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As part of King's Africa Week 2025, we are hosting a simulation debate which aims to explore the shifting geopolitical dynamics in the Sahel region. Each panelist will be speaking as prominent leaders involved in shaping the region’s future – from junta leadership to regional and external powers.

Join us as we examine the security regime and regional frameworks that aid in the growing dissonance the region faces. This year’s King’s Africa debate brings together key figures from West Africa and the Sahel to debate the ongoing developments in the region and to engage the questions raised during the Opening Keynote.

About the keynote speaker

Mr El Ghassim Wane

Mr. Wane has three decades of experience in conflict prevention, mediation, and peacekeeping. He served as Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Mali and Head of MINUSMA (May 2021-December 2023), and previously as Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations (January 2016-September 2017).

At the Organization of African Unity/African Union, he held key leadership positions: Head of Conflict Management Division, Peace and Security Director, and Chief of Staff to the Commission Chairperson. He contributed significantly to AU's conflict prevention strategies while strengthening AU-UN partnership in peace and security.

In 2024, he led a team drafting "The Future of Peacekeeping, New Models and Related Capabilities" for the 2025 Peacekeeping Ministerial Conference in Berlin. Previously, he conducted a review of UN Peacekeeping Protection of Civilians in four critical missions: MINUSMA, MINUSCA, MONUSCO, and UNMISS.

His academic roles include Visiting Professor at George Washington University's Elliott School of International Affairs, lecturer at Sciences Po Paris, and Visiting Senior Research Fellow at King's College London's African Leadership Centre. He holds a master's in International Public Law and International Relations (University of Dakar) and a postgraduate degree in International and European Studies (University of Lille II). He is fluent in English and French.

About the panelists

Amal Mohamed

Amal Mohamed, from Somaliland, is a current Fellow on the African Women in Leadership and Peacebuilding and on the MSc Global Leadership and Peacebuilding. She is also a communications specialist with vast experience in the peacebuilding field. She has served as a Deputy Director of Communications at a peacebuilding organization. In this role, she led public relations efforts, promoted dialogue on social issues and worked to amplify marginalized voices in peace initiatives. Amal is passionate about advancing women’s leadership and contributing to sustainable mediation efforts as vital steps toward achieving lasting peace within her community and beyond.

Esther Wadzanai Mano

Esther Wadzanai Mano from Zimbabwe is on the Fellowship for African Scholars in Peace, Security and Development pursuing an MSc in Global Leadership and Peacebuilding at King’s College London. She is an African historian and scholar-activist dedicated to exploring the intersection of education and liberation in Africa and the diaspora. Her work focuses on grassroots efforts to rethink education holistically creating solutions for community development, leadership, security and peacebuilding concerns. She remains deeply engaged in understanding education’s potential as a tool for justice and peace, focusing particularly on the relationship between the legacies of colonial education systems and contemporary leadership challenges in Africa. Her work envisions reimagining educational institutions as hubs for peacebuilding and catalysts for Africa’s development.

Geoffrey Lou Duke

Geoffrey Lou Duke from South Sudan, is currently on the ALC Fellowship for African Scholars in Peace, Security and Development and is currently pursuing an MSc in Global Leadership and Peacebuilding. He is a committed advocate for peace, justice, and human rights in South Sudan and the Horn of Africa. With over a decade of experience, he is renowned for his significant contributions to small arms control, community security, peace negotiations, and humanitarian disarmament.

Geoffrey has been serving as the Head of the Secretariat for the South Sudan Action Network on Small Arms, where he addresses the critical issue of small arms proliferation and its effects on national and regional security. Additionally, he has served on the South Sudan National Small Arms Policy drafting committee and acted as a ceasefire monitor of a Cessation of Hostilities Agreement between the South Sudan government and an armed opposition group.

Kamila Atta

Kamila Atta is an Associate Fellow with the African Leadership Centre, while completing her MSc in Global Leadership and Peacebuilding. Kamila is a dedicated communications specialist and development practitioner with a strong background in international relations and human resources. She is currently serving as an External Affairs Officer at the World Bank, where she supports employee engagement initiatives, develops internal communication strategies, and promotes a positive organisational culture.

Kamila is committed to furthering her understanding the process of leadership and institutional transformation in Africa. She aims to leverage her expertise in communications and human resources to contribute meaningfully to Africa’s development and to the leadership discourse on the continent.

About the moderator

Desmond Davies

Desmond Davies originally from Freetown in Sierra Leone, has been a journalist and commentator on African affairs since 1972. Moving to London in 1978, he worked for New African and Africa Now magazines, becoming Editor of the latter in 1984. He spent 10 years (1993-2003) with West Africa magazine, also in London, and was Editor from 2001 to 2003. He continues to write extensively on African and global affairs. He has a wide range of contacts in Africa and has interviewed numerous heads of state, political, business and cultural leaders. Desmond is currently the Editor of Africa Briefing magazine in London and also a contributor to the Ghana News Agency (GNA). He is a Mentor in strategic communication at the African Leadership Centre, King’s College London.

About King's Africa Week

Hosted by the African Leadership Centre and Africa research group, Africa Week is an annual celebration of research, education and outreach activities on Africa.

King's Africa Week brings together academics, researchers and students from across King's – and offers the opportunity to hear from African scholars, leaders and thinkers. It also showcases King's collaboration with African universities and partners.

Find out more about Africa Week