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During 2014 the late Stephen Ellis was the driving force behind two successful workshops on transnational organised crime held in Cape Town and Johannesburg, respectively. Co-hosted by the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation and the Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime, the discussions at the Cape Town workshop resulted in a publication entitled “Organized Crime in Southern Africa: Unholy Alliances”.

Before his death, Stephen had suggested that a third seminar be arranged, this time with international experts from Africa and beyond, to provide an opportunity for substantive discussions about the linkages between organised crime, governance, and terrorism in Africa.

Under the overall theme of “linkages between organized crime, governance, and terrorism” the seminar aimed at providing in-depth analyses and better-informed perspectives on the relationships between organised crime, governance, and terrorism, the nature and impact of their interaction, as well as at identifying trends and likely future developments. In addition, it sought to develop a better understanding of the ramifications of natural resource extraction and the illicit flow of funds and how these impact on the state, on conflict, on terrorism, and on geo-political game plans that are at play.

Speakers exchanging their knowledge and expertise under Chatham House rules included Global Initiative Director Mark Shaw, Gladwell Otieno, Armin Osmanovic, Gerrie ter Haar, Etannibi Alemika, Richard Fardon, Michael Dwyer, Thierry Vircoulon, Will Reno, Patrick Smith, Farai Maguwu, Sam Sole, Jean-Pascal Daloz, Emmanuel Mayah, Patrick Smith and Vadim Volkov.

The 2-day seminar was held in Dakar, Senegal, on 19-20 April 2016 and was sponsored by the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation and included a commemorative event to pay tribute to Stephen Ellis.

For further information on this event, please contact the Global Initiative’s Peter Gastrow: peter.gastrow@globalinitiative.net