Podcasts about rift valley institute

Summary: This talk explains Sudan's descent into a horrific war that is the world's worst humanitarian crisis. The war has displaced over 11 million people, involved the targeting of civilians, including especially women, in mass violence, and precipitated a hunger crisis affecting over 24 million people, with over 630,000 currently facing famine. How, after a momentous civilian uprising in 2018-19 that toppled the dictator Omer el-Bashir after 30 years of authoritarian rule, did Sudan come to this? Unravelling the causes and events that led to tragedy begins with how counter-revolutionary actors within the State benefitted from the priorities of external peacemakers seeking to achieve a democratic transition in order to displace revolutionary forces, before carrying out a coup against that very transition. The war erupted when the counter-revolution itself unravelled, and its two primary bedfellows, the Sudan Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces fell-out violently with each other in a struggle for power. With complex regional geopolitical entanglements and drawing in other armed groups in Sudan, their war to the bitter end has mixed cruel indifference and intentional harm towards civilians in devastating ways. Remarkably, the revolutionary spirit of the Sudanese has not been vanquished, and has found expression in how neighbourhood resistance committees have transformed into ‘emergency response rooms' to deliver life-saving support. Sudan's plight and prospects lie precariously within these intersecting trajectories.Sharath Srinivasan is David and Elaine Potter Professor of International Politics at the University of Cambridge and a Fellow of King's College, Cambridge. He is also Founding Director, and currently Co-Director, of the University of Cambridge's Centre of Governance and Human Rights (CGHR). Professor Srinivasan is a Fellow and Trustee of the Rift Valley Institute and a Trustee and Vice-President of the British Institute in Eastern Africa.Professor Srinivasan's work focuses on contentious politics in Africa in global perspective, from explaining failed peace interventions in civil wars to rethinking democratic politics in a digital age. He is the author of When Peace Kills Politics: International Intervention and Unending Wars in the Sudans (Hurst/Oxford University Press, 2021) and co-editor of Making and Breaking Peace in Sudan and South Sudan: The Comprehensive Peace Agreement and Beyond (British Academy/Oxford University Press, 2020).Chair: Dr Juliana Santos de Carvalho, Centre Fellow

Summary: This talk explains Sudan's descent into a horrific war that is the world's worst humanitarian crisis. The war has displaced over 11 million people, involved the targeting of civilians, including especially women, in mass violence, and precipitated a hunger crisis affecting over 24 million people, with over 630,000 currently facing famine. How, after a momentous civilian uprising in 2018-19 that toppled the dictator Omer el-Bashir after 30 years of authoritarian rule, did Sudan come to this? Unravelling the causes and events that led to tragedy begins with how counter-revolutionary actors within the State benefitted from the priorities of external peacemakers seeking to achieve a democratic transition in order to displace revolutionary forces, before carrying out a coup against that very transition. The war erupted when the counter-revolution itself unravelled, and its two primary bedfellows, the Sudan Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces fell-out violently with each other in a struggle for power. With complex regional geopolitical entanglements and drawing in other armed groups in Sudan, their war to the bitter end has mixed cruel indifference and intentional harm towards civilians in devastating ways. Remarkably, the revolutionary spirit of the Sudanese has not been vanquished, and has found expression in how neighbourhood resistance committees have transformed into ‘emergency response rooms' to deliver life-saving support. Sudan's plight and prospects lie precariously within these intersecting trajectories.Sharath Srinivasan is David and Elaine Potter Professor of International Politics at the University of Cambridge and a Fellow of King's College, Cambridge. He is also Founding Director, and currently Co-Director, of the University of Cambridge's Centre of Governance and Human Rights (CGHR). Professor Srinivasan is a Fellow and Trustee of the Rift Valley Institute and a Trustee and Vice-President of the British Institute in Eastern Africa.Professor Srinivasan's work focuses on contentious politics in Africa in global perspective, from explaining failed peace interventions in civil wars to rethinking democratic politics in a digital age. He is the author of When Peace Kills Politics: International Intervention and Unending Wars in the Sudans (Hurst/Oxford University Press, 2021) and co-editor of Making and Breaking Peace in Sudan and South Sudan: The Comprehensive Peace Agreement and Beyond (British Academy/Oxford University Press, 2020).Chair: Dr Juliana Santos de Carvalho, Centre Fellow

Summary: This talk explains Sudan's descent into a horrific war that is the world's worst humanitarian crisis. The war has displaced over 11 million people, involved the targeting of civilians, including especially women, in mass violence, and precipitated a hunger crisis affecting over 24 million people, with over 630,000 currently facing famine. How, after a momentous civilian uprising in 2018-19 that toppled the dictator Omer el-Bashir after 30 years of authoritarian rule, did Sudan come to this? Unravelling the causes and events that led to tragedy begins with how counter-revolutionary actors within the State benefitted from the priorities of external peacemakers seeking to achieve a democratic transition in order to displace revolutionary forces, before carrying out a coup against that very transition. The war erupted when the counter-revolution itself unravelled, and its two primary bedfellows, the Sudan Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces fell-out violently with each other in a struggle for power. With complex regional geopolitical entanglements and drawing in other armed groups in Sudan, their war to the bitter end has mixed cruel indifference and intentional harm towards civilians in devastating ways. Remarkably, the revolutionary spirit of the Sudanese has not been vanquished, and has found expression in how neighbourhood resistance committees have transformed into ‘emergency response rooms' to deliver life-saving support. Sudan's plight and prospects lie precariously within these intersecting trajectories.Sharath Srinivasan is David and Elaine Potter Professor of International Politics at the University of Cambridge and a Fellow of King's College, Cambridge. He is also Founding Director, and currently Co-Director, of the University of Cambridge's Centre of Governance and Human Rights (CGHR). Professor Srinivasan is a Fellow and Trustee of the Rift Valley Institute and a Trustee and Vice-President of the British Institute in Eastern Africa.Professor Srinivasan's work focuses on contentious politics in Africa in global perspective, from explaining failed peace interventions in civil wars to rethinking democratic politics in a digital age. He is the author of When Peace Kills Politics: International Intervention and Unending Wars in the Sudans (Hurst/Oxford University Press, 2021) and co-editor of Making and Breaking Peace in Sudan and South Sudan: The Comprehensive Peace Agreement and Beyond (British Academy/Oxford University Press, 2020).Chair: Dr Juliana Santos de Carvalho, Centre Fellow

Join Salman Qamar for Thursday's show from 4-6pm where we will be discussing: ‘Sudan War' and ‘Gig Economy' Sudan War The conflict in Sudan is nearing its 16th month, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths and the displacement of millions, which international organizations describe as the world's worst displacement crisis. Join us as we discuss the brutalities in Sudan and how the world needs to unite for conflict resolution. Gig Economy Discover the gig economy in the UK, where over 4.7 million people engage in short-term, flexible work like driving for Uber, delivering with Deliveroo, or freelancing online. Uncover the realities of precarious employment and the fight for fair rights, with 60% of gig workers reporting job insecurity. Guests Include: Maddy Crowther- Co-executive director at Waging Peace, a charity supporting Sudanese refugees to build meaningful lives in the UK Eric Reeves- Sudan Researcher and Analyst, Fellow at Rift Valley Institute. Don Deya- CEO, Pan African Lawyers Union (PALU) and member of Africans for the Horn of Africa Rebecca Florisson- Principal Analyst at the Work Foundation at Lancaster University Rose Stephenson- Director of Policy and Advocacy at Higher Education Policy Institute Producers Tahdia Hasan and Laiba Mubashar

On February 6, 2023, fighting erupted around Las Anod, a city in the eastern parts of the de facto independent state of Somaliland. This still-ongoing conflict has been subject to recent scrutiny from the United Nations, IGAD, US State Department, and others. Markus Hoehne, a Research Associate at the Institute of Social Anthropology in the University of Leipzig, has extensive knowledge about this conflict, which has already been simmering for decades before this year's latest eruption. In 2015, Hoehne published Between Somaliland and Puntland: Marginalization, Militarization and Conflicting Political Visions (Rift Valley Institute, 2023), one of the most extensive English-language texts about the roots and consequences of tensions in the Las Anod area. In this episode, we revisit Between Somaliland and Puntland in light of the Las Anod conflict. Markus Hoehne gives an overview of the conflict, outlines his main points from the book, and provides insights from a recent visit to the Las Anod area in May 2023. He also shares broader thoughts on the role of social anthropologists in conflict zones—a topic of concern in Dynamics of Identification and Conflict: Anthropological Encounters, one of Hoehne's edited volumes. More information about Markus Hoehne's works can be found here: Between Somaliland and Puntland: Marginalization, Militarization and Conflicting Political Visions Dynamics of Identification and Conflict: Anthropological Encounters Markus' latest article in African Arguments about Las Anod Anthony Kao is a writer who intersects international affairs and cultural criticism. He founded/edits Cinema Escapist—a publication exploring the sociopolitical context behind global film and television—and also writes for outlets like The Guardian, The Diplomat, and Eater. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

On February 6, 2023, fighting erupted around Las Anod, a city in the eastern parts of the de facto independent state of Somaliland. This still-ongoing conflict has been subject to recent scrutiny from the United Nations, IGAD, US State Department, and others. Markus Hoehne, a Research Associate at the Institute of Social Anthropology in the University of Leipzig, has extensive knowledge about this conflict, which has already been simmering for decades before this year's latest eruption. In 2015, Hoehne published Between Somaliland and Puntland: Marginalization, Militarization and Conflicting Political Visions (Rift Valley Institute, 2023), one of the most extensive English-language texts about the roots and consequences of tensions in the Las Anod area. In this episode, we revisit Between Somaliland and Puntland in light of the Las Anod conflict. Markus Hoehne gives an overview of the conflict, outlines his main points from the book, and provides insights from a recent visit to the Las Anod area in May 2023. He also shares broader thoughts on the role of social anthropologists in conflict zones—a topic of concern in Dynamics of Identification and Conflict: Anthropological Encounters, one of Hoehne's edited volumes. More information about Markus Hoehne's works can be found here: Between Somaliland and Puntland: Marginalization, Militarization and Conflicting Political Visions Dynamics of Identification and Conflict: Anthropological Encounters Markus' latest article in African Arguments about Las Anod Anthony Kao is a writer who intersects international affairs and cultural criticism. He founded/edits Cinema Escapist—a publication exploring the sociopolitical context behind global film and television—and also writes for outlets like The Guardian, The Diplomat, and Eater. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/political-science

On February 6, 2023, fighting erupted around Las Anod, a city in the eastern parts of the de facto independent state of Somaliland. This still-ongoing conflict has been subject to recent scrutiny from the United Nations, IGAD, US State Department, and others. Markus Hoehne, a Research Associate at the Institute of Social Anthropology in the University of Leipzig, has extensive knowledge about this conflict, which has already been simmering for decades before this year's latest eruption. In 2015, Hoehne published Between Somaliland and Puntland: Marginalization, Militarization and Conflicting Political Visions (Rift Valley Institute, 2023), one of the most extensive English-language texts about the roots and consequences of tensions in the Las Anod area. In this episode, we revisit Between Somaliland and Puntland in light of the Las Anod conflict. Markus Hoehne gives an overview of the conflict, outlines his main points from the book, and provides insights from a recent visit to the Las Anod area in May 2023. He also shares broader thoughts on the role of social anthropologists in conflict zones—a topic of concern in Dynamics of Identification and Conflict: Anthropological Encounters, one of Hoehne's edited volumes. More information about Markus Hoehne's works can be found here: Between Somaliland and Puntland: Marginalization, Militarization and Conflicting Political Visions Dynamics of Identification and Conflict: Anthropological Encounters Markus' latest article in African Arguments about Las Anod Anthony Kao is a writer who intersects international affairs and cultural criticism. He founded/edits Cinema Escapist—a publication exploring the sociopolitical context behind global film and television—and also writes for outlets like The Guardian, The Diplomat, and Eater. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/african-studies

On February 6, 2023, fighting erupted around Las Anod, a city in the eastern parts of the de facto independent state of Somaliland. This still-ongoing conflict has been subject to recent scrutiny from the United Nations, IGAD, US State Department, and others. Markus Hoehne, a Research Associate at the Institute of Social Anthropology in the University of Leipzig, has extensive knowledge about this conflict, which has already been simmering for decades before this year's latest eruption. In 2015, Hoehne published Between Somaliland and Puntland: Marginalization, Militarization and Conflicting Political Visions (Rift Valley Institute, 2023), one of the most extensive English-language texts about the roots and consequences of tensions in the Las Anod area. In this episode, we revisit Between Somaliland and Puntland in light of the Las Anod conflict. Markus Hoehne gives an overview of the conflict, outlines his main points from the book, and provides insights from a recent visit to the Las Anod area in May 2023. He also shares broader thoughts on the role of social anthropologists in conflict zones—a topic of concern in Dynamics of Identification and Conflict: Anthropological Encounters, one of Hoehne's edited volumes. More information about Markus Hoehne's works can be found here: Between Somaliland and Puntland: Marginalization, Militarization and Conflicting Political Visions Dynamics of Identification and Conflict: Anthropological Encounters Markus' latest article in African Arguments about Las Anod Anthony Kao is a writer who intersects international affairs and cultural criticism. He founded/edits Cinema Escapist—a publication exploring the sociopolitical context behind global film and television—and also writes for outlets like The Guardian, The Diplomat, and Eater. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/anthropology

Sr Teresia Wamuyu Wachira, Co-President of Pax Christi International and John Ashworth, Fellow of the Rift Valley Institute, and Catholic missionary address the current crisis and conflict in Sudan. They help us to understand the complex nature of this conflict, the suffering of the people especially the poor, women, and children, and how greed, corruption, ethnic and religious factors as well as geo-politics and international actors continue to  fuel the conflict in Sudan, South Sudan and the rest of Africa. They give a message of hope and peace to Sudan, Africa, and the rest of the world. 

Sudan is in the grip of escalating armed conflict and on teetering on the edge of civil war. Two rival armed forces, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are fighting in the capital, Khartoum and in regional cities and towns across the country. Both are heavily armed and have regional backers. The crisis has its origins in Sudan's failed internationally-backed political transition since the revolutionary events that led to the ousting of President Omar al-Bashir in 2019. In his remarks, Professor Srinivasan discusses how did the RSF, and its entrepreneurial leader Mohamed "Hemedti" Hamdan Dagalo, come to play a central role in Sudanese politics? How does this conflict play out regionally with Egypt, Libya, Chad, Ethiopia, and Gulf countries having clear interest and what role did western and international peacemaking play in precipitating Sudan's violent unravelling? About the Speaker: Sharath Srinivasan is David and Elaine Potter Associate Professor at the University of Cambridge's Department of Politics and International Studies, a Fellow of King's College Cambridge, and Co-Director of the University's Centre of Governance & Human Rights (CGHR). He lived and worked in Sudan in the early 2000s and has been researching on the region since then. His book, When Peace Kills Politics: International Intervention and Unending Wars in the Sudans, was published in 2021 (Hurst/OUP). He also co-edited Making and Breaking Peace in Sudan and South Sudan: The Comprehensive Peace Agreement and Beyond (British Academy/OUP, 2020). Sharath is a Fellow of the Rift Valley Institute and a Trustee of the British Institute in Eastern Africa. Alongside longstanding work on Sudan, his current research focuses on communication technology and politics and peaceful assembly. He co-edited Publics in Africa in a Digital Age (Routledge, 2021) and is co-founder of non-profit digital social research spinout, Africa's Voices (www.africasvoices.org).

Sudan expert Eric Reeves, Fellow at the Rift Valley Institute, has spent the past twenty-two years working virtually full-time as a Sudan researcher and analyst, publishing extensively both in the US and internationally. He has written on all aspects of Sudan's recent history and is talking to SBS's Tys Occhiuzzi about the current situation in Sudan

Somalia first formally adopted a federal model in 2004 with the establishment of the Transitional Federal Government. Since then, federalism has been deepened and clarified with the adoption of the Provisional Federal Constitution in 2012 and the subsequent formation of the country's Federal Member States (FMS). However, important parts of Somalia's federal model remain undefined, including agreement on a model for fiscal federalism. This is a critical pillar of the federal architecture, as it ultimately defines the level of autonomy Federal Member States will have in relation to the Federal Government of Somalis (FGS). This makes the fiscal federalism model a contentious issue, with FMS seeking to maximize their autonomy and the FGS seeking to assert greater control. The Somali Dialogue Platform and Kulan Consulting recently published a policy paper outlining options for fiscal arrangements within Somalia's federal model. In this episode, Hodan Osman, a co-author of the policy paper, and Mahad Wasuge discuss the options for agreeing on a fiscal arrangement and the political processes necessary to address this contentious issue.Contact Somali Public Agenda's Maamul Wanaag Podcast · Tweet us at @somalipubagenda and @MahadWasuge (the host) · Email us at podcasts@somalipublicagenda.org Thanks for listening!

Bishii May ee 2017, madaxda dowladda federaalka iyo dowlad-goboleedyada ayaa Naqshadda Amniga Qaranka ugasoo heshiiyey shir ka dhacay London. Balse inta laga fuliyey heshiiskaas ayaa aad u kooban. Shan sano kadib, bishii May 2022, madaxweyne Xasan Sheekh ayay labada gole ee baarlamaanka doorteen. Dagaallo ay qeyb ka yihiin Macawiisleey ayaa sidoo kale ka billowday qeybo kamid ah Soomaaliya.Somali Dialogue Platform (Madasha Wadahadalada Somaaliyeed) oo ah mashruuc uu fuliyo Machadka Rift Valley ayaa dhawaan daabacay warbixin ku saabsan dib-u-eegista uu u baahan yahay in lagu sameeyo Naqshadda Amniga Qaranka.Podcast-gan, waxa Cabdi Caynte iyo Mahad Waasuge ku falanqeynayaan nuxurka warbixintaas,  in la joogo wakhtigii dib loo eegi lahaa Naqshadda Amniga Qaranka iyo heshiis amni noocee ah ayaa loo baahan yahay wakhtigan.Contact Somali Public Agenda's Maamul Wanaag Podcast · Tweet us at @somalipubagenda and @MahadWasuge (the host) · Email us at podcasts@somalipublicagenda.org Thanks for listening!

Dr. Abdirahman Duale Beileh is a Somali economist, professor, politician, philanthropist, poet, and well acclaimed song writer. In August 2022, Dr. Beileh finished his term as Somalia's Minister of Finance, having served for the past five years. Previously, he was Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation from 2014 to 2015. Dr. Beileh has been a driving force behind the reestablishment of the Somali state, and the country's return to the international scene. We start our conversation with memories from Dr. Beileh's childhood home outside the city of Hargeisa. An opportunity to study and work abroad in the United Arab Emirates and the United States drove him to question the situation in his native Somalia, eventually leading him to pursue a 30-year career at the African Development Bank (AfDB). We then discuss Somalia's transition from a failed state to one where elections and a peaceful transition of power recently took place. We explore what went right and the remaining challenges for the future. Dr. Beileh shares his experience of working with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank, and other partners on issues such as debt relief and the process of building from scratch an international coalition to support Somalia. He passionately talks about the challenges of instilling a “tax-payer mentality” in a country where most people only experience of taxation as extortion by the violent extremist group Al-Shabaab, as well as the urgent need to finance the security sector. He further shares his experience of collaborating with the finance ministers of Somalia's Federal Member States (FMS) and outlines his approach to building trust with citizens, federal member state governments, and international partners. And his toolkit is wide-ranging, from transparent communication to music and poetry. Finally, Dr. Beileh sets out a compelling 10-year vision for a Somalia: a country that is self-sufficient in food production, where the link between floods and famine is broken through good governance, and where young people can earn a quality education and pursue their dreams. Mihaela Carstei, Paul M. Bisca, and Johan Bjurman Bergman co-host F-World: The Fragility Podcast. Twitter: https://twitter.com/fworldpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/fworldpodcast/Website: https://f-world.orgMusic: "Tornado" by Wintergatan . Many thanks to Wintergartan for allowing us to use their wonderful music! This track can be downloaded for free at www.wintergatan.net.EPISODE RESOURCES:Songs by Minister Beilehhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?list=RDNI1Fbh2HnF8&v=NI1Fbh2HnF8&feature=emb_rel_endhttps://fb.watch/c-r_vmUL6X/International Monetary Fund (2022) “IMF Executive Board Completes the Second and Third Reviews of the Extended Credit Facility for Somalia”, IMF, Washington https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2022/06/20/pr22215-somalia-imf-executive-board-completes-second-and-third-reviews-of-ecfRaballand, G. and J. Knebelman (2021) “Domestic Resource Mobilisation in Somalia”, The World Bank, Washington, D.C. https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/121391596804622057/pdf/Domestic-Resource-Mobilization-in-Somalia.pdfAbshir, S. et al. (2020) “Tax and the State in Somalia”, Rift Valley Institute Briefing Paper, Rift Valley Institute 2020. https://riftvalley.net/sites/default/files/publication-documents/Tax%20and%20the%20State%20in%20Somalia%20by%20Sagal%20Abshir%2C%20Khalif%20Abdirahman%20and%20Hannah%20Stogdon%20-%20RVI%20%282020%29.pdfWorld Bank. (2017). “Somalia - Security and Justice Sector Public Expenditure Review” World Bank Group, Washington, D.C. : http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/644671486531571103/Somalia-Security-and-justice-sector-public-expenditure-reviewHiraal Institute (2020), “A Losing Game: Countering Al-Shabab's Financial System”, Hiraal Institute, Mogadishu, Somalia. https://hiraalinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/A-Losing-Game.pdfKeating, M., Abshir, S., (2018), “The Politics of Security in Somalia” NYU Center on International Cooperation, New York. https://cic.nyu.edu/publications/politics-security-somaliaIntegrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), (2022) “Somalia Updated IPC and Famine Risk Analysis Technical Release 4th June 2022”, IPC, Nairobi. https://fsnau.org/downloads/Somalia-Updated-IPC-and-Famine-Risk-Analysis-Technical-Release-4-Jun-2022.pdfIntergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) https://igad.intHorn of Africa Initiative https://hoainitiative.org TIMESTAMPS:00:00:00 Introduction00:01:41 Growing up in Somalia and early travels shaping the man00:09:36 Somalia's transition – success and challenges00:15:54 Being Minister of Finance in Somalia – Prioritizing spending and raising revenue00:22:00 Transparency and managing compounding crises 00:30:26 Financing security sector reform (SSR)00:35:25 Collaboration between the federal government and the member states of Somalia00:42:32 The State vs. Al Shabaab – governance in competition with violent extremism00:48:46 Exiting fragility – can Somalia find a path?00:51:57 Work-ethic and Dr. Beileh's approach to fragility00:58:46 Values & culture – fostering the right approach to economic growth01:03:41 Regional collaboration in the Horn of Africa 01:09:04 Working with international institutions – from blind-spots to trust01:12:58 Oil & gas in Somalia - avoiding the resource curse 01:16:44 A vision for Somalia in 10 years 01:23:51 Wrap-up

Famine is a slow-moving disaster and when it is declared, people are typically dying of starvation already. It is too late to save every life. Much of Somalia is facing its third dry season which is killing crops, animals and people. The Take talks to Somalis trying to get the word out about what is happening in their country and what they hope will be done to save lives. In this episode:  Aydrus Daar (@Aydrusdaar1), executive director at WADSA, a Somali aid group working in the horn of Africa. Nisar Majid, research associate at the London School of Economics where he was recently research director on the Conflict Research Programme (Somalia portfolio). He is a fellow of the Rift Valley Institute and has worked in the Horn of Africa in various capacities for more than 20 years. Guhad Adan, research associate at the London School of Economics. He is a freelance consultant based in Nairobi and has been working as an aid practitioner and researcher in the Horn of Africa for more than 20 years. Florence Mangwende, humanitarian and resilience programme manager at Oxfam Novib. Episode credits: This episode was produced by Amy Walters with Alexandra Locke, Ney Alvarez, Negin Owliaei, Ruby Zaman, and Malika Bilal. The story editor was Tom Fenton. It was updated by Amy Walters. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our engagement producers are Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Following the 2019 uprising that deposed longtime leader Omar Bashir, Sudan is suffering from an economic disaster, another military coup, neoliberal rot and foreign interference from countries in the region and the West. To understand what's happening and why, Rania Khalek was joined by Magdi El Gizouli, a Sudanese academic and fellow of the Rift Valley Institute, as well as frequent commentator and writer on Sudanese affairs on his blog Still Sudan.Time Codes:0:00 Intro2:02 2019 uprising: What happened & why?12:05 What are the military's interests?14:38 Foreign influence: Egypt, Israel & the Gulf18:45 Importance of oil to Sudan's economy22:34 Consequences of neoliberalism 27:14 Debt, Inflation, hunger & Western duplicity 35:32 IMF pushing removal of subsidies42:03 1964 failed revolution46:48 Failed uprisings around the world and capitalist rot54:50 What did Sudan do in Darfur?1:01:27 South Sudan1:04:23 How Ethiopia's war & dam impact Sudan1:10:37 Why Omar Bashir's shifting positions couldn't save him1:14:24 Sudan's integration into the pro-Israel regional security architecture1:19:57 Why has hunger in the countryside increased?

Doorashada Soomaaliya waxa ay mareysaa meel dhexe. In ka badan 100 xildhibaan ayaa la doortay. Muddada lagu heshiiyay 9-kii January 2022 waxa ay ahayd in 25-ka February lagusoo qabagabeeyo doorashada. Podcast-gan waxa aan si gaar ah ugu eegeynaa  kaalinta bulshada rayidka ee doorashada. Waxaa marti ku ah Sainab Xasan iyo Axmednur Cabdullahi Axmed. Sainab Xasan waa Aasaasaha iyo Agaasimaha Guud ee Somali Gender Equity Movement. Axmednur Cabdullahi Axmed waa mid kamid ah culimada Soomaaliyeed. Labadooduba waxa ay xubno ka yihiin Guddiga Bulshada Rayidka ee Hufnaanta iyo Ilaalinta Habraaca Doorashooyinka Contact Somali Public Agenda's Maamul Wanaag Podcast · Tweet us at @somalipubagenda and @MahadWasuge (the host) · Email us at podcasts@somalipublicagenda.org Thanks for listening!

9-kii January, Golaha Wadatashiga Qaran ayaa soo saaray heshiis ka kooban 18 qodob oo la xiriira dhameystirka doorashada Golaha Shacabka. Heshiiskaas kadib, waxaa billowday dardargelinta doorashada iyadoo lasoo saaray liiska kuraas badan oo qaarkood la doortay qaarna la filayo in dhawaan la doorto.Sidoo kale cabashooyin ku aaddan maareynta kuraasta ayaa kasoo yeertay qaar kamid ah musharraxiinta. Podcast-gan waxa ay Cabdi Ceynte iyo Mahad Waasuge falanqeynayaan xaaladda hadda ee doorashada, wakhtiga doorashada loo qabtay in lagusoo gebagebeeyo, hufnaanta doorashada iyo suurtagalnimada in doorashada lagu qabto labada deegaan doorasho ee dowlad-goboleedyada. Podcast-gan waxa aan iska kaashaneynaa Somali Dialogue Platform (Madasha Wadahadalada Somaaliyeed) oo ah mashruuc uu fuliyo Machadka Rift Valley.Contact Somali Public Agenda's Maamul Wanaag Podcast · Tweet us at @somalipubagenda and @MahadWasuge (the host) · Email us at podcasts@somalipublicagenda.org Thanks for listening!

This event was co-organised by the LSE Middle East Centre and the Firoz Lalji Institute for Africa at the LSE. On 25 October 2021, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan declared a state of emergency in Sudan, dissolving the government and detaining civilian leadership. Burhan is leader of the joint ruling council. The council's official goal is to hand over leadership to civilians ahead of elections in 2023 Since the beginning of the coup, the Central Committee of Sudanese Doctors, an independent union of medics, have estimated that more than 200 people have been wounded in anti-coup protests and at least 23 been killed (as of 15 November 2021). Civilians have been taking to the streets daily, promising to keep up the pressure on the transitional military-civilian authority. Speakers will discuss the historical and political context of the latest coup, the effects of the military crackdown on the ground and the international response. Muzan Alneel is a Nonresident Fellow at the Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy (TIMEP) focusing on people-centric approach to economy, industry, and environment in Sudan. She is a writer and public speaker with an interdisciplinary professional and academic background (engineering, socioeconomics, public policy). Muzan is the co-founder of The Innovation, Science and Technology Think-tank for People Centered Development (ISTiNAD) – Sudan. Nafisa Eltahir is a correspondent covering political and economic news in Sudan as well as Egypt for Reuters News. Before her current posting she reported on the Gulf out of Dubai, and was a fellow at The Intercept. Magdi el-Gizouli is a scholar of the Sudans and a fellow of the Rift Valley Institute. He writes mostly on Sudans' affairs, often on his blog StillSUDAN. Laura Mann is a sociologist and research affiliate of the Firoz Lalji Institute for Africa, whose research focuses on the political economy of development, knowledge and technology. Her regional focus is East Africa, particularly Sudan, Kenya and Rwanda, where she has conducted collaborative research on ICTs and digitisation within global agriculture. Before joining the LSE as an assistant professor, she worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the Oxford Internet Institute at the University of Oxford and at the African Studies Centre in Leiden, and received her PhD from the University of Edinburgh. She is on the Editorial Working Group of the Review of African Political Economy.

Sudan's political order is crumbling. On 25 October, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and other senior officers ousted the country's civilian government. A week on, it is unclear whether Sudan's fragile transition can be salvaged. While vast demonstrations condemning the power grab pose a serious challenge to the generals, a coalition of military leaders and armed groups have closed ranks in support of the coup. Meanwhile, few Sudanese desire a return to a troubled status quo that struggled to deliver promised reforms. This week Alan is joined by Magdi el-Gizouli, a fellow at the Rift Valley Institute, to make sense of the labyrinthine world of Sudanese politics and ask what happens next. They talk about the resistance facing the military and other armed factions, the defiant new form of popular politics emerging on the streets, the rural-urban divide threatening the country's political stability and the deep economic interests obstructing reform. They ask what a possible deal to end the political impasse could look like, question whether such a deal would be accepted on Khartoum's streets and discuss the major risks facing the country if attempts at resolution fail. For more information, explore Crisis Group's analysis on the Sudan page and read our statement ‘Reversing Sudan's Dangerous Coup'. Make sure to take a look at stillsudan.blogspot.com for more of Magdi's writings. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Elections in some ways have been great drivers of conflict and tools of authoritarianism but they also bring about positive incremental change and provide some form of accountability. Our moderator Patrick Gathara, and discussants Rashid Abdi, Justin Willis and Samira Gaid reflect on the progress made in democratizing the East African region and what needs to be done to secure long-term gains. A partnership between Heinrich Boll Foundation, The Elephant and The Rift Valley Institute.

Elections in some ways have been great drivers of conflict and tools of authoritarianism but they also bring about positive incremental change and provide some form of accountability. Our moderator Patrick Gathara, and discussants Rashid Abdi, Justin Willis and Samira Gaid reflect on the progress made in democratizing the East African region and what needs to be done to secure long-term gains. A partnership between Heinrich Boll Foundation, The Elephant and The Rift Valley Institute.

Elections in some ways have been great drivers of conflict and tools of authoritarianism but they also bring about positive incremental change and provide some form of accountability. Our moderator Patrick Gathara, and discussants Rashid Abdi, Justin Willis and Samira Gaid reflect on the progress made in democratizing the East African region and what needs to be done to secure long-term gains. A partnership between Heinrich Boll Foundation, The Elephant and The Rift Valley Institute.

Elections in some ways have been great drivers of conflict and tools of authoritarianism but they also bring about positive incremental change and provide some form of accountability. Our moderator Patrick Gathara, and discussants Rashid Abdi, Justin Willis and Samira Gaid reflect on the progress made in democratizing the East African region and what needs to be done to secure long-term gains. A partnership between Heinrich Boll Foundation, The Elephant and The Rift Valley Institute.

After a period of political impasse, leaders in Somalia— under the leadership of Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble— have agreed to a timetable for indirect elections in 2021. Elections for the Upper House are now scheduled for 25 July, for the Lower House between 10 August and 10 September, with the presidential election scheduled for 10 October. Though easing tensions, especially in the capital Mogadishu where armed forces had confronted each other in April, the agreement left several crucial elements of the electoral process unaddressed, including the selection process of delegates and the mechanism for ensuring the 30 percent quota for women's seats in the Parliament, security management and electoral funding. At the same time, Puntland Federal State is testing a one-person-one vote electoral model for local council elections in three districts - Qardho, Eyl, and Ufeyn. This is a significant development, because a successfully managed electoral process in Puntland could provide a model for a broader democratization process across Somalia. On 15 July 2021, the Rift Valley Institute in collaboration with Heinrich Boll Foundation and The Elephant hosted a panel discussion to examine these issues and prospects for peaceful elections. The webinar also explored what the democratization process in Puntland could mean for Somalia's long term democratic trajectory. Speakers Moderator- Mary Harper BBC Panelists Abdinassir Yusuf-Puntland Development & Research Centre (PDRC) Idil Ibrahim - Life and Peace Institute Ruqia Botan - LeadNow Omar Mahmood - International Crisis Group

After a period of political impasse, leaders in Somalia— under the leadership of Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble— have agreed to a timetable for indirect elections in 2021. Elections for the Upper House are now scheduled for 25 July, for the Lower House between 10 August and 10 September, with the presidential election scheduled for 10 October. Though easing tensions, especially in the capital Mogadishu where armed forces had confronted each other in April, the agreement left several crucial elements of the electoral process unaddressed, including the selection process of delegates and the mechanism for ensuring the 30 percent quota for women's seats in the Parliament, security management and electoral funding. At the same time, Puntland Federal State is testing a one-person-one vote electoral model for local council elections in three districts - Qardho, Eyl, and Ufeyn. This is a significant development, because a successfully managed electoral process in Puntland could provide a model for a broader democratization process across Somalia. On 15 July 2021, the Rift Valley Institute in collaboration with Heinrich Boll Foundation and The Elephant hosted a panel discussion to examine these issues and prospects for peaceful elections. The webinar also explored what the democratization process in Puntland could mean for Somalia's long term democratic trajectory. Speakers Moderator- Mary Harper BBC Panelists Abdinassir Yusuf-Puntland Development & Research Centre (PDRC) Idil Ibrahim - Life and Peace Institute Ruqia Botan - LeadNow Omar Mahmood - International Crisis Group

After a period of political impasse, leaders in Somalia— under the leadership of Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble— have agreed to a timetable for indirect elections in 2021. Elections for the Upper House are now scheduled for 25 July, for the Lower House between 10 August and 10 September, with the presidential election scheduled for 10 October. Though easing tensions, especially in the capital Mogadishu where armed forces had confronted each other in April, the agreement left several crucial elements of the electoral process unaddressed, including the selection process of delegates and the mechanism for ensuring the 30 percent quota for women's seats in the Parliament, security management and electoral funding. At the same time, Puntland Federal State is testing a one-person-one vote electoral model for local council elections in three districts - Qardho, Eyl, and Ufeyn. This is a significant development, because a successfully managed electoral process in Puntland could provide a model for a broader democratization process across Somalia. On 15 July 2021, the Rift Valley Institute in collaboration with Heinrich Boll Foundation and The Elephant hosted a panel discussion to examine these issues and prospects for peaceful elections. The webinar also explored what the democratization process in Puntland could mean for Somalia's long term democratic trajectory. Speakers Moderator- Mary Harper BBC Panelists Abdinassir Yusuf-Puntland Development & Research Centre (PDRC) Idil Ibrahim - Life and Peace Institute Ruqia Botan - LeadNow Omar Mahmood - International Crisis Group

Somali's regional and presidential elections and both the lower and upper houses are happening amidst evolving clan, security and regional issues. What is the place of AMISOM, American presence, Al Shabaab, and new electoral systems in this upcoming election? Somali citizens, experts and watchers Ms Rukia Mohammed, Idil Ibrahim, AbdiNassir Yusuf, and Omar Mahmoud, elaborate on what is at stake. A partnership Forum between The Rift Valley Institute, and The Elephant.

Somali's regional and presidential elections and both the lower and upper houses are happening amidst evolving clan, security and regional issues. What is the place of AMISOM, American presence, Al Shabaab, and new electoral systems in this upcoming election? Somali citizens, experts and watchers Ms Rukia Mohammed, Idil Ibrahim, AbdiNassir Yusuf, and Omar Mahmoud, elaborate on what is at stake. A partnership Forum between The Rift Valley Institute, and The Elephant.

Somali's regional and presidential elections and both the lower and upper houses are happening amidst evolving clan, security and regional issues. What is the place of AMISOM, American presence, Al Shabaab, and new electoral systems in this upcoming election? Somali citizens, experts and watchers Ms Rukia Mohammed, Idil Ibrahim, AbdiNassir Yusuf, and Omar Mahmoud, elaborate on what is at stake. A partnership Forum between The Rift Valley Institute, and The Elephant.

1 dii May ee sanadkan Golaha Shacabka ee Baarlamaanka Federaalka Soomaaliya ayaa dib uga laabtay muddo kordhintii labada sano ahayd ee uu horey u sameeyay 12-kii April kadib markii uu madaxweynaha u jeediyey khudbad uu kaga codsanayo in dib loogu laabto heshiiskii 17-ka September ee doorashada dadban. Isbuucii ka horreeyay dib uga laabashada golaha shacabka ee muddo kordhinta, Muqdisho waxaa ka dhacay dagaallo u dhexeeyay ciidamo ka wada tirsan dowladda kaasoo ka dhashay muddo kordhinta. Kumannaan qof ayaana ku barakacay xiisaddaas ka dhalatay muddo kordhinta. Masuuliyadda hoggaaminta arrimaha doorashada iyo sidoo kale amniga doorashada waxaa lagu wareejiyey Raysal Wasaare Maxamed Xuseen Rooble. Raysal wasaaraha ayaa ku guuleystay in ciidamadii ka hor yimid muddo kordhinta ay dib ugu laabtaan xarumahoodii. Waxa uu sidoo kale iclaamiyey in 20-ka bisha May uu dhici doono kulan u dhexeeya madaxda dowladda federaalka, dowlad goboleedyada iyo gobolka Benadir oo looga hadlayo arrimaha lagu muransan yahay ee doorashada. Podcast-gan, Cabdiraxmaan Caynte iyo  Maxamed Keynaan oo marti ku ahaa SPA Governance Podcast ayaa Mahad Waasuge la falanqeynaya wajiga cusub ee doorashada Soomaaliya, kaalinta raysal wasaaraha, natiijada la filayo in ay kasoo baxdo shirka la filayo in uu bilowdo 20-ka May,  casharrada laga baran karo doorashadii 2016 iyo arrimo kale oo la xiriira doorashada.   

Having a 'free and fair' election within an unjust society is a myth that helps perpetuate violence through silence and the power of a skewed ballot. Elections are critical but they have to be anchored and calibrated against the freedoms, justice, and rule of law during the period in between the elections. as debated by Ms Nanjala, Mr Gathara, attorney Muriithi, and Ms Pauline Otieno-Skaper. A partnership forum between Heinrich Boll and The Rift Valley Institute.

Having a 'free and fair' election within an unjust society is a myth that helps perpetuate violence through silence and the power of a skewed ballot. Elections are critical but they have to be anchored and calibrated against the freedoms, justice, and rule of law during the period in between the elections. as debated by Ms Nanjala, Mr Gathara, attorney Muriithi, and Ms Pauline Otieno-Skaper. A partnership forum between Heinrich Boll and The Rift Valley Institute.

The nations around the great lakes, that is Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda, Somalia tend to mirror each other in numerous ways. The older voters are taking stock of the democratic journey as the younger, restless voters come to terms with the cyclical and often slow pace of reforms in electoral justice, and voter power. as debated Fatma Karume, Kalundi Serumaga, Adam Abebe, Omar Mahood, moderator Patrick Gathara and host Pauline Otieno-Skaper. A partnership Forum between Heinrich Boll Foundation, Rift Valley Institute, and The Elephant.

The nations around the great lakes, that is Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda, Somalia tend to mirror each other in numerous ways. The older voters are taking stock of the democratic journey as the younger, restless voters come to terms with the cyclical and often slow pace of reforms in electoral justice, and voter power. as debated Fatma Karume, Kalundi Serumaga, Adam Abebe, Omar Mahood, moderator Patrick Gathara and host Pauline Otieno-Skaper. A partnership Forum between Heinrich Boll Foundation, Rift Valley Institute, and The Elephant.

The nations around the great lakes, that is Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda, Somalia tend to mirror each other in numerous ways. The older voters are taking stock of the democratic journey as the younger, restless voters come to terms with the cyclical and often slow pace of reforms in electoral justice, and voter power. as debated Fatma Karume, Kalundi Serumaga, Adam Abebe, Omar Mahood, moderator Patrick Gathara and host Pauline Otieno-Skaper. A partnership Forum between Heinrich Boll Foundation, Rift Valley Institute, and The Elephant.

The leadership of Somalia have in recent years juggled different electoral postures that accounts for its ethnic, clan and geopolitical issues. In the end, though each of these political set-ups fray just before or soon after the election as is currently being witnessed through the 2020/2021 electoral cycle. As Pauline Otieno-Skaper, moderator Mr Peter Chonka, Mahad Wasuge of Somali Public Agenda, and Islamic Finance Expert Dr Issa elaborate, this may just prove to be the country's eternal posture of agility, dynamism, and deal-making. A partnership between Heinrich Boll Foundation and Rift Valley Institute.

The leadership of Somalia have in recent years juggled different electoral postures that accounts for its ethnic, clan and geopolitical issues. In the end, though each of these political set-ups fray just before or soon after the election as is currently being witnessed through the 2020/2021 electoral cycle. As Pauline Otieno-Skaper, moderator Mr Peter Chonka, Mahad Wasuge of Somali Public Agenda, and Islamic Finance Expert Dr Issa elaborate, this may just prove to be the country's eternal posture of agility, dynamism, and deal-making. A partnership between Heinrich Boll Foundation and Rift Valley Institute.

Since March 6th 2021, when former president Magufuli fell ill, apparently, four camps have developed around the power transition. There is The Magufuli deep state, The Samia Suluhu Camp, The Tanzanian securocrats, and lastly, patriots emblemized by former premier Ali Hassan Mwinyi. As moderator Pauline Otieno Skaper, interviewer Iroyem Nyeko, and as panellists Jenerali Ulimwengu, Advocate. James Massawwe, and Shangazi Fatma Karume explain in this 2020 interview, what is emerging in Tanzania though, has roots to a number of forces that have been shaping up over the past 30 years many of which are beyond the influence of the current political players. A Partnership Forum of Rift Valley Institute and Heinrich Boll Foundation.

17-kii Sebteembar, hoggaanka Dowladda Federaalka iyo Dowlad-goboleedyada waxay ku heshiiyeen nooc doorasho dadban ah in ay ka dhacdo dalka. Iyadoo laga ambaqaadayo doodo taxane ah oo Dhuusamareeb ku qabsoomay bilaha Luulyo iyo Ogosto, doorashada lagu heshiyey ayuu baarlamaanku ansixiyay waxaana lagu faahfaahiyay heshiisyadii xigay ee 2-dii Oktoobar.Inkastoo heshiisku muujiyay in hoggaamiyeyaasha Soomaalidu ay gaareen is-faham aad loogu baahnaa kuna saabsan qaabeynta doorashada, haddana waxaa jira dulduleello badan iyo mugdi jira oo haddii aan wax laga qaban khatar gelin kara daahfurnaanta iyo in loo dhanyahay geeddi-socodka doorashada. Waxa kale oo jira arrimo siyaasadeed oo muran badan dhaliyay oo haddii aan la xallin ay sidoo kale kordhin karaan halista isku dhacyada dhalan kara bilaha soo socda.Burhan Warsame Abdi waa aqoon yahan bartay Arrimaha Dowlanimada, Siyaasadda loo dhan yahay, iyo Federalismka. Waxa uu hadda ka tirsan yahay Somali Dialogue Platform. Waxa uu soo qabtay howlo kala duwan. Waxa uu noqday Agaasimaha Guud ee Xafiiska RW (Chief of Staff); La taliye Arrimaha Doorashooyinka; Xubin Guddiyada xiriirinta Dowladda Dhexe iyo Dowlad Goboleedyada (Federal Negotiating Technical Team); Xubin Guddiga Wadaagga Kheyraadka Dalka; Goobjooge Doorashooyinkii 2012 iyo 2016/17; waxa uu sidol kale la shaqeeyey hay'ado badan oo caalami ah. Podcast-gan waxa lagu falanqeynayaa nuxurka warbixinta falanqeyneysa arrimaha khilaafka ka jiro ee doorashooyinka Soomaaliya oo ay wada daabaceen Somali Dialogue Platform iyo Somali Public Agenda.

Political Transition in Somalia - Q and A by Rift Valley Institute

Political Transition In Somalia - Panel by Rift Valley Institute

25-kii June baarlamaanka Soomaaliya ayaa riday xukuumaddii uu hoggaaminayay raysal wasaare Xasan Cali Khayre. Ilaa wakhtigan xukuumad cusub lamasoo dhisin. Xukuumadda waxa la riday maalmo yar kadib markii uu soo idlaaday shirkii Dhuusamareeb 2 oo ay madaxda dowladda federaalka iyo kuwa dowlad goboleedyadu uga hadlayeen nooca doorashada suuragalka ah in ay ku qabsoonto wakhtiga u haray hay’adaha federaalka. Maxamed Cabdirisaaq waa aasaasaha iyo agaasimaha Finance, Development, and Governance Synergy Limited (FDG-Synergy). Kahor inta aanu billaabin SDG Synergy, waxa uu Maxamed Maareeyaha mashruuca Platform for Political Dialogue and Accommodation in Somalia (Madasha Wadahadallada Soomaaliya) u ahaa hay’adda Conflict Dynamics International. Waxa uu sidoo kale Maxamed horey usoo noqday lataliyaha Madaxweye Farmaajo ee arrimaha doorashooyinka. Sidoo kale, Maxamed waxa uu horey isugu sharraxay xilka madaxweynaha Soomaaliya. Podcast-gan waxa lagu falanqeynayaa nuxurka warbixinta taxliilineysa dhismaha xukuumadda xigta ee Soomaaliya oo ay daabaceen Machadka Rift Valley iyo FDG Synergy.

For thirty years, Somalia has experienced violence and upheaval. National and international efforts to build a state and achieve reconciliation are challenged by deep-rooted grievances, local conflicts and a long-running insurgency. On 10th December, the Rift Valley Institute, CAN International and Aston University hosted a panel discussion to launch the book, War and Peace in Somalia: National Grievances, Local Conflict and Al-Shabaab. The book, consisting of forty-two articles by conflict resolution specialists and leading experts on Somalia, is a unique collection of insights into Somalia’s protracted conflicts, and the efforts of Somali women, men and youth, and international actors to resolve them.

Gender, State-collapse, Conflict and State-building: Recent Research from the Somali Context Prescribing and policing gender norms and relations, in other words controlling society's experiences of femininity and masculinity, along with social exclusion practices, is arguably at the very heart of the protracted and violent struggle for political and ideological power in today's Somalia. The research material that my session will be drawing on comes from two recent qualitative studies: the Impact of War on Somali Men (Rift Valley Institute) and Learning from Kismayo: a study of women's roles and responsibilities in clan-related armed violence in the Somali conflict (Life & Peace with Peace Direct). The second study was prompted by the widespread exclusion of Somali women from peace processes and political settlements. Together, the studies' findings provide a detailed picture of the gendered dynamics and impacts of Somalia's post-1991 violence. They deepen understanding of the complex power and gender relations at play in a context of an absent, weak or fragile state. At the same time, they give rise to many new questions, some of which we can perhaps discuss during the session. Judith has worked in development and peacebuilding for 30 years, as a practitioner and researcher, developing a particular focus on gender and conflict. As a researcher, uses she participatory approach and qualitative methods. Among many others, she authored a ground-breaking conception study with the Rift Valley Institute on war's impact on Somali men.

Gender, State-collapse, Conflict and State-building: Recent Research from the Somali Context Prescribing and policing gender norms and relations, in other words controlling society’s experiences of femininity and masculinity, along with social exclusion practices, is arguably at the very heart of the protracted and violent struggle for political and ideological power in today’s Somalia. The research material that my session will be drawing on comes from two recent qualitative studies: the Impact of War on Somali Men (Rift Valley Institute) and Learning from Kismayo: a study of women’s roles and responsibilities in clan-related armed violence in the Somali conflict (Life & Peace with Peace Direct). The second study was prompted by the widespread exclusion of Somali women from peace processes and political settlements. Together, the studies’ findings provide a detailed picture of the gendered dynamics and impacts of Somalia's post-1991 violence. They deepen understanding of the complex power and gender relations at play in a context of an absent, weak or fragile state. At the same time, they give rise to many new questions, some of which we can perhaps discuss during the session. Judith has worked in development and peacebuilding for 30 years, as a practitioner and researcher, developing a particular focus on gender and conflict. As a researcher, uses she participatory approach and qualitative methods. Among many others, she authored a ground-breaking conception study with the Rift Valley Institute on war’s impact on Somali men.

On Wednesday 22 November 2017, Eye Radio (www.eyeradio.org) and the Rift Valley Institute (www.riftvalley.net) aired the fourth radio show about the South Sudan National Archives, in coordination with the South Sudan Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports and UNESCO, with Norway’s financial support. The show was hosted by Clement Wani Cirisio and looked at an appeal by the peace delegation to the Anya Nya from 1967, a document preserved through the work of the National Archives. The document is an example of the efforts made by the Sudanese government to persuade the Anya Nya forces to surrender and participate in elections scheduled for March of that year.

Eye Radio (www.eyeradio.org) and the Rift Valley Institute (www.riftvalley.net) aired the second radio show about the South Sudan National Archives on Wednesday 8 November 2017, in coordination with the South Sudan Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports and UNESCO, with Norway’s financial support. This edition looked at an extract of the Gospel of St Mark from a 1952 Bible, translated into Bari and preserved through the work of the National Archives. The extract describes a conversation between Jesus and his disciples on the Mount of Olives in which Jesus is preparing them for the destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem.

On Wednesday 15 November 2017, Eye Radio (www.eyeradio.org) and the Rift Valley Institute (www.riftvalley.net) aired the third radio show about the South Sudan National Archives, in coordination with the South Sudan Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports and UNESCO, with Norway’s financial support. The show was hosted by Rosemary Ochinyi and looked at a document preserved through the work of the National Archives, the illustrated cover of a 1948 instructional health manual titled Pial de Guop, or ‘Good Health’ in Dinka. It was distributed among the Bor Dinka community in what was then known as Upper Nile province.

Eye Radio (www.eyeradio.org) and the Rift Valley Institute (www.riftvalley.net) aired the first of a five-part radio series about the South Sudan National Archives (SSNA) on Wednesday 1 November 2017, in coordination with the South Sudan Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports and UNESCO, with Norway’s financial support. The show’s host, Rosemary Ochinyi, and three South Sudanese panellists discussed a particularly important historical document, The Sentencing of the Torit Mutineers, which has been preserved and catalogued through the work of the Archives.

On Wednesday 29 November 2017, Eye Radio (www.eyeradio.org) and the Rift Valley Institute (www.riftvalley.net) aired the fifth and, for now, final radio show in the South Sudan National Archives radio series, in coordination with the South Sudan Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports and UNESCO, with Norway’s financial support. The show was hosted by Clement Wani Cirisio and looked at a document preserved through the work of the National Archives, ‘The functions of the leopard-skin chief’, an extract from the draft manual of Nuer customary law commissioned in 1944 by the colonial authorities.

Somaliland Elections - Q&A by Rift Valley Institute

Somaliland Elections Panel - Part 2 by Rift Valley Institute

Somaliland Elections Panel - Part 1 by Rift Valley Institute

We Kissed the Ground: A migrant’s journey from Somaliland to the Mediterranean by Rift Valley Institute

The Political Marketplace Of South Sudan by Rift Valley Institute

International Archives Day with Becu Thomas and Youssef Onyalla by Rift Valley Institute

Prevention & Management of Drought-Induced Displacement by Rift Valley Institute

Africa's Stability: Past Present & Future - Part 2 by Rift Valley Institute

Africa's Stability: Past Present & Future - Part 1 by Rift Valley Institute

Strengthening Humanitarian Response In Insecure Settings by Rift Valley Institute

Drought & Displacement in Somalia by Rift Valley Institute

In July 2011, South Sudan gained independence and became the world’s newest country. Yet just two-and-a-half years after this momentous decision, the country was in the grips of renewed civil war and political strife. On 8 July 2016, the Rift Valley Institute and the Norwegian Embassy launched South Sudan: The Untold Story from Independence to Civil War, by Hilde F. Johnson. This book, based on the author's experience as a Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan from July 2011 until July 2014, provides an unparalleled insider’s account of South Sudan’s descent from the celebrations of July 2011 to the outbreak of the conflict in December 2013 and the early phase of the fighting. Johnson’s access to contacts at the highest levels of government, accompanied by her knowledge of the country and its history, make this a unique eyewitness account of the turbulent first three years of the world’s newest—and yet most fragile—country. In the light of the current crisis, the current peace agreement in South Sudan, and the political, social and economic impact of the crisis on the region, the question remains: What is the way forward for South Sudan?

On Saturday 9th May, the Nairobi Forum hosted an evening with renowned Somali author Nuruddin Farah at the offices of the Rift Valley Institute. Nuruddin spoke about Somali cultural losses in the civil war. Nuruddin is the winner of the Neustadt International Prize for Literature and the Lettre Ulysses Award, and has been nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature several times. His body of work includes two trilogies, Variations on the Theme of an African Dictatorship (1980) and Blood in the Sun (1986). His most recent novel, Crossbones, was published in 2011.

The Rift Valley Institute’s Nairobi Forum, in partnership with Storymoja Africa, hosted a panel discussion with Rasna Warah (Kenya), author of War Crimes in Somalia, Michael Walls (UK) of UCL, author of A Somali Nation-State, to discuss Somali history, political transitions and foreign aid at the 2014 Storymoja Festival. The authors were joined on the panel by Parselelo Kantai (Kenya), investigative journalist and regional editor of the Africa Report, Fatuma Abdulahi (Somalia), founder of the Warya Post, and Neil Wigan, the British High Commissioner to Somalia. The panel was moderated by lawyer Ramsey Beck (USA).

Hosts Winslow Robertson and Dr. Nkemjika Kalu continue their discussion of China/South Sudan relations, this time examining the history between both countries. And who better to ask than Dr. Daniel Large, Assistant Professor at Central European University and the Director of the Rift Valley Institute of the Sudan Open Archive. He recently completed his PhD at the University of London's School of Oriental and African Studies. His thesis, "Fantastic Invasions: intervention and the politics of the international in Sudan," looks at the international community's relations with Sudan and how it reacted to Chinese engagement with the country. He has also published a number of books and articles, notably a co-edited volume with Chris Alden and Ricardo Soares de Oliveira: "China Returns to Africa: A Continent and a Rising Power Embrace, published by Hurst Publishers and Columbia University Press. He also wears extremely stylish glasses, but we fear you will not be able to see them! PS There are a few technical glitches with the recording, for which we apologize! Also, our Chinese and South Sudanese guests could not participate in this podcast :(