Kampala Geopolitics Conference

Power Play in the Great Lakes Region: Regional dimensions of peace and conflict

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Summary

For long, Uganda has been seen as a haven of stability for the Great Lakes Region. But recently, tensions with its neighbour Rwanda escalated, leading to a border shutdown and thus threatening to escalate the situation in the region. Also the situation in neighbouring countries has turned dim. An ongoing civil war drives away thousands from South Sudan. Similar pictures present themselves in DR Congo: The country has been war-torn for decades and, accompanied by outbreaks of the Ebola virus, presents a major threat for the region. Further South, President Pierre Nkurunziza and his government’s brutal violations of human rights as well as years of economic mismanagement force Burundians to flee their homes. Many of these conflicts have deep-rooted lines that relate to ethnicity, access to resources, and weak governance but also post-colonial scars concerning nation-building play a role. Overall, the conflicts are dynamic and complex, involving numerous actors and circulating around shifting epicentres. Can these conflicts be contained or are spill-over effects to destabilise the entire region? What are the prospects for peace, stability and effective cooperation in the Great Lakes Region?

Conference

Details

  • Time: 11:00 am
  • Venue: Senior Common Room

Meet the Panelists

Raymond Mujuni

Raymond Mujuni

Expert in Governance, International Relations and International Development

Mujuni Raymond is a reputable and seasoned communications professional with core expertise in governance, International Relations and International Development. Raymond Mujuni is a co-founder of the African Institute for Investigative... Read more
Benno Müchler

Benno Müchler

Country Director, Konrad Adenauer Foundation

Benno Müchler is the Country Director of Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Kinshasa, DR Congo. From 2011-2015, he worked as a journalist in East and West Africa. In 2015, he joined... Read more
Prof. Melina Platas

Prof. Melina Platas

Assistant Professor of Political Science, New York University Abu Dhabi.

Melina Platas, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at New York University Abu Dhabi. She studies the politics of development with a focus on sub-Saharan Africa, where she... Read more
Prof. Jacob D. Chol

Prof. Jacob D. Chol

Assistant Professor, International and Comparative Politics at the University of Juba.

Jacob D. Chol, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor of International and Comparative Politics at the University of Juba. He is a graduate of the London School of Economic and Political... Read more
Stephanie Wolters

Stephanie Wolters

Senior Research Fellow, Institute for Security Studies

Stephanie Wolters is a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Security Studies, where she leads ISS’ work on Central Africa. She is also a Director of Okapi Consulting, specialising... Read more
Daniel Kalinaki

Daniel Kalinaki

Investigative Journalist, Nation Media Group

Daniel Kalinaki is a Ugandan investigative journalist working with the Nation Media Group. Previously, he worked at the Daily Monitor and published in The East African and on BBC World... Read more