University reaffirms leading Area Studies reputation with British Academy-funded Conference in Senegal

The University of Portsmouth recently reaffirmed its standing as the top modern university in Area Studies by hosting a two-day conference at the West Africa Research Centre in Dakar, Senegal.

Organised by Dr Ed Stoddard, Professor Tony Chafer, and Dr Melita Lazell, the conference, titled 'The Sahel Crisis in Historical and Contemporary Perspective,' forms an integral part of an interdisciplinary research project funded by the British Academy and led by Dr Stoddard.

The wider project brings together a team of 12 experts from 3 continents and 6 different countries, to collectively address the pressing security crises affecting the Sahel region, which have led to the loss of tens of thousands of lives and the displacement of over two million people.

Distinguished participants in the conference included representatives from the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, the EU's European External Action Service, the Senegalese and Nigerian militaries, The Royal Institute for International Affairs 'Chatham House', and various local and international think tanks.

The event featured a series of presentations that explored the historical practices and memory of Jihad in the Sahel, the governance strategies of militants and military practices of Sahelian jihadist groups, and developed plans for five research outputs and a number of policy briefs. These insights will be presented to policymakers and practitioners at the final project conference scheduled for February 2024 in London.

Dr Melita Lazell, Associate Professor in Political Economy and Development, said: “This project not only enhances the University of Portsmouth's reputation in Area Studies but also strengthens and nurtures strategic international collaborations, notably, with our strategic partners at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria and our long-standing collaborators at the Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies in Pisa, Italy, and in Senegal and Mali.”

To stay informed on the progress and impact of this project, please contact Ed, Tony, or Melita and follow them on social media: 

@stoddardEd

www.linkedin.com/in/dr-melita-lazell