Rethinking African Diplomacy in an Age of Energy Shocks and Great-Power Conflict

Date: 8 April, 2026 Format: Online Webinar Time: 15:30 – 16:30 (GMT +2) Language: English Organizers: APRI Context This webinar brings together a panel of experts to critically examine how African states, regional organisations and financial institutions can respond to the geopolitical impact of the war in Iran and the broader pattern of energy and macro-financial shocks it exemplifies. This event aims to identify concrete leverage points, diplomatic tools, and institutional mechanisms that African actors can deploy. Speakers Ambassador Adeyemi Dipeolu, Trade and Development Expert; Former Special Adviser to the President of Nigeria for Economic Matters and Former Chief of Staff, UNECA. Zainab Usman, Ph.D., Senior Research Scholar and Managing Director (International Programs), Center on Global Energy Policy. Moderator: Dr. Amandine Gnanguenon, Senior Fellow and Head, Geopolitics & Geoeconomics Program, APRI. Let’s rethink how African diplomacy can turn global disruption into strategic opportunity.