The New Geopolitics of Eastern Africa

“Eastern Africa is experiencing a profound multi-decade shift in its relationship with the wider world. The role of “the West” in promoting regional peace and security, always contested and flawed, is decreasing in significance and coherence.”

On 20 May, the British Institute of Eastern Africa (BIEA), Chatham House, and the Rift Valley Institute (RVI) convened a group of experts to discuss the ‘The New Geopolitics of Eastern Africa’. The closed-door roundtable considered the ongoing transformation of regional order, including: the extent of change and continuity; the implications for domestic political and conflict systems; the relative agency of different actors; potential opportunities for greater alignment within the region and increased cooperation across the Red Sea; and a research agenda going forward. The event was followed by a public discussion on 21 May exploring regional responses to current changes.  Analytical insights and points of debate arising from both events are available in this brief (click here to download). Individual participants are not referenced as the roundtable was held under the Chatham House Rule.

The brief was authored by Partha Moman (LSE/BIEA), while Geoffrey Lugano (RVI) compiled a full record of the events.  The events were a joint initiative by the BIEA, Chatham House, and RVI. They were funded by BIEA with the support of the British Academy and the Folke Bernadotte Academy of the Swedish Government and were part of the wider ‘Eastern Africa in the World’ Seminar series held by BIEA. We are grateful to all the participants and speakers for sharing their insights, though they cannot be named specifically to protect anonymity.

Photo credit: Nations Online Project