7th Annual Peace and War Summit

March 23 to 24, 2026

Apr 03, 2026

The 7th Peace and War Summit at Norwich University will bring together scholars, policymakers, military professionals, and students to explore the evolving dynamics of conflict, governance, and great power rivalry across Africa. This year’s summit will address a broad spectrum of interrelated issues shaping the continent’s stability and development. Topics include ongoing intrastate and interstate conflicts; the rise of transnational terrorist networks; and the persistent challenges of corruption and weak governance.

The summit will also examine the profound effects of climate change and migration, economic development, human rights violations, and public health crises on regional security. Finally, it will consider the expanding geopolitical influence of China and Russia, alongside U.S. engagement and policy toward Africa. Through interdisciplinary dialogue and critical analysis, the Summit aims to foster deeper understanding and generate innovative ideas for advancing sustainable peace and security across the continent.

Monday, March 23

Welcome Remarks and Keynote Address
9-9:50 a.m.

Welcome Remarks: Dr. Lea M. Williams, Provost and Dean of the Faculty

Keynote remarks: Ambassador Mohamed Fathi Ahmed Edrees, Permanent Observer of the African Union to the United Nations

Panel Session I
10-10:50 a.m.

Student Moderators: David Nziza and Holly Smith

Presenters:
Dr. Christopher Faulkner
Delegating Force: Private Military and Security Companies and the Evolving Landscape of Security Force Assistance in Africa
Dr. Ebenezer Obadare
Terrorism and Contemporary Geopolitics: West Africa and Beyond

Panel Session II
11-11:50 a.m.

Student Moderators: Godfrey Delaney and Emma Drake

Presenters:
Dr. Yonatan Morse
The Electoral and Historical Roots of Healthcare Reform in Africa: Comparing Ghana and Senegal
Dr. Claudine Kuradusenge-McLeod
Peace Without Trust: How Diaspora Politics Impacted Understanding of the DRC-Rwanda-U.S. Peace Agreement

Panel Session III
1-1:50 p.m.

Student Moderators: Jasmin Sackey and Austin Garcia

Presenters:
Mr. Fadji Kumapley
Factors and Developments Shaping Great Power Competition in Africa
Dr. Vitaly Kozyrev and Mr. Rachid Sow
In Search of New Security and Modernization Eco Systems: the Role of China and Russia in West Africa

Panel Session IV
2-2:50 p.m.

Student Moderators: Stephanie Unuane and Hector Aponte

Presenters:
Dr. Josh Regan
Declining Economics, Illegal Fishing, and State Weakness: The Three-Pillar Threat to Somalia’s Piracy Problem
Dr. Robert VandenBerg
Preparing for an African Future

Student Panel Session I
3-4:30 p.m.

Moderator:
Dr. Steven Sodergren
Discussants:
Dr. Cevat Dargin

Presenters:
Tom Besser
Africa on the Periphery: America’s New Mercantile Realism and Its Impact on African Geopolitics
Zaleigh Hornsey
ISIS and the Exploitation of Islam
Kristin Sanderson
Holodomor: Crimes of Cultural Genocide