Events in Tunisia and Egypt have followed the same patterns. An enormous stratum of the populations had become steadily disillusioned with existing policies and institutions, producing a considerable legitimacy deficit. Thousands suddenly took to the streets enraged by decades of injustice, human rights abuses, social inequality and a lack of freedom of expression. Some even paid a price by immolating themselves. The governments expectedly adopted heavy-handed methods to crush the protests. Instead of abating, the protests gained momentum and ousted long-serving leaders. Nonetheless, the structures which emerged from the tumult are still shaky and tensions remain. The main purpose of this conference is to look into the grievances that sparked the protests and the makeup of the thousands of defiant protesters. It will analyse the political and socio-economic impacts of both the protests and the far-reaching changes that they provoked. The conference will also consider if these changes will lead to sustainable democracy, more political freedom and better economic opportunities. It will investigate the role assumed by the militaries and the influence of Islamist movements. It will inquire into the response of the West which had wrongly priced political stability over democracy in North Africa. It will consider the ongoing situation in Libya where Colonel Gaddafi is trying to cling to power by using brute military force. Finally, the conference will examine how the international community including the African Union, the European Union and the League of Arab States has responded to the Libyan situation.

The ACPP programme strives to complement and support the work of the African Union particularly on issues of peace and security. This conference is part of the ACPP effort at consensus-building by providing a platform for sharing information, encouraging policy debates and dialogues on the African peace and security agenda. The aim is to stimulate quality discussion, in-depth and constructive interaction between participants. The panelists will include representatives from relevant international organisations and also from research institutions and civil society organisations based in North Africa.