SOAS Launches Lecture Series to Commemorate the Legacy of Salim Ahmed Salim
London / Dar es Salaam: SOAS University of London has announced an upcoming panel event, “Africa in a Changing World and the Role of the African Union: A Commemoration of the Leadership of Salim Ahmed Salim,” that will be held on December 9th, 2024, from 5:00-7:00 (UK time) at the university's BGLT venue. The event will honor Dr. Salim Ahmed Salim, a distinguished Tanzanian diplomat, for his contributions to African diplomacy and also re-launch the Salim Ahmed Salim Digital Archive at SOAS.
Register to attend the panel in person or virtually here.
The panel will address Africa’s current challenges, including geopolitical shifts, economic instability, climate change, and the role of the African Union (AU) in promoting multilateral cooperation. Panelists include:
- Sir Mo Ibrahim – Founder and Chair of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation
- Mr. Abdul Mohamed – Deputy Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for Sudan
- Professor 'Funmi Olonisakin – Vice President, International Engagement and Service, King's College London
- Ms. Maryam Salim – Salim Ahmed Salim Archives and Country Director, The World Bank
- Mr. El Ghassim Wane – Former Chief Advisor to the AU Commission Chairperson
The panel will also explore the AU’s evolving role ahead of the 38th AU Summit in February 2025, which will elect key leadership positions amidst growing geopolitical tensions and climate challenges.
Commenting on the lecture series, Zeinab Badawi, President of SOAS, said, “I am privileged to know Salim Ahmed Salim and I am delighted that his contribution to the advancement of Africans both on the continent and abroad will continue through this partnership with SOAS. We are proud to host his lecture series.”
Speaking on the legacy of Dr Salim's leadership, Adam Habib, Vice-Chancellor of SOAS said: “We are thrilled to be able to host the first Salim Ahmed Salim lecture, named for a giant of African governance. Salim Ahmed Salim’s service to Tanzania, and later to the leadership of the African Union (then known as the Organisation of African Unity) was inspirational and truly groundbreaking. We have assembled a fantastic panel of speakers for this event, each of whom has been influenced by Salim’s leadership.”
Maryam Salim, Dr. Salim’s eldest daughter, added, “I’m very pleased to represent my family and to have this opportunity to expand the reach of the SAS Digital Archive.”
This event, a collaboration between the SOAS Centre of African Studies, the SOAS Centre for Pan-African Studies, and the SAS Digital Archives, will explore the complexities of African leadership, using historical and contemporary examples to inform efforts to strengthen governance and diplomacy.
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