Small Wars Journal

Event: Lessons for Africa from Colombia’s Counter-Insurgency Experience

Thu, 03/03/2016 - 11:47am

Lessons for Africa from Colombia’s Counter-Insurgency Experience

By Africa Center for Strategic Studies

Updated: 03/03/2016

The Africa Center for Strategic Studies invites you to a public roundtable on:

Lessons for Africa from Colombia’s Counter-Insurgency Experience

Monday, March 7, 2016
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

(Registration begins at 9:30 a.m.)

Marshall Hall, Building 62, Room 155
National Defense University
Ft. McNair, Washington, DC

Please RSVP with your name and affiliation to: Ms. Nima Conte

Opening Remarks:

H.E. Juan Carlos Pinzón
Colombian Ambassador to the United States

Panelists:

Dr. Greg Mills
Director, Brenthurst Foundation
Co-Author, A Great Perhaps? Colombia: Conflict and Convergence

General (ret.) Sergio Mantilla, Colombian Army
Former Colombian Army Commander

Major General (ret.) Dickie Davis, British Army
Managing Director of Nant Enterprises
Co-Author, A Great Perhaps? Colombia: Conflict and Convergence

Dr. David Ucko
Associate Professor, College of International Security Affairs
National Defense University

Dr. Joseph Siegle (moderating)
Director of Research, Africa Center for Strategic Studies

Over the past two decades, Colombia has managed a dramatic turnaround in governance and security conditions. Fifteen years ago, Colombia was the most violent country in the world, suffering from widespread drug smuggling and criminality. Today, guerrilla forces have been seriously diminished, security has improved dramatically, and Colombia is a nation with a dynamic economy and progressive social agenda.

Many African countries face similar challenges to those of Colombia in the late 1990s—persistent insurgencies fueled by criminal trafficking, limited governance presence, and socio-economic inequality. On the occasion of the release of A Great Perhaps? Colombia: Conflict and Convergence, the Africa Center for Strategic Studies will host a discussion to assess relevant lessons from the Colombian experience for Africa.

The event page can be found here.

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