Africa and the Emerging Global Order: Peace, Power, and Regional Leadership with Berhanemeskel Nega

In this episode of Lawyering Peace, Dr. Paul Williams speaks with Berhanemeskel Nega, veteran diplomat, former senior United Nations peacekeeping official, and Senior Peace Fellow at PILPG, about Africa's place in a rapidly changing global order. Drawing on more than three decades of experience in diplomacy, mediation, peacekeeping, and peacebuilding, Berhanemeskel examines the transition from a unipolar world toward an increasingly multipolar system and what that shift means for international institutions, regional organizations, and conflict-affected states. He reflects on the evolution of UN peacekeeping, the growing role of the African Union, the consequences of great power competition across the continent, and the internal challenges that continue to shape Africa's ability to influence global affairs. The conversation also explores Ethiopia's future, the promise and risks of artificial intelligence, and why sustainable peace ultimately depends on countries resolving their own internal conflicts while engaging constructively with regional and international partners. This episode offers a practitioner's perspective on power, peace, and the opportunities and challenges facing Africa in the emerging global order.