UNA Warwick & District: Africa's forgotten conflicts

Guest Speaker: Andrea Volfova, Department of Politics and International Studies, University of Cambridge

• Graduated from Harvard University and London School of Economics
• 10 years in the field, on UN peacekeeping missions in Darfur, South Sudan, Burundi and East Timor
• Special Assistant, UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations in New York

The past year has been dominated by three major issues, namely Britain`s referendum to leave the EU, the US Presidential election and the continuing conflict in Syria and the appalling human tragedies arising from that conflict and the refugee crisis in Europe.

Unfortunately, international issues and conflicts in the African continent has been left behind by the national and international media.  

Andrea Volfova will address the local UN Association and focus on the politics of contemporary Africa, specifically opportunities and challenges of protest and other non-violent methods in shaping the regions. Andrea will draw on her experience with UN peacekeeping and highlight some of the problems facing Darfur, South Sudan, Burundi and the Central African Republic.

Andrea Volfova, a national of the Czech Republic, is currently at the Department of Politics and International Studies at the University of Cambridge, where she is focusing on the politics of contemporary Africa, specifically the opportunities and challenges of protest and other non-violent methods in shaping the state. Prior to coming to Cambridge, Andrea spent 10 years as a political officer/special assistant at the UN, working both in the Organization's Headquarters in New York but mostly in the field, in peacekeeping missions in Darfur, South Sudan, East Timor and Burundi. Andrea holds a Bachelor's degree from Harvard University and a Master's Degree in Development Studies from the London School of Economics and Political Science. She is also the proud carrier of a cardiac pacemaker since childhood and was, in 2015, among the honorees of the Medtronic Foundation for being a person who is dependent on a medical device and uses their life to empower others. 

Please do come along and bring a friend and contribute to this very important debate.