Regional Democracy, Governance and Rule of Law Program

Prof. Mesenbet Assefa

Prof. Mansenbet has extensive experience in international law, security and conflict studies comparative constitutional law, African Union Law, criminal law, business law, human rights and the Geopolitics of the Horn. Mesenbet has published numerous international and local journals. He has presented his research findings in leading centers of excellence including Yale School of Law, London School of Economics, University of Pretoria and University of Seville. His particular research interests include development, Security/counter terrorism, violent extremism, human rights, constitutional law and freedom of expression. Mesenbet has served in numerous positions including as Head of the School of Law Addis Ababa University, Associate Dean for Graduate Studies of Addis Ababa University School of Law and Director of Mekelle University Human Rights Centre. Mesenbet has also extensive experience in consulting governmental, inter-governmental and non-governmental organizations at various levels. Currently, he also serves as a committee member in the National Legal Reform Council of Ethiopia.

Area of Expertise

Security and Conflict Studies

International laws

Counter terrorism and violent extremism

Suad Mustafa Elhag Musa, Ph.D.

Suad Mustafa Elhag Musa is the author of the 2019 Aidoo-Snyder Award-winning book: “Hawks and Doves in Armed Conflict in Sudan. Al-Hakkamat Baggara Women of Darfur,” published by James Curry. She holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Peace Studies from Bradford University (UK) focusing on women’s agency in conflict and peace and a Master of Arts in Rural Development from the University of East Anglia (UK). She has also earned Postgraduate Diplomas in Development Studies and in Social Research Methods from East Anglia and Bradford Universities (UK), respectively, and Bachelor of Science from Khartoum University. She is a co-founder and Director of the Gender Centre for Peacebuilding and Sustainable Development in El Fasher, Darfur, Sudan.

She has taught at Qatar University and Royal University of Women in Bahrain universities as assistant professor teaching several courses including sustainable development, human rights, sociology, and qualitative research. Her other thematic areas of specialization and interest include women’s political participation in democratic governance, gender issues in peacebuilding, peace negotiations, local reconciliation mechanisms and post-conflict democratic transition. She is also deeply involved in issues sexual violence and gender-based violence (SGBV), internal displacement and migration of women in the Horn of Africa. Additionally, she focuses on enhancing the leadership, innovation, aspirations, and sustainable livelihood resiliency of pastoralists, young people and civil society organizations.

Dr. Suad is a researcher who has collaborated with multiple international organizations including the United Nation Environment Program (UNEP). She has been a development practitioner in the humanitarian and development sector, working with international and national non-governmental and civil society organizations (INGOs, NGOs & CSOs). Her background includes substantial and varied experience working in humanitarian aid and integrated development in the Horn of Africa and beyond focusing on the analysis of food security situation, capacity building, strategic planning and policy and project development and evaluation. As an activist in the field of women’s and child’s rights, gender equality, violence against women and gender-based violence, and women’s security and protection, Dr. Suad has convened numerous seminars and workshops, and facilitated and led discussion groups and dialogues on peacebuilding, reconciliation, and political transformation. She is an active member in several academic and non- academic associations, such as African Feminist Initiative – USA (AFI-USA), Women Caucus- USA, and Society for the Study of Sudan and South Sudan -UK (SSSUK).

Dr. Suad’s research interests encompass women and political authority in the Horn of Africa and West Africa; gender issues in conflict and in indigenous and modern negotiation mechanisms and justice; gender analysis of conflict and internal displacement; women and youth in peacebuilding and post-conflict democratic transition; climate change and sustainable development; African women, culture, religion, and social change across intersectional identities, among many other topics.  Her work has been published in various academic and non-academic outlets, including articles in Arabic in e-magazines. Earlier this year (2024), she published a novel in Arabic titled: laana fi jawof al-waadi (a curse in the belly of a valley).

Prof. Fred Jonyo, Ph.D.

Overview

Prof. Fred Jonyo is the current Chairman, Department of Political Science and Public Administration, University of Nairobi. He holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science and Public Administration from Makerere University, Uganda; a Master’s Degree in International Relations from The Graduate School of International Relations (GSIR), International University of Japan (IUJ) Niigata, Japan; and a Bachelor’s Degree in Anthropology and Political Science from The University of Nairobi, Kenya.

He specializes in Political Economy, International Relations, Trade and Investment Policy, Security Studies. He has served under Government Appointment as a Council Member, Kenya School of Government (2015–2018). Chair, Audit and Risk Management sub – Committee of Council of Kenya School of Government.

He is an External Examiner for Maseno University, Multimedia University and University of Botswana. He has consulted for National Assembly; Center for Parliamentary Studies and Training (CPST); National Counter Terrorism Center (NCTC); Defense Staff College (DSC); National Defense College (NDC); National Intelligence College (NIC); Konrad-Adenauer Stiftung, Kenya Office; Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, Kenya Office; UNDP; EU among others.

He has published extensively in journals, contributed in book Chapters, co-Authored Books and Authored Books on topical academic issues.

Daniel Iberi

Academic Qualifications

• Master of Arts in Communication Studies from the University of Nairobi, Kenya
• Bachelor of Education (Arts) from Kenyatta University, Kenya.
• Trainer in Communication for Development

Areas of Specialization

• Information Gathering, Analysis and Report Writing
• Advanced Editing and Writing
• Online Journalism and Social Media Communication
• Development Communication
• Facilitation and Training

Professional Membership

• Public Relations Society of Kenya
• Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ)

Edmond J. Pamba

Academic Qualification

• Bachelor of Arts in Diplomacy and International Studies, Maseno University (Kenya)
• Master of Arts in International Relations and Diplomacy, Mount Kenya University (Kenya) (Ongoing)

Areas of Interests

• International Security
• Terrorism
• Foreign Policy
• Geopolitics

Emmanuel Kisiangani, Ph.D.

Overview

Dr. Emmanuel Kisiangani holds a Doctor of Philosophy in International Relations from the University of the Witwatersrand (South Africa); and a Master of Arts in Diplomacy and International Studies from the University of Nairobi (Kenya). He currently lectures at the Institute of Diplomacy and International Studies, University of Nairobi (Kenya) on International Conflict Management, Theory and Practice of Security and Energy; and International Relations.

Dr. Kisiangani has previously worked in various research and teaching capacities in South Africa and Kenya. His areas of research interest include Conflict Analysis and Early Warning; Political Governance and Democracy; Radicalization; Violent Extremism and Terrorism; International Conflict and Peace Building; and Transitional Justice and Diplomatic Discourse. Dr. Kisiangani also has a passion for wildlife and environmental conservation.