Entrepreneurs of Violence: Rebel Groups and Militias in Africa

Date: 2009-04-22 to Invalid date

Entrepreneurs of Violence: Rebel Groups and Militias in Africa
London, 22 April 2009

Although not new in Africa, a new set of militias and rebel movements have emerged as key actors in conflicts, wars and armed struggles since the 1990s. In recent years, the deadly combination of availability of natural resources, political and economic grievance, small arms and light weapons as well as the porous nature of African borders has led to the regionalization of rebel movements and militias.

What are these movements, what are their objectives, where do they draw their legitimacy from and how do they operate? The discussion will unpack the nature of some movements in Africa (MEND in Nigeria, FDLR in the DRC and Al-Shabaab in Somalia) and analyse their tendency to conflate social justice discourse and business entrepreneurship.

Participants:

• Richard Cornwell, Senior Research Fellow, African Security Analysis Programme, ISS

• Dr David Zounmenou, Senior Researcher, African Security Analysis Programme, ISS

• Henri Boshoff, Head: Training for Peace Progrmme, ISS

• Paula Roque, Researcher, African Security Analysis Programme, ISS

Date: Wednesday 22 April 2009
Time: 10h00 to 12h00
Venue: Chatham House, London, UK

For more information and to register for this event, visit Chatham House