The inaugural RASS Colloquium recently convened, featuring presentations from Densua Mumford and Jacob Lisakafu, who offered compelling insights into their ongoing research. Following the presentations, an engaging discussion ensued among the network members, which facilitated the critical reflection and further development of the research projects, drawing on the collective expertise of the group.

Densua Mumford introduced a research proposal, which is envisioned as a collaborative effort with RASS member Juliana Appiah. The proposed study aims to analyse African diplomacy. Mumford articulated her intent to foreground the knowledge of African diplomats, thereby cultivating a deeper understanding of African diplomatic practices and their underlying ideational influences. This is particularly crucial given the limited understanding of the extent to which transnational African concepts, such as Pan-Africanism and decolonisation, continue to inform contemporary African diplomatic practices.

Jacob Lisakafu’s research, titled “Assessing Coordination and Harmonization of Policies and Strategies between the AU and the SADC in Managing Peace and Security in Africa,” focusses on evaluating recent developments, constraints, and opportunities in the coordination and harmonisation of peace and security policies on the African continent, particularly between the African Union (AU) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC). Despite numerous positive developments, significant challenges remain, as evidenced by ongoing conflicts in regions such as the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sudan. Lisakafu’s current study, which builds on his PhD thesis, will revisit and re-examine the progress made, as well as the challenges and opportunities in the operationalisation of the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) frameworks both at the continental and regional levels. The need for revision is underscored by the new emerging challenges of peace and security in Africa, and limitations identified in his previous research, such as limited financial resources, the absence of enforcement and compliance mechanisms, and disconnections with other AU and SADC structures. Additionally, the new qualitative and exploratory research holds the potential to inform policy development and programmatic interventions aimed at addressing these critical issues.

A big thank you to Densua Mumford and Jacob Lisakafu for their insightful input. The next colloquium for the first of the three project years of RASS will take place in mid-September, and we are already excited about the further interesting research work of our RASS members.