Richard Moncrieff Project Director, Central Africa Nairobi, Kenya Please submit all media inquiries to rmoncrieff@crisisgroup.org or call +32 (0) 2 536 00 71 Crisis Group Role Richard Moncrieff started as Crisis Group’s Central Africa Project Director in January 2016, overseeing all work on Central Africa. He previously worked for the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office as principal Research Analyst on West and then Central Africa, and head of the Africa Research Group. He worked as a diplomat in Paris (2003) and Abidjan (2005-2006), and has traveled and worked extensively throughout the African continent. He was Crisis Group’s West Africa project director from 2008 to 2010, where he wrote reports on Cameroon, Nigeria and Guinea. In 2011 he was the Bradlow Research Fellow at the South African Institute of International Affairs. He has published academic work on Africa’s international relations. He has a PhD from Southampton University in the UK and a Masters in African Studies from the political science institute, University of Bordeaux, France. Areas of expertise Conflict management and peacekeeping Elections and complex transitions in Central and West Africa Authoritarian rule, state fragility and state collapse Security sector reform and non-state armed actors Politics and international relations of Africa Professional Background Principal Research Analyst, Central Africa, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, London (2011-2015) Research Fellow, South African Institute of International Affairs, Johannesburg (2011) Project Director, West Africa, International Crisis Group, Dakar (2008-2010) Principal Research Analyst, West Africa, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, London and head, Africa Research Group (2001-2008) PhD, Southampton University Masters, African Studies, Bordeaux University, France Languages English French In The News 23 Apr 2021 The other important question is whether the new military command under Deby’s son can command sufficient popularity to mobilize the army and push [the rebels] back and defend the nation’s territory. World Politics Review Richard Moncrieff Project Director, Central Africa 21 Apr 2021 A damaging succession crisis is to be feared, while government forces and rebels have been fighting each other in the north and centre of the country. France 24 Richard Moncrieff Project Director, Central Africa 13 Jan 2021 It seems likely that [the rebels’] intention is to cause trouble and to push the United Nations to defend Bangui, therefore leaving provincial towns vulnerable. Associated Press Richard Moncrieff Project Director, Central Africa 1 Apr 2020 [Chadian president Déby] has a pretty fractious inner circle, and he knows that any local conflict could quickly escalate into a national one. Foreign Policy Richard Moncrieff Project Director, Central Africa 7 Dec 2017 There is evident concern of growing instability and a frustration [in DR Congo] at the political blockage that is fueling popular frustration and the spread of violence in the country. New Europe Richard Moncrieff Project Director, Central Africa 3 Oct 2017 [President of Cameroon Paul Biya] cannot allow people to gain the impression that [demonstrators in English-speaking regions] have any power whatsoever. It’s a very absolutist system. Financial Times Richard Moncrieff Project Director, Central Africa Latest Updates Podcast / Africa 29 April 2021 What Déby’s Death Means for Chad and the Region This week on Hold Your Fire!, Richard Atwood and Naz Modirzadeh talk to Crisis Group experts Richard Moncrieff and Claudia Gazzini about the death of Chadian President Idriss Déby and its consequences for Chad and the region. Q&A / Africa 22 April 2021 Tchad : quels risques après la mort d’Idriss Déby ? Le décès du président tchadien Idriss Déby suscite l'inquiétude de nombreux Tchadiens et des Etats voisins et plonge le pays dans l'incertitude. Crisis Group revient sur les récents événements et expose les principaux risques auxquels le pays est confronté. Also available in العربية, English Q&A / Africa 13 February 2019 Au Tchad, l’incursion des rebelles dévoile les fragilités du pouvoir Une incursion de l’Union des forces de la résistance (UFR) en territoire tchadien depuis la Libye, début février, a été arrêtée par des frappes aériennes françaises, en coordination avec l’armée tchadienne. Cette menace sécuritaire inédite depuis plusieurs années met en relief les fragilités du Tchad et du pouvoir en place. Also available in English Op-Ed / Africa 21 May 2018 AU Must Re-engage in Burundi to Push for Inclusivity as a Way out of Violence The constitutional changes, if passed, could reset the clock on term limits for President Pierre Nkurunziza — potentially giving him an additional 14 years in power — and paving the way for the dismantling of ethnic balances embedded in the 2000 Arusha Agreement, which brought an end to Burundi’s protracted civil war. Originally published in The East African Also available in Français Interview / Africa 1 December 2017 DR Congo's Deadlocked Crises In an interview with ARD Africa Correspondant Alexander Göbel, Crisis Group’s Central Africa Project Director Richard Moncrieff discusses DR Congo’s many crises and how the international community can deal with the country’s ongoing political blockage. Originally published in Tagesschau Load more