Battles of the Nile: conflict and revolution in Sudan Special guest speaker: Barney Afako

This lecture will reflect on the histories of conflict and revolution in Sudan, analysing the causes and drivers of its multiple conflicts, including geopolitical dimensions. It will appraise the failures and (partial) successes of regional, international and national peace-making, and draw broader lessons about mediation and conflict resolution in what has become one of the world's most deadly, and forgotten, conflicts.

Barney Afako is a lawyer with decades of experience in international conflict resolution, human rights and transitional justice. He has supported peace processes and engaged conflict parties in Sudan, Uganda, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Yemen, Afghanistan, Colombia, Thailand and the Western Balkans, among others.

Between 2016 and 2024 he was a member of the United Nations Standby Team of Senior Mediation Advisors. He has also advised the African Union on efforts to address conflicts and achieve justice and reconciliation in Sudan. Since 2017, he has been a member of the UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan.