ALC-King's Africa Debates

King's College London

Geriatric countdown in Africa: Lifetime Presidents in the midst of crisis

The Simulation Seminar is undertaken by

ALC Peace and Security Fellows

(Current Fellows are from Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania and Zimbabwe)
 

Time: 11.30 - 2.00pm

Venue: The River Room, King’s College London

The ongoing crises in Uganda and Cameroon exemplify the wider global debates on democracy, longevity in power and crises in leadership, that are particularly pronounced in Africa. Since the fall of Libya’s long-serving leader, Muammar Gaddafi, and Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe, the resultant instability raised genuine concerns on what happens when a long-serving ruler vacates power. How likely is it that the absence of Presidents Museveni and Biya from office will bring about positive transformation to Uganda and Cameroon? What happens when our assumptions about democratic transitions prove untrue? To what extent are these societies’ voices being heard?

Panel 1: Uganda: Will Bobi Wine End the Museveni Hegemony?

Bobi Wine's slogan of “people power” and his refusal to be silenced by President Yoweri Museveni has caught the eye of the international media and observers. To what extent do Bobi Wine and other opposition activists truly reflect the will of Ugandans? What do they mean for the future?

Panel 2: Cameroon: Will the Anglophone Crisis Bring an End to Paul Biya’s Exile Rule?

As different groups continue to fight against or reject the legitimacy of President Biya’s government, the breakdown of social order has allowed for violence to spread. What will Paul Biya’s response to this new security challenge against his rule be?

This seminar is a core part of the ALC Fellowship programme. It is high-level role-play sessions where Fellows debate and act out the roles of key personalities involved in the management of significant security situations in Africa and its interactions with the World. The sessions provide an opportunity for the Fellows to display their analysis of current affairs from a variety of perspectives as well as their capacity to critically engage with the public on the most pertinent issues that are affecting Africa today.

The debates are an excellent tool to help us understand the problems that our continent faces from all perspectives: those that we are comfortable with and even those that we are less comfortable with. The event will also give us a glimpse at the wonderful work being done by the African Leadership Centre, King’s College London and the University of Nairobi on preparing young Africans for their leadership roles today.

Register here to book your place