2nd African Union Studies Annual Symposium
Title: 2nd African Union Studies Annual Symposium
Theme: “Inclusive development and the future of democracy in Africa: The role of the AU and RECs”
Overview The 2nd African Union Studies Annual Symposium, titled “Inclusive Development and the Future of Democracy in Africa: The Role of the AU and RECs”, was a continental symposium co-organised by the Institute for Pan-African Thought and Conversation (IPATC) at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa and TrustAfrica in Dakar, Senegal. The symposium was held at Raddison Blu Sandton Hotel in Johannesburg, South Africa, on 4-6 November 2024. The symposium aimed to provide a platform for evaluating the state of democracy and economic development in Africa, exploring pragmatic strategies for strengthening the capacity of national, regional and continental institutions for democracy promotion and attainment of inclusive governance and development across the continent. A total of 104 people attended the symposium in person, and about 35 to 40 people attended virtually every day for the three days, including African Union and RECs officials, policymakers, diplomats, civil society actors, academics, and government officials, attended the symposium.
Concept Note: https://ipatc.joburg/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/concept-note-and-call-for-papers1.pdf
Pre-Symposium Build Up: https://www.enca.com/videos/watch-african-union-symposium-experts-gather-examine-future-democracy
Symposium Programme: https://drive.google.com/file/d/183o2skT3sZz8T3tF3R8rR-_E4z9a11ze/view?usp=sharing
Highlights
Interviews from the 2nd African Union Studies Symposium
Ms Zoliswa Ntsoko (South Africa) is the Institute’s Administrative Assistant who assists with general administration and research. She is a seasoned professional with a background in Disaster Management. She holds an Advanced Diploma in Management from Milpark Business School, and a Post Graduate Diploma in Public Management from Regenesys Business School. She also holds certificates in Project Management, and in Disaster Management. Previously, she has worked as a Disaster Management Specialist at the City of Johannesburg – Disaster Management Centre.
Ms Cecilia Lwiindi Nedziwe-Moyo is the Research Coordinator at the Institute for Pan-African Thought and Conversation. She previously served as a Regional Coordinator at the Centre for Peace Initiatives in Africa (CPIA) in Zimbabwe between 2007 and 2013. She completed her master’s degree in International Studies, Peace, and Conflict Resolution at the University of Queensland in Australia as a Rotary Peace Scholar. She has just completed her doctoral studies at Rhodes University. Her areas of interest include: gender, foreign policy, regional organisations and conflict resolution.
Ms Thembeka Somtseu is a seasoned professional with a background in the textile and construction sectors. She holds a National Diploma in Business Administration from the Durban University of Technology, and studied Development Communication and Media Studies at the University of the Witwatersrand. She worked as a corporate communications specialist for more than ten years, serving in both local and multinational companies.