Menu

United States Institute of Peace

Home ▶ Events

What’s Right with Africa: Reframing Africa’s Leadership Challenges

Remarks and Discussion by former Nigerian president Obasanjo

Date: Thursday, April 23, 2015 / Time: 7:00am - 8:30am 

Center: Middle East North Africa Center

Read the Event Coverage
Share This
Print the Page

Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, who also has been a pivotal figure in the African Union, gave remarks at the U.S. Institute of Peace on April 22, exploring Africa’s leadership challenges in terms of “What’s Right With Africa.”

20150422-Obasanjo-1-event.jpg

President Obasanjo was elected to the office in 1999, leading Nigeria's return to civilian democratic government after decades of military rule. During his two terms as president until May 2007, he played a major role in the creation of the Africa Union and in helping to resolve several political crises on the continent. Following his presidency, he has served as a special United Nations and AU envoy addressing some of Africa's most pressing problems.  

President Obasanjo addressed USIP just weeks after Nigeria's historic election, where for the first time the opposition candidate won against an incumbent president. Other African nations face elections this year, including Sudan and the Central African Republic, while still others are struggling with leadership challenges.

Continue the conversation with #ObasanjoUSIP.

Related Publications

The Current Situation in Nigeria

The Current Situation in Nigeria

Monday, April 22, 2024

In 2023, the Network of Nigerian Facilitators (NNF) helped the Kaduna State peacebuilding institutions negotiate, draft and implement a peace agreement between local groups to resolve a long-standing and violent communal conflict. The agreement built on a 2019 peace agreement also supported by the NNF to resolve a cross-border conflict involving many of the same groups in neighboring Plateau State.

Type: Fact Sheet

For Peace in Africa, Boost Regional Blocs — Like West Africa’s ECOWAS

For Peace in Africa, Boost Regional Blocs — Like West Africa’s ECOWAS

Friday, April 19, 2024

By: Joseph Sany, Ph.D.

As the United States and international partners work to stabilize Africa’s Sahel region — and to prevent its warfare, violent extremism and armed coups from metastasizing into Africa’s densely populous and strategic Atlantic coast — the West African multinational bloc, ECOWAS, has proven its value in resolving crises and promoting stability. Yet, as global security threats have evolved, ECOWAS, like other multinational bodies, needs updated capacities to meet new challenges. International democracies’ most effective initiative to support West Africa’s stability would be to partner with West Africans to strengthen their vital regional community. A similar strategy is valid across Africa.

Type: Analysis

Democracy & Governance;  Global Policy

To Help Stabilize West Africa, Bolster a Key Partner: Nigeria

To Help Stabilize West Africa, Bolster a Key Partner: Nigeria

Monday, April 15, 2024

By: Rachel Yeboah Boakye ;   Chris Kwaja ;   Matthew Reitman

Continued violence in West Africa is sharpening America’s critical challenge to reduce extremism and violence, particularly in the Sahel. Violent deaths in three western Sahel nations surged by 38% last year and Niger’s coup has complicated the U.S. military role in the region. The violence is likely to spread further this year into coastal West Africa, a region five times more populous, with commensurately greater security implications for Africa, the United States and the world. A vital partner in stabilizing both regions is Nigeria, and U.S. institutions should consider several priorities for helping it do so.

Type: Analysis

Democracy & Governance

The Latest: Three Things to Know About the U.S.-Africa Security Partnership

The Latest: Three Things to Know About the U.S.-Africa Security Partnership

Thursday, June 22, 2023

By: Ambassador Makila James ;   Oluwafemi Gbadebo ;   Stanley Makgohlo

USIP’s African Diplomat Seminar offers newly arrived diplomats a chance to connect with the U.S. policymakers, agencies and departments working on advancing U.S.-Africa policy. Stanley Makgohlo, political counselor at the South African Embassy, and Oluwafemi Gbadebo, minister in the Nigerian Embassy, discuss how the seminar has helped their work at the nexus of peace and development and how the growing U.S.-Africa partnership can help address the challenges facing their country.

Type: Blog

Global Policy

View All Publications