The African Forum at the Balsillie School of International Affairs, in collaboration with the Centre for International Governance Innovation, presents a thought-provoking panel discussion on the rise of coups and power grabs in Africa. This discussion will explore the far-reaching implications of these events for leadership and governance across the continent.
Panellists
Lead Panellist: Halima Ahmed
Halima Ahmed is a peace, security and development practitioner currently engaged in the Horn of Africa, focusing on Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Somalia. In this multifaceted role, she actively contributes to policy development, advocacy initiatives and research endeavours. Her work involves a comprehensive approach to addressing developmental challenges in the region. With a bachelor’s degree in international relations and diplomacy and a master’s degree in development studies, she brings a wealth of academic knowledge and practical experience to her role. Over the past six years, she has immersed herself in policy advocacy, research and academia, consistently engaging with developmental issues in Sub-Saharan Africa to empower local communities with knowledge.
Halima previously served as a Peace, Security and Development Early Career Fellow at the African Leadership Centre, King’s College London. In her role as an independent consultant in policy and research analysis, she made significant contributions to the development of policy recommendations and reports. Through her adept rapporteuring, these outputs have played a crucial role in informing decision making at both local and national levels.
Panellists: Gerald Acho and Hubert Kinkoh
Acho Gerald Anji is a peace-building and conflict resolution practitioner with years of experience spanning the Horn of Africa and African Great Lakes region. His expertise lies in integrating conflict sensitivity into programs, particularly within the challenging landscape of the humanitarian/development/peace nexus. He currently works for Concordis International as the Darfur program manager. He is also a Peace and Security Non-Resident Fellow with the Global Governance Institute and a Ph.D. researcher at Leiden University in The Hague, the Netherlands. He holds a master’s degree in peace studies and international relations from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa and a B.A. in philosophy from the Pontifical Urbaniana University in Rome, Italy.
Hubert Kinkoh is a policy-facing researcher with considerable experience producing and disseminating knowledge on various issues intersecting with peace, security and governance in Africa. Currently a researcher at the Institute for Security Studies in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, he previously held research roles at International Crisis Group, the Economist Intelligence Unit and the United States Institute of Peace, among others. Serving diverse clients, Hubert analyses and has widely published on issues including Africa in the world and the world in Africa; the governance of peace and security and the role of international and regional organizations; and electoral democracy, constitutionalism and the rule of law. He has a double master’s degree in peace studies and international relations from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa.
Moderator: Ann Fitz-Gerald, director, Balsillie School of International Affairs
Discussant: Abdi Issa, Ph.D. candidate in global governance
