SOAS in the media on Bangladesh & West Africa
SOAS researchers respond to current affairs in Bangladesh and across West Africa.
Fola Aina’s work provides in-depth analysis on the complex security and governance challenges facing West Africa, covering topics such as Nigeria’s use of covert activities and its battle with terror groups like JNIM, state fragility and small arms proliferation across the region, and specific political crises including military coups in Guinea-Bissau and Benin, as well as the fuel blockade in Mali.
Naomi Hossain discusses Bangladesh’s remarkable but contested journey from a “basket case” to a development pioneer, exploring its progress in areas like poverty reduction and women’s employment, alongside analysis of the country’s current political climate and events such as the verdict involving former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
West Africa
- Fola Aina’s chapter contributions titled “Nigeria’s Covert Activities: Upholding National Security,” Fola Aina, SOAS: https://press.georgetown.edu/Book/Covert-Action
- Fola Aina chapter: “State Fragility, Small Arms Proliferation, and Security in West Africa” https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-92924-3
- The Conversation article: Fola Aina, on Nigeria: https://theconversation.com/nigerias-new-terror-threat-jnim-is-spreading-but-its-not-too-late-to-act-269562
- DW News Africa interview on Nigeria and security in Nigeria: Fola Aina (at 6:08): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5lDjsH1mRE
- Firstpost interview on the turmoil in Guinea Bissau: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Q0hbUcjRU4
- BBC interview abut the fuel blockade in Mali: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/fola-aina-ph-d-4838066a_in-my-lastest-interview-with-the-bbc-i-provided-activity-7389580926982434816-X4S2?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAASTEEB7gvYmTOuI4kR0j20d9rBLVQX4mQ
- An interview on the coup in Benin: https://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/eye-on-africa/20251208-benin-government-says-short-lived-coup-left-casualties-on-both-sides
Bangladesh
- Article Naomi Hossain https://www.npr.org/2025/11/17/g-s1-98112/bangladesh-sheikh-hasina-verdict
- Interview Naomi : BBC radio: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002md1r
- Podcast: Bangladesh: How a ‘basket case’ became a development pioneer – Naomi Hossain https://in-pursuit-of-development.simplecast.com/episodes/hossain