Event: Chatham House Africa Programme Dec 07 to Jan 08

Chatham House Africa Programme News and Events Update December 2007- January 2008 Scroll down for more information on: Sierra Leone Foreign Minister - 29 November Kenya’s elections – 14 December Non-state policing in Africa – 22 January News A special issue of Chatham House journal International Affairs was launched in Nairobi in November focussing on Africa and Security. The issue distils current thinking on the major security issues in Africa and covers several emerging areas of work, including transnational organized crime in West Africa, the threat of climate change, and security issues relating to Africans outside Africa . Also covering Africa this month is The World Today, the monthly current affairs magazine produced by Chatham House. Five articles on African issues cover such varied topics as sapphire mining in Madagascar , Ethiopia ’s intervention in Somalia , South Africa ’s leadership contest, and food production in Malawi . Both publications are available from our website www.chathamhouse.org.uk. Other research events included support for a visit to Nigeria by a delegation of the Nigeria All Party Parliamentary Group, led by John Robertson MP. The group visited Lagos , Abuja and Kano , aiming to better understand and support efforts to improve governance, fight corruption, tackle the crisis in the Niger Delta and address the needs of people in the north of Nigeria . We also completed the second phase of the UK-Angola Energy Dialogue, bringing a high-level delegation of Angolan officials to Aberdeen and the Shetlands. With regards to Sudan , the Horn of Africa Group hosted a day seminar on the faltering Comprehensive Peace Agreement in Sudan , bringing experts and officials from all sides to discuss the challenges and possible ways forward. The event was part of our ongoing series seeking to better understand and explain conflicts in the region. Other roundtables explored the political transition in South Africa and the role of China in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Events All the events below take place at Chatham House unless otherwise stated. Entry is free of charge. If you would like to attend please e-mail Bereni Oruitemeka: BOruitemeka@chathamhouse.org.uk Thursday 29 November 2007, Chatham House, 1200 – 1300 Prospects for Sierra Leone Speaker: Her Excellency Zainab Bangura, Foreign Minister of Sierra Leone After pivotal elections the new government of Sierra Leone is facing a multiplicity of major challenges with minimal resources. The Foreign Minister will address a roundtable on some of these issues and how best the international community might support Sierra Leone ’s development agenda. Places for this roundtable are limited and registration is essential. Friday 14 December 2007, Chatham House, 1330 - 1430Kenya ’s elections: Key challenges Speaker: Henry Maina, Warwick University Chair: Councillor Marianne Alapini, Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea On December 27th, elections take place in Kenya . The incumbent President President Mwai Kibaki, and his Party of National Unity coalition, faces a strong challenge from veteran Raila Odinga and his party, the Orange Democratic Movement. Henry Maina, formerly of the Kenya Legal Resources Foundation will offer an overview of the various key actors and suggest what this may mean for Kenya and the region. Tuesday 22 January 2008, Chatham House, 1530 – 1700 Security sector reform and non-state policing in Africa Speaker: Professor Bruce Baker, Professor of African Security, Coventry University The state police in Africa are generally small in number, urban based and lacking in skills and resources. Understandably most Africans look elsewhere for their everyday policing needs. Who are these non-state policing actors? Professor Baker, author of new book Multi-choice Policing in Africa, will offer an overview some of the multiplicity of actors who have a policing role in Africa , and suggest ways governments, developmental partners and others might better engage with them. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The work of the Africa Programme is principally supported by: FCO, SHELL INTERNATIONAL, BHP BILLITON ,CAFOD, SABMILLER, BG GROUP, SAVE THE CHILDREN, BP, ONE WORLD ACTION , ROC OIL, BANCO AFRICANO DE INVESTIMENTOS, DE LA RUE, DEBEERS, HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH, MARATHON, MWANA AFRICA, LIMJE, ANGLO AMERICAN, STATOIL, CHRISTIAN AID, CRS, GOVERNMENT OF CANADA, GOVERNMENT OF NORWAY, GOVERNMENT OF DENMARK, USIP, REVENUEWATCH, STANDARD CHARTERED BANK Many thanks for your support. Best wishes, Tom Cargill Africa Programme Manager Chatham House The Royal Institute of International Affairs 10 St James’s Square SW1Y 4LE 0207 957 5718