Date: 9 November 2020

Time: 12h00 – 13h00 SAST

ZOOM Link: https://zoom.us/j/99258838171?pwd=ZDVIZ0F3YXo0ZjBVUDU2UW9VeHhUQT09

Persistent nationwide protests in Africa’s largest economy, Nigeria, fuelled by demands to reform a unit of the Nigeria Police Force, NPF, the Special Anti-Robbery Squad has necessitated a rethink on the stalled security sector reforms in Africa.  Organised and led by young people in Nigeria, the widely trending protests received global attention and have seen solidarity protests in Accra, Frankfurt, London, Toronto and Washington, DC. 

The protests are the result of pent up frustrations following years of human rights violations, extortion, torture, brutality and extra-judicial killings by SARS operatives and the police in general. While the demands of the protesters have, to a large extent been met, the key questions are what are the implications of these protests on police reforms in Nigeria? And more importantly, how can the protests in Nigeria re-ignite the stalled conversation on security sector reforms in Africa. The seminar further seeks to examine how sustained protests action could be address on the continent and what are the implications of inaction on police governance in Africa.

Programme

Chair: Dr Palesa Sekhejane, Research Specialist, AISA/HSRC

Sustained people’s protest across the continent: Causes and outcomes

Dr Nicasius Achu Check; Senior Research Specialist, AISA/HSRC

 
End SARS Protest: More than a call for security sector reform in Nigeria?

Dr Maurice Ogbonnaya, Senior Research Fellow, Nigeria Institute of Strategic Studies and Senior Fellow, Institute of Security Studies.

Respondent: MaryAnne Iwara, Senior Jennings Randolph Fellow:  United States Institute of Peace (USIP)

Q&A

Closing remarks

Puleng Hlanyane, AISA/HSRC