Director, Africa programme
Horn of Africa: Sudan/South Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea; Red Sea political/security/economic aspects; mediation/conflict resolution; humanitarianism
English, German, Arabic, French (conversational)
Theodore Murphy is the director of the Africa programme at the European Council for Foreign Relations.
Murphy managed emergency response missions for Doctors Without Borders, in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Sudan. He has published and lectured on humanitarian issues writ large and specifically in the context of the Greater War on Terror. At Amnesty International, Murphy coordinated all research and publications on Sudan as well as media appearances. Writing for the International Crisis Group, Murphy focused on the dynamics in the Chad/Darfur region contributing to public reports on these issues.
From 2007-2011, Murphy worked in conflict resolution/mediation with the United Nations and in the non-governmental sector in the Horn of Africa and Middle East. He served as Expert Advisor to the AU/UN mediation team in Darfur in 2007-08. In 2011, Murphy was appointed by the UN Secretary General to the Panel of Experts for Libya where he served in the post of Regional Expert. As a Course Director and Fellow for the Geneva Centre for Security Policy, Murphy designed and led accredited training for diplomats, military, and multilateral staff on the topic of Engagement with Non State Actors.
Working closely with the German MFA, from 2012 onwards, Murphy oversaw mediation initiatives throughout the Horn of Africa. Amongst others, he negotiated an internationally recognized political agreement in Darfur and supported efforts towards creating a Red Sea Forum.
Murphy holds degrees from McGill University and the School for Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) London.
Russia is exploiting weaknesses in Europe’s relationships with states across Africa. Germany will need to set a precedent in Mali if it is to respond to this challenge effectively.
ECFR is launching a series of high-level convenings, with a view to defining a shared concept of the Africa-Europe strategic partnership in the emerging new global order
By making new offers of partnership to African countries, Russia is setting a trap for the West
European officials and thinkers to talk about challenges and opportunities presented by today’s political, security and economic crises
The EU’s values-led foreign policy and its stabilisation objectives in the Sahel are in tension with each other. Russia is now waiting to exploit that tension.
Stronger relationships with African states can help Europe address the immediate energy and food crises – and help counter Russian efforts to destabilise both continents
Russia will politicise its food aid to Africa as it did covid-19 vaccines. Europe needs to learn from this experience of being outmanoeuvred as it responds to the global food crisis.
Russia’s role in Africa takes on a new meaning in light of its all-out war on Ukraine. The Kremlin may not have previously seen its ambitions in Africa in terms of conflict with Europe, but this is now the reality.
The European Council on Foreign Relations is delighted to invite you to our webinar on what the latest developments mean for Europe’s engagement in the Sahel.
To what extent can the European Green Deal and Global Gateway be shaped to satisfy both European and African interests?
The Trump years galvanised Europeans’ efforts to strengthen their own sovereignty; they now need to agree concrete offers they can make to the new administration
Russia is exploiting weaknesses in Europe’s relationships with states across Africa. Germany will need to set a precedent in Mali if it is to respond to this challenge effectively.
By making new offers of partnership to African countries, Russia is setting a trap for the West
The EU’s values-led foreign policy and its stabilisation objectives in the Sahel are in tension with each other. Russia is now waiting to exploit that tension.
Stronger relationships with African states can help Europe address the immediate energy and food crises – and help counter Russian efforts to destabilise both continents
Russia will politicise its food aid to Africa as it did covid-19 vaccines. Europe needs to learn from this experience of being outmanoeuvred as it responds to the global food crisis.
Russia’s role in Africa takes on a new meaning in light of its all-out war on Ukraine. The Kremlin may not have previously seen its ambitions in Africa in terms of conflict with Europe, but this is now the reality.
Following the prime minister’s resignation, Europeans should now attempt to avert the military from further repression, engage the broader civilian constituency, and seek a new form of mediation
Western leaders can prevent Sudan’s military from drifting further into dependence on the Kremlin. To achieve this, they will need to take a more assertive approach to supporting the country’s protest movement and dealing with its military.
Divergences are growing between the demands of Sudan’s powerful protest movement and the approach taken by the international community. Both can offer solutions, but they need to move quickly.
Sudan’s civilian protest movement is fighting for democracy. Europe can play a decisive role, but to do so its condemnation must come with consequences.
What are the regional implications of the Tigray conflict and the prospects for transatlantic cooperation around the issue?
Where do we stand now in building a “strategic partnership” between the European and African continent?
When Biden enters the White House, he will look for a Europe that brings solutions rather than problems. Europeans should show they can be an equal partner & offer him a new transatlantic bargain.
ECFR is launching a series of high-level convenings, with a view to defining a shared concept of the Africa-Europe strategic partnership in the emerging new global order
European officials and thinkers to talk about challenges and opportunities presented by today’s political, security and economic crises
To what extent can the European Green Deal and Global Gateway be shaped to satisfy both European and African interests?
The European Council on Foreign Relations is delighted to invite you to our webinar on what the latest developments mean for Europe’s engagement in the Sahel.
This event is part of the German Forum on Security Policy #DFS2021
The roundtable will focus on the state of the Africa-Europe relationship with its challenges and opportunities, and the role that Southern Europe could play in the process
Online discussion on ECFR’s recent policy brief African regional cooperation: How to navigate Africa’s institutional landscape and mapping project by Amandine Gnanguênon
The economic knock-on effects of the COVID19 pandemic are severe all over the world but Africa is particularly exposed. As governments’ ability to respond to the…
The Kremlin has put the Europeans in a quandary: staying in Mali is becoming increasingly difficult
Where Europe takes on peacekeeping in Africa, the Kremlin uses tension to push its way to the front. This has consequences for Berlin politics, writes Theo Murphy.
Adaptation is not as sexy as mitigation. It’s egregiously underfunded. So that’s a hard sell in the best of times
Theodore Murphy comments on European leaders’ lack of engagement for climate change adaptation in Africa
Despite Western attempts to isolate Russia over its all-out war on Ukraine, Lavrov is using Africa to demonstrate that his country still has partners in some parts of the globe
Theodore Murphy comments on Antony Blinken’s diplomatic tour of Africa
In Africa, Russia has found openings to restore its influence by offering security assistance with less conditionality than the West
Theodore Murphy comments on Russian role and influence in Africa
Moscow’s soothing laissez faire message to African leaders – we don’t need you to change – is hard to beat
In an op-ed, Theodore Murphy evaluates Russia’s diplomatic outreach to Africa
