Regional Democracy, Governance and Rule of Law Program

Babikire Lobela Carine

BABIKIRE LOBELA Carine is a peacebuilder and youth leader from the Democratic
Republic of Congo, holding a Master’s degree in International Cooperation for Peoples’
Development. Her work focuses on governance, regional integration, gender equality,
environmental sustainability, and democratic processes in fragile contexts.
She served as an intern at the Delegation of the European Union to the Democratic Republic
of Congo, where she gained hands on experience in diplomatic engagement, development
cooperation frameworks, and multilateral policy processes. This role strengthened her
understanding of international partnerships and institutional governance mechanisms.
Carine is the National Coordinator of Equigreen for Peace, a local non-profit organization
dedicated to promoting gender equality, environmental protection, and peaceful coexistence.
Through her leadership, she advances community driven initiatives that connect climate
action, women’s empowerment, and conflict prevention.
She also serves as the EAC Deputy Youth Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Congo,
advocating for meaningful youth participation in regional integration, peacebuilding, and
sustainable development across the East African Community.
In addition, she has contributed to democratic governance as an Electoral Observer with
ECCAS (CEEAC), supporting electoral transparency and accountability processes in Central
Africa.
Her work sits at the intersection of diplomacy, civic engagement, environmental justice, and
regional peacebuilding, with a strong commitment to African led solutions to governance and
security challenges.

Ivy Ndungu

Academic qualifications:

Bachelor of Arts in International Studies- Strathmore University
Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and Law- Universidad de Navarra

Areas of Interest:
Democratic Governance
Regional security
Mixed migration dynamics
Intersection of Climate change and Conflict in the Horn of Africa

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

Jeremy Oronje

Academic Qualifications

• B.A in International Relations from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa

Area of interest

•  Conflict Analysis
•  ⁠Conflict Resolution
• Governance and Statecraft

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.