Africa between West and East”

On September 5th at 15:30, at ECDPM we hosted a dynamic hybrid event, bringing together over 15 guests from 8 esteemed institutes. Among our distinguished participants were thought leaders like:

Dr. Jakkie Cilliers – Head of the African Futures and Innovation program, Chair of the ISS Board of Trustees at the Institute for Security Studies (ISS), Ms. Ottilia Anna Maunganidze – Head of Special Projects at the Institute for Security Studies (ISS), Ms. Julia Stanyard – Senior Analyst at the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC), Mr. Hanns Bühler – Regional Director at Hanns Seidel Foundation Southern Africa.,  Ms. Michelle Wiesner – Programme Manager at Hanns Seidel Foundation, Brussels,  Volker Hauck, Senior Executive, ECDPM, Dora Meredith Director, ODI Europe, Iliana Olivié, Elcano Royal Institute, Carl Michiels, Director, ECDPM Daniele Fattibene, ETTG Coordinator, Philomena Apiko, Head – AU-EU relations, and Kathleen Van Hove, ECDPM’s Senior policy officer.

This engaging discussion centered around “Africa between West and East,” a topic of immense importance in today’s global landscape. The event was a collaborative effort involving senior experts from ISS and GI-TOC and was made possible through the support of the Hanns Seidel Foundation.

The conversation built upon two insightful papers:

The Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime’s paper titled “The Grey Zone: Russia’s Military, Mercenary, and Criminal Engagement in Africa.” 

ISS’s research on “Russia–Africa Relations in an Age of Renewed Great Power Competition.”

It was a platform for exchanging perspectives, sharing knowledge, and delving into the complex dynamics shaping Africa’s relationships with Western and Eastern powers. Discussions like these are crucial for understanding the evolving geopolitical landscape and its implications for the African continent.