Professor Kwesi Aning

Professor Emmanuel Kwesi Aning is a Full Professor of African security and international politics. He previously served as the founding Director and Dean of the Faculty of Academic Affairs & Research (FAAR) at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) in Ghana from 2007 to 2024. He also holds the position of Clinical Professor of Peacekeeping Practice at Kennesaw State University in Atlanta, Georgia, where he contributes to bridging the gap between academia and practical peacekeeping initiatives. He now serves in an Advisory role.

Professor Aning’s academic background is as impressive as it is impactful. He earned his Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Copenhagen in 1998, following his BA (Hons) in History from the University of Ghana in 1986. His deep commitment to addressing Africa’s peace and security issues is reflected in a career spanning decades, during which he has made significant contributions both as a scholar and a policy advisor.

His expertise covers a wide range of security-related fields, making him a leading authority in several areas of critical importance to Africa. He specialises in peacekeeping economies, examining the financial and economic implications of peacekeeping operations. His research also delves into hybrid political orders, exploring how informal governance systems can interact with formal institutions in post-conflict societies. Security sector reform is another key area of focus, with Professor Aning advocating for meaningful reforms of security forces, particularly in unstable political contexts across West Africa. Additionally, he has specialised knowledge of organised crime and terrorism, particularly their impact on governance and political stability in the region.

Throughout his career, Professor Aning has taken on several notable roles that have cemented his reputation as one of Africa’s foremost security experts. From 2005 to 2007, he served as the African Union’s first expert on counterterrorism, where he played a key role in formulating the continent’s counterterrorism strategy under the Common African Defence and Security Policy (CADSP). During this time, he also led the African Centre for the Study and Research on Terrorism (ACSRT), headquartered in Addis Ababa. His efforts were instrumental in establishing a cohesive strategy for addressing terrorism across Africa.

In addition to his work with the African Union, Professor Aning has advised the United Nations numerous times. In 2008, he authored a Secretary-General’s report for the UN Security Council, focusing on the relationship between the UN and regional organizations, with a particular emphasis on the African Union’s role in maintaining peace and security. His contributions have consistently highlighted the need for African-driven solutions to security challenges, emphasising African agency in global security governance.

He has also contributed to the World Economic Forum’s Council on Conflict Prevention, helping shape global peace and conflict dialogues. In 2006 and 2014, Professor Aning was appointed the independent evaluator for the UN’s Global Programme on Strengthening the Legal Regime Against Terrorism. His evaluations assessed the effectiveness of global counterterrorism measures and provided recommendations for improving international cooperation in this critical area.

Professor Aning is a prolific writer and researcher, having authored over 150 publications, including books, peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters, and policy briefs. His research frequently addresses the role of African agency in global security, advocating for African states to take leadership roles in addressing their security challenges. In works such as his co-authored analysis of African-led interventions in Mali, Côte d’Ivoire, and Libya, he has argued for the importance of ownership by African institutions in managing peace and security efforts.

His critique of external interventions in Africa is a common theme in his research, as he advocates for African-driven solutions that reflect local needs and realities. His work emphasises the importance of understanding the socio-political context of African conflicts and promoting sustainable, long-term peacebuilding solutions that draw on indigenous knowledge and practices.

Among his most notable publications are Africa in Global International Relations – Emerging Approaches to Theory and Practice,” co-authored with Amitav Acharya and Paul-Henri Bischoff, and “African Agency in R2P: Interventions by African Union and ECOWAS in Mali, Côte d’Ivoire, and Libya,” which explores the shift towards stronger African agency in managing regional security crises. His co-authored work, “Peacekeeping in a Francophone Space: Experiences of Ghanaian Peacekeepers in Côte d’Ivoire”, provides an in-depth analysis of the dynamics of peacekeeping in the region.

Professor Aning’s influence extends beyond his research. At KAIPTC, he plays a vital role in training military and civilian personnel for peacekeeping operations across Africa. His work ensures that these personnel are equipped with practical skills and a nuanced understanding of the political, economic, and social dimensions of conflict. His role as an educator and mentor has shaped many future leaders in peace and security across the continent.

His international consultancy and advisory roles have also taken him beyond Africa. In 2021, he served as a senior consultant for an independent evaluation of counterterrorism interventions in the Maldives. In 2022, he was appointed as a UN expert to evaluate the EU’s counterterrorism interventions in Sri Lanka, reflecting the global relevance of his expertise.

Professor Aning’s contributions to peace and security dialogues at both the regional and global levels have earned him a reputation as one of Africa’s most respected security scholars. His critical stance on traditional security interventions and advocacy for African-driven solutions to conflict and insecurity continue to shape policy and practice across the continent.

Between 2016 and 2019, he served on the UN Secretary General’s Advisory Group for the Peacebuilding Fund (PBF). In 2021, he was appointed as a senior consultant for the Independent Project Evaluation on Support to the Maldives on Counter-terrorism, and again in 2022 evaluated the European Union’s (EU) Counter-terrorism interventions in Sri Lanka. In 2022, he was appointed to serve on the World Food Programs’ (WFP) Security Advisory Board (SECAB). In 2023, he served as an Evaluation Expert on Terrorism Prevention for the Independent Evaluation Section (IES) of the United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and in 2024, evaluated the JOINT UNODC-AU-SADC PROJECT ON FURTHER SUPPORTING SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY (SADC) COUNTRIES TO PREVENT VIOLENT EXTREMISM AND COUNTER EMERGING TERRORISM THREATS THROUGH STRENGTHENED CRIMINAL JUSTICE RESPONSES.

His research focuses on peacekeeping, hybrid political orders, political violence, criminal networks, extremism and security force assistance. In March 2023, his 2022 article on ‘African experiences and alternativity in International Relations theorizing about security’, in the Journal International Affairs, Vol. 98, No. 1 (with Kwaku Danso) won the International Affairs Centenary Prize by Chatham House, UK.

As the Patron and Chair of the Board of Advisors for the West Africa Centre for Alternative Politics & Security (CAPS-WA), Professor Aning brings unparalleled expertise, experience, and insight. His leadership will be instrumental in guiding CAPS-WA’s mission to promote alternative and sustainable approaches to security in West Africa, ensuring that African voices and perspectives remain central to the region’s peace and security efforts.