Horn of Africa Regional Peace and Security Program (HARPS)

Solomon Kimaita

Solomon Kimaita is an accomplished Lecturer of International Relations and Diplomacy at Zetech University in Nairobi, Kenya, specializing in Peace and Conflict Studies. He holds an M.A. in International Relations from the United States International University-Africa, and a B.A. in Social Studies – Government and Public Administration from Moi University in Eldoret, Kenya. Solomon’s teaching portfolio covers topics such as Development Dynamics in Africa, Regional Integration and International Conflict Management. He is a Certified Professional Mediator and has certifications in pedagogy and academic quality assurance.

His experience spans significant roles in humanitarian work with UNHCR and project management with USIU’s Development Partnerships in Higher Education Project. He has contributed to multiple academic conferences and published in peer-reviewed journals on emerging themes like AI in conflict prevention, youth participation in climate resilience and digital diplomacy. A committed academic, Solomon actively contributes to curriculum development and mentorship as the patron of the UNESCO Club at Zetech. His professional affiliations include membership in the Christian Professional Mediators Association of Kenya (CPMAK) and the International Relations Society of Kenya (IRSK).

Zohra Mohamed Omar, PhD.

Bio to follow

Partha Moman

Partha is an independent researcher focused on supporting peace efforts in Somalia and the wider Horn of Africa. To this end, he has provided research and advisory services for the UN, the World Bank, SIDA, and other institutional donors. He is pursuing a PhD in International Relations at LSE, exploring the impact of changing geopolitics on security dynamics in the Horn.

He previously designed and led the Somali Dialogue Platform at the Rift Valley Institute. Earlier in his career he worked for Africa’s Voices Foundation, Chatham House, and the Centre of Governance and Human Rights at the University of Cambridge. He is a fellow of Somali Public Agenda in Mogadishu and the Institute for Peace and Security Studies in Addis Ababa.

Mathieu Gotteland PhD.

“Dr Mathieu Gotteland holds a PhD in History of international
relations (University Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne, France). A former
Jean Walter-Zellidja fellow (Académie française) and a former PhD
fellow of the French Ministry for Defence, he has been awarded by the
latter a Prize in Military History (2014).

Currently an independent researcher in (history of) international relations, he has published a number of academic articles and book chapters. A participant to several think tanks and international research groups, his research interests include informal imperialism, terrorism, hybrid and secret warfare, and the dynamics of international and non-international conflict, particularly in Africa.

Brig Gen (Rtd) Ahamed Mohammed, E.B.S.

Academic Qualifications

• Master of Arts in Defence Studies from Kings College, University of London
• Master of Arts in International Studies from the University of Nairobi

Areas of Specialization

• Defence and Security

Stephen Mwachofi Singo

Stephen Mwachofi Singo is a doctoral candidate in Political Science at Maseno University (Kenya). He holds a Master of Arts in International Relations from the University of Nairobi (Kenya), and Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Moi University (Kenya). He has also successfully completed professional courses in Peacebuilding; Diplomacy, Project Management, Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) in Kenya, Switzerland, Sweden, South Africa, and Austria.

He is a Lecturer in the Department of Political Science and Public Administration at the University of Nairobi (Kenya) where he teaches Security Studies and Comparative Politics. He has also taught at Moi University (Kenya).

He has over 17 years of experience in project management in the fields of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) control, disarmament, and peacebuilding at the national, regional, and international levels. From 2002-2006, Singo served as Research and Peacebuilding Programme Coordinator at Security Research and Information Centre (SRIC), Kenya, where he coordinated research projects focusing on illicit small arms proliferation in the Karamoja cluster (Kenya, Uganda, Sudan and Ethiopia).

Singo was the Director of Peace and Security Programme at the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) based in Bujumbura (Burundi) from 2007 to 2014. In this role, he oversaw the implementation of six (6) peace and security projects in 12 countries. He also served as a member of the African Union Steering Committee on SALW representing ICGLR from 2009-2014. From 2012 to 2013, he was Chief of Staff of the Facilitation Secretariat of the Peace talks between the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and M23 rebels held in Kampala (Uganda), under the auspices of the ICGLR.

He has been involved in international arms control and disarmament processes over the last 10 years, notably the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) and the United Nations Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons (UNPoA). He is currently serving on the Editorial Board of the Arms Trade Treaty Monitor and is involved in Control Arms and International Action Network on Small Arms (IANSA).

His research interests include the link between illicit small arms proliferation and development. He is currently a consultant at Security Research and Information Centre (SRIC) (Kenya), and International Peace Support Training Centre (IPSTC) in Nairobi (Kenya).