{"id":93057,"date":"2025-09-07T15:32:21","date_gmt":"2025-09-07T15:32:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=93057"},"modified":"2025-09-07T15:32:21","modified_gmt":"2025-09-07T15:32:21","slug":"security-is-borderless-leciad-hosts-dialogue-on-africa-europe-security-interlinkages","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=93057","title":{"rendered":"Security is borderless: LECIAD hosts dialogue on Africa\u2013Europe security interlinkages"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n \t<\/i> Read Time:<\/span>2 Minute, 56 Second <\/div>\n\n <\/div>
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The Legon Centre for International Affairs and Diplomacy (LECIAD), in collaboration with the Embassy of the Czech Republic and the Czech Institute Afripoli, convened a high-level dialogue on the theme \u201cSecurity is Borderless: How Africa and Europe\u2019s Security are Connected.\u201d<\/em> Chaired by Prof. Peter Quartey, Acting Director of LECIAD, the discussion featured presentations from Dr. Afua Boatemaa Yakohene and Dr Ken Ahorsu (both of LECIAD), Mr Vojtech B\u00edl\u00fd of the Czech Institute Afripoli, and Mr Kent Mensah, a Ghanaian journalist well versed in security issues. The session was moderated by Mr Mat\u011bj Denk, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of the Czech Republic.<\/p>\n

\"Security
Prof. Peter Quartey delivers opening remarks, setting the tone for the dialogue.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Prof. Quartey set the tone by emphasising the interdependence of Africa and Europe in tackling emerging and persistent threats.<\/p>\n

\u201cShould we operate our security systems in silos, or should we care about what\u2019s happening across Europe and not just remain inward?\u201d he asked. \u201cWhat we discuss here today will benefit our country, our continent, and indeed the rest of the world.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Security
Panelists seated (left\u2013right):<\/em><\/strong> Mr Mat\u011bj Denk, Mr Kent Mensah, Mr Vojtech B\u00edl\u00fd, Prof. Peter Quartey, Dr Afua Boatemaa Yakohene, with Dr Ken Ahorsu presenting<\/em>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Borderless security in a globalised World<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dr Afua Boatemaa Yakohene highlighted how the erosion of traditional borders through globalisation has made security challenges increasingly transnational.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs states grow more interconnected, the security concerns of one country often spill over its borders and challenge the security of other states,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

She noted the increase in threats such as terrorism, organised crime, irregular migration, and climate-induced instability that cannot be confined within national boundaries, drawing parallels between the impact of the World Wars, the Russo\u2013Ukraine conflict, and current crises in the West African Sahel.<\/p>\n

\"Security
Dr Afua Boatemaa Yakohene presenting on borderless security in a globalised world.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Understanding security through identity and power<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dr. Ken Ahorsu examined Africa\u2013Europe security relations through the lens of ontological security theory, which links state behaviour to identity, history, and self-perception. He argued that structural inequalities and the absence of a unified African identity continue to undermine Africa\u2019s agency.<\/p>\n

\u201cEurope projects its norms and values globally, compelling others to conform, while Africa struggles with fragmented agency. This creates a hierarchy that sustains Africa\u2019s marginal position in security relations,\u201d Dr. Ahorsu noted.<\/p>\n

Russia\u2019s growing influence in Africa<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Security
Mr Vojtech B\u00edl\u00fd presenting on Russia\u2019s growing influence in Africa.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Mr. Vojtech B\u00edl\u00fd turned attention to the geostrategic implications of the Russo\u2013Ukraine war, underscoring how Russia is using Africa as leverage in its confrontation with Europe and NATO.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfrica is not a neutral ground. Russia is trying to use the continent as a pawn in its wider geopolitical game. The EU must learn to be a good neighbour, while Africa must strengthen its institutions and resilience,\u201d he cautioned.<\/p>\n

Firsthand insights from Ukraine<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Security
Collage of event highlights: animated moderation, insightful presentations, and engaging Q&As.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The expert presentations were followed by a spirited panel discussion and question-and-answer session, where participants probed issues such as migration governance, cyber threats, violent extremism, and the role of African states in shaping equitable partnerships with Europe.<\/p>\n

In closing, the panel reiterated the urgency of moving beyond siloed approaches to security, advocating deeper collaboration between Africa and Europe in building resilient societies.<\/p>\n

The dialogue took place on 1 September 2025 at the ISSER Conference Centre, University of Ghana. A livestream of the event can be accessed here.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"GroupThe Legon Centre for International Affairs and Diplomacy (LECIAD), in collaboration with the Embassy of the Czech Republic and the Czech Institute Afripoli, convened a high-level dialogue on the theme \u201cSecurity is Borderless: How Africa and Europe\u2019s Security are Connected.\u201d Chaired by Prof. Peter Quartey, Acting Director of LECIAD, the discussion featured presentations from Dr. Afua Boatemaa Yakohene and Dr Ken Ahorsu (both of LECIAD), Mr Vojtech B\u00edl\u00fd of the Czech Institute Afripoli, and Mr Kent Mensah, a Ghanaian journalist well versed in security issues. The session was moderated by Mr Mat\u011bj Denk, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of the Czech Republic.<\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":93058,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":{"facebook_2277560469115098_106292521332774":"","twitter_aToxNzczMzI3Njk4OTg4ODUxMjAxOw==_1773327698988851200":""},"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8101,1900,1910,8102,1883,10,9,3103],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-93057","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-africa-europe","category-hp-news-2","category-international","category-leciad","category-national","category-politics","category-popular","category-security"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/93057","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=93057"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/93057\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/93058"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=93057"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=93057"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=93057"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}