Dr Muhammad Dan Suleiman

Dr Suleiman founded CAPS-WA in 2024, consolidating over a decade of work on sustainable security and alternative politics in West Africa. He is Assistant Professor of International Relations at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM), and previously held roles at the University of Western Australia (2017–2021) and Curtin University (2022–2024). He is an Adjunct Research Fellow at the Curtin Centre for Australia-Africa Relations.

He holds a PhD in Political Science and International Relations (University of Western Australia), an MRes (Macquarie University), a Master of International Law (University of Sydney), and a BA (Hons) in Political Science and Geography (University of Ghana).

His research appears in Critical Studies on Terrorism, International Studies Quarterly, African Security, African Security Review, and Terrorism and Political Violence among others. Recent pieces include “Journeying to Jihadiphate: A Vehicle Framework of Jihadist Conflicts in West Africa” (2024), “Abstract Spaces for Intervention in Libya and Nigeria” (2024), and “The Jihadists Are Coming! Abyssal Thinking and Spatial Politics of Un/knowing in Ghana’s Terrorism Discourse” (2023). His book, Re/Naming A Jihad (Routledge), is in development.

Recognised for expertise on Sahel security, he has provided analysis for ASPI, AIIA, ABC, BBC, Foreign Brief, TRT World, Newzroom Afrika, and others. He recently authored “The Sahel Today: Security, Sovereignty, and Change” for Africa, South of the Sahara (Europa). A 2020 UN Fellowship Programme for People of African Descent fellow and an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, he has received the Khalifa Al-Falasi Prize in Muslim Studies (2018) and UWA’s Students’ Choice Award for Excellence in Teaching (2020).

He mentors emerging scholars and supports people with physical and psychological challenges. Dr Suleiman also leads CAPS-WA’s flagship Africa Network of Critical Security Scholars (anecs.net), advising its Executive Director.