In the first ASCL Seminar of 2025, on 6 February, Florence Bernault (Sciences Po) will explore the history of containers in Central Africa. Prof. Bernault suggests that examining containers and capital in Central Africa can help us understand complex and hidden forms of modern capitalism. 

The ASCL is proud to have acquired the photo exhibition 'Traces'. The photos will be on permanent display in the ASCL hallways. TRACES presents a photo-ethnographic project by researcher Lidewyde Berckmoes and photographer Marieke Maagdenberg that investigates how violent conflict reverberates across borders and generations. 

Chibuike Uche and Azeb Amha have been awarded grants in the Leiden University Global Seed Fund. This Fund was established in 2024 to enhance the relationship between Leiden University and her partners in Africa, Latin America, North East and South East Asia.

The ASCL is deeply saddened by the news that its former colleague Melle Leenstra passed away in The Hague on 8 January. Melle was seconded to the ASCL during his PhD project on the Zambian health sector from a political science perspective. He worked tirelessly on forging equitable relations between the Netherlands and Africa. 

Within the GROW Research Programme one more position opened for a PhD candidate with professor Janine Ubink (Leiden Law School) and professor Mayke Kaag (ASCL) and/or Chibuike Uche (ASCL). The ideal candidate has a proven interest in the relationship between law and society in Africa. 

Lidewyde Berckmoes wins an NWO Open Competition Grant for a project on intergenerational resilience and anticipation of conflict and natural disaster. It investigates how descendants of survivors of violent conflict anticipate and respond to future disaster, both conflict and natural disaster.