Hybridization in the use of violence: emerging trends in mercenaries, mercenary-related actors and PMSCs
Date: Tuesday, 17 June 2025
Time: 14:00 – 16:00(CET/SAST) | 15:00 – 17:00(EAT)
Registration: https://forms.office.com/e/4V2nUBLVEt
Concept Note_English: Click here
Concept Note_French: Click here
Overview: The United Nations Working Group on the use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination (hereinafter the Working Group) is co-organizing a webinar with the Institute for Pan-African Thought and Conversation (IPATC), University of Johannesburg, South Africa. The theme of the webinar is “Hybridization in the use of violence: emerging trends in mercenaries, related actors, and PMSCs”. This initiative is part of a series of events organized to mark the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Working Group and to strengthen its ongoing dialogue with civil society organizations (CSOs), academics and other relevant stakeholders on the activities of mercenaries and related activities in Africa.
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.