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Background and justification
For decades, Africa has been the scene of recurrent wars, ranging from independence struggles to current armed conflicts, the most visible of which are those in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, the Sahel, Libya, Somalia, Cameroon and more. These wars, often presented as internal, civil or tribal, have in fact been fueled and maintained by external interference, motivated by geostrategic competition and the thirst for control of natural resources. The Western powers, through the sale of arms, their military, diplomatic or economic support to certain regimes or factions, have played a decisive role in maintaining these wars.
The impacts are dramatic: millions of dead and displaced, collapse of state institutions, maintenance of dictatorships, worsening poverty, destruction of social fabrics, rise of hate speech and erosion of hopes for sustainable development. Western imperialism, in its military, economic and cultural dimensions, continues to shape Africa’s future at the expense of its sovereignty and lasting peace.
Faced with this, struggles are emerging including: citizen protests against the presence of foreign military bases, the pursuit of true African independence in the Sahel, demands for a renewed Pan-Africanism, feminist and youth movements demanding sovereign and just governance, campaigns against the plundering of natural resources. These struggles, perceived as “anti-Western” by the said powers, present themselves as legitimate expressions of aspiration for self-determination, an end to wars, and a call for dignity and peace. They reveal a balance of power in which Africa’s most courageous leaders are trying to regain control of their destiny and to propose more equitable models of cooperation, whether South-South initiatives or new forms of international solidarity.
World BEYOND War’s 3rd African Virtual Conference, Imagine Africa Beyond War, on November 27-28 is a space for reflection aimed at analyzing the effects of Western imperialism, highlighting African resistance and imagining a decolonized, war-free collaboration based on equality, justice and peace.
Keynote lectures
This year, we have two keynote lectures:
- Western Imperialism: History and current developments in Africa, by Dr Sellah King’Oro
- Pan-Africanism and expressions of “Anti-Western feelings in Africa“, by Pr Gnaka Lagoke
Schedule
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- Opening
- World BEYOND War welcome word
- Growth of the WBW Movement in Africa
- Keynote lecture on Western Imperialism: History and current developments in Africa
- The work of WBW’s African chapters on the closure of foreign military bases and the self-determination of peoples
- Panel discussion 1 on the theme: Understanding Western imperialism and its manifestations in Africa
- Foreign interventions in the wars in Africa
- Economic imperialism and the plundering of natural resources via multinationals
- Role of African leaders in neocolonialism and the enslavement of peoples
- Open discussion & Q&A
- Closing of day 1
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- Brief overview of day-1 and introduction of day-2
- Keynote lecture on Pan-Africanism and expressions of “Anti-Western feelings in Africa“
Panel discussion 2 on the theme “African Resistance, Pan-Africanism and Struggles for Sovereignty
- An overview of the current struggles for the liberation of Africa from Western imperialism
- Experiences and models of international solidarity for equitable collaboration with the West
- The U.S. Foreign Assistance cuts and reorganization of aid programs: what are the alternatives African solutions?
- Open discussion & Q&A
Participatory discussion: What strategies can we use to disarm imperialism and build peace in Africa?
Closing
- Acknowledgements and reflections on World BEYOND War’s perspectives on imperialism
- Closing remarks
Speakers
Gnaka Lagoke
Gnaka Lagoke is an Associate Professor of History and Pan-Africana Studies at Lincoln University (PA). He is promoting a new vision of Pan-africanism that stands upon the Ubuntu Philosophy. He is the author of "Laurent Gbagbo's Trial and the Indictment of the International Criminal Court: A Pan-African Victory" and of "Le Panafricanisme d'Hier à Demain et la Philosophie Ubuntu".
Sellah King’oro
Dr. Sellah N. King’oro is a Board Member of World BEYOND War, a peace and security specialist, trainer, and advocate of the High Court of Kenya. She received a presidential trailblazer award in women, peace, and security from the Kenyan president on 2 March 2023. In October 2023, Sellah also received a shortlisted award medal from the Women in Defence UK in the inspirational category.
Dr. Sellah King’oro is currently a post-doctoral fellow at the State University of New York, Binghamton. She has contributed to reconciliation/dialogue processes among communities in parts of East, Central, and West Africa. Dr. King’oro has been a Charles Scheidt resident practitioner at the Institute for Genocide and Mass Atrocity Prevention at Binghamton University, USA.
Dr. King’oro has a Ph.D. in Peace and Conflict Studies, an MA in International Studies, a Bachelor of Laws, and a Bachelor of Education from various Universities in Kenya and overseas. Her honorary responsibilities include a membership of the Inclusive Narratives Practice Group – IFIT (ifit-transitions.org) convened by the Institute for Integrated Transitions (IFIT). She was appointed the Global Peace Index ambassador in 2015 by the Institute for Economics and Peace, is the past president of Rotary District 9212 Alumni Association and the current Rotary Peace Fellowship Coordinator for Africa. As part of community service, Sellah mentors a pool of next-generation researchers who desire to contribute to social change.
Oseremen Irene
Dr. Oseremen Irene holds a PhD degree in Peace Studies, and he is a lecturer and researcher at the Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Nigeria. He is a thorough bred public administrationist, practical peacebuilding practitioner and an expert in peace and conflict studies. Ose is the President of the Global Alliance for Ministries and Infrastructures for Peace (GAMIP), and his interest and area of expertise include peacebuilding and peace infrastructures.
Kathleen Doherty
Kathleen Doherty is a social justice advocate with experience working in the US, West Africa, and East Africa. She is currently based in Kenya, where she serves as the founder and Director of LeMayian Hospital Community Health Services, an NGO dedicated to mitigating the impact of gender-based violence. Kathleen holds a master’s degree in social work and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and a Certified Domestic Violence Professional (CDVP) with an extensive background leading NGOs focused on the intervention and prevention of sexual and gender-based violence, HIV/AIDS, and child protection and welfare. She is also a mediator with professional certificates in mediation from the Center for Conflict Resolution (CCR) and Northwestern University in Chicago. Other certifications include Unarmed Civilian Protection from Nonviolence Peaceforce, and Refugee Protection, and the Rights and Process of (Re) Settlement from Northwestern University.
In 2018, Kathleen was awarded the Rotary Peace Fellowship and completed an extensive program on peace and conflict studies at the Peace Center at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand. In 2020, she was selected as a Positive Peace Activator by Rotary International/Institute of Economics & Peace, where she co-founded the Racial Equity Project, highlighting the critical link between diversity, equity, and inclusion and peacebuilding. In 2020, she was a founding member of the Rotary Peace Fellow Alumni Association (RPFAA), Global Peace Conference, and in 2021 served as a co-chair of the Africa/MENA Planning Committee.
Kathleen is the current Board President of the RPFAA, an NGO providing membership, support services, and peacebuilding training to over 1,800 alumni. She is deeply committed to building the capacity of peacebuilders and has organized a Leadership Retreat in Morocco, a Peace Symposium in Birmingham, AL, and a North American/Caribbean Rotary International/Institute of Economic & Peace Positive Peace Activator training.
Jane Obiora
Jane Obiora is the chapter Coordinator for World BEYOND War Nigeria, the Coordinator for Centre for Peace Advancement and Socio-Economic Development (CPAED) and Chairperson of Open Government Partnership (OGP) on improving service delivery where she promotes peace and advocates for strong, functional and inclusive society. She works to inspire the creation of ideas, development and implementation of various projects and programs as well as to provide strategic direction for the achievement of goals. Jane holds a master’s degree in Public Administration from the Ahmadu Bello University and has 10-years of hands-on working experience. Well versed in project management, capacity development, peace building and youth activism, Jane seeks to make a tangible, notable and lasting impact. As an energetic and innovative thinker, she focuses on stimulating governments, individuals, and communities to make positive impact.
Christian Ngendahimana
Christian Ngendahimana is the Executive Director of ISOKO Partners for Peace and Gender Equality (an American-based public charity) and Global Manager of ISOKO Working Group of Women and Youth for Peace and Security in Africa.
Christian Ngendahimana is an expert of Democracy and Community Development, Women and Youth for Peace and Security programming, with field-based experience in program management, monitoring and evaluation in the fields of peacebuilding, security and women and youth’s rights in the United States of America and in the Great Lakes Region of Africa (Burundi, Dem.Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Uganda).
Mr. Ngendahimana consulted with various multilateral, governmental and non-governmental organizations, including GIZ, NIMD, IDASA, CARE International, UN-Habitat, Karuna Center for Peacebuilding, and the Burundi Ministry of human rights.
For many years, Mr. Ngendahimana served as a Steering Committee member on the UNSCR 1325 and National Policy on Gender in Burundi.
Mr. Ngendahimana's work focuses on developing innovative programs to empower Refugees and hosting communities, women and men, girls and boys, ordinary citizens and public leaders to build peaceful and prosperous communities with zero tolerance to sexual and gender-based violence.
Mr. Ngendahimana holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, Lake Tanganyika University (Burundi), a Certificate in Conflict Resolution and Mediation, PHARP and Daystar University (Kenya), a Certificate on Women Studies, Positive Masculinities and Nonviolence, WPP/IFOR (Netherlands and Philippines) and Certificate on School of Democracy and Community Development, NIMD and IDASA (Netherlands and South Africa).
Kathy Kelly
Kathy Kelly's peace activism has led her to multiple war zones and to incarceration in U.S. federal prisons. In 1988, she was sentenced to one year in maximum security prison for planting corn on top of nuclear missiles silo sites.
With members of the Iraq Peace Team, she lived in Baghdad during the U.S. Shock and Awe bombing. She and her companions had previously organized seventy delegations to bring desperately needed medicines to children, many of whom were starving, in Iraqi hospitals
In 2009, Kathy lived with a family in Gaza during the Israeli Operation Cast Lead bombing. She again visited Gaza immediately after the 2013 Operation Pillar of Defense bombing. Most recently, to protest Israeli genocide against Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, she participated in 36 days of a Veterans for Peace and Allies fast in New York City, across from the United Nations and in front of the U.S. Mission to the UN.
She is the board president of World BEYOND War.
Norbert Byambo Kagosi
Norbert Byambo Kagosi is the Coordinator of the Isingiro Nakivale chapter of World BEYOND War. He is a young peacebuilder, social educator and conflict resolution trainer from the Democratic Republic of Congo, currently living in Uganda as a refugee since 2018, fleeing war and insecurity. While in Uganda, he emerged as a trusted voice within his community, leading to the creation of New Talent for the Best Future in 2020 (a youth-led initiative he co-founded to empower fellow refugees through education and community engagement). As a program coordinator, Norbert supports projects that uplift vulnerable communities and foster peaceful coexistence. He also serves as a liaison for Sangano City of Peace and collaborates with international networks including Veterans For Peace, International Cities of Peace, Seniors Without Borders, Aalborg City of Peace, Niigon Abin Consultancy Services, and Safe Defense.
Farida Thiombiano
Bouama Farida Alida Thiombiano, Coordinator of the World BEYOND War chapter of Burkina Faso, is a journalist and communications professional. She works with Lefaso.net, the leading online media in Burkina Faso, where she also leads the Media Education Program, training students in critical thinking and content creation. Through her reporting, videos and awareness-raising activities, she is deeply committed to youth empowerment, to the promotion of responsible information and to the advancement of peace. She is also engaged in issues related to sexual and reproductive health, with a focus on amplifying young people’s voices.
Tariq Alferis
Tariq Alferis is a dedicated physician and human rights advocate, championing inclusivity, equity, and social justice. With a focus on empowering marginalized communities, Tariq has worked tirelessly to advance the rights of women, youth, and individuals with disabilities. As the Executive Director of the Sanad Foundation for Oncology Patients, he has supported cancer patients in reclaiming their dignity and resilience. A fellow with the United States Institute of Peace (USIP), Tariq has contributed to international human rights initiatives, collaborating with global organizations to promote youth empowerment, gender equality, and the protection of vulnerable populations in conflict zones. His mission is to build inclusive, rights-based platforms that foster justice and social cohesion.
Guy Feugap
Guy Feugap is the Africa Organizer of World BEYOND War. He is a teacher, writer and peace activist based in Cameroon. His overall job is to educate youth for peace and non-violence. His work puts young girls in particular at the heart of crisis resolution, awareness raising on several issues in their communities. He joined WILPF Cameroon when it was established in 2014 and founded the Cameroon Chapter of World BEYOND War in 2020.
Resources
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