Please register in advance using the QR code on the flyer. 【Flyer】June26TASC_IIR.pdf On Friday, June 26, a research seminar on jihadist organizations in the Sahel will be held at TASC on the 4th floor of the Research and Lecture Building at Tokyo University of Foreign Studies. The seminar will feature a presentation by Dr. Uesu, Research Fellow at Meiji University, and will be moderated by Prof. Hideaki Shinoda of the Institute of Global Studies, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies. The event is open to TUFS students and the public. We warmly invite anyone interested in the topic to join us. ◾️Title: "LIMIT OF FOREIGN-LED ANTI-TERRORISM OPERATION AND THE RISE OF "SOVEREIGNTY" IN AFRICA" ◾️Abstract: Ms. Uesu will discuss the rise of jihadist movements in Africa, with special reference to the Sahel region. She will also highlight the growing ideological emphasis on "sovereignty" among African countries, drawing on insights gained from her participation in the recent Dakar International Forum on Peace and Security, held in Senegal in April of this year. Ms. Uesu specializes in political economy and security issues in the Sahel and West Africa. She worked as a researcher at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS) and served as an advisor at the Embassy of Japan in France. ◆ Date & Time: Friday, June 26, 2026, 16:00-17:30◆ Venue: Room 401-2, 4th Floor, Research and Lecture Building, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies (TASC)◆ Format: In-person only◆ Open to the public◆ Language: English (*Questions and answers may be conducted in Japanese.) The deadline for registration is 12:00 noon on Wednesday, June 24.

114_ASCSeminarEnglishVer.pdf The 114th ASC Seminar will feature a talk by Dr. Marlene NGANSOP on "Well-being and conservation concerns among indigenous peoples and local communities adjacent to conservation areas: the case of East Cameroon".The seminar will be held in a hybrid format, allowing participation via Zoom as well. Please be sure to register in advance. ※The schedule has been changed. June 3 → June 10 (updated on May 13). Title: "Well-being and conservation concerns among indigenous peoples and local communities adjacent to conservation areas: the case of East Cameroon"Abstract: Indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLC) living in conservation landscapes depend on Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) for their well-being. However, restricted access to these resources within the conservation area often puts pressure on surrounding areas, raising conservation concerns. My research in the Dja Biosphere Reserve aims to understand how Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities rely on natural resources for their health and food security needs within a conservation context. This presentation illustrates these points by examining their living conditions, the contribution of NTFPs to their well-being, and the impact of conservation on resource availability in the surrounding areas. The final goal of the presentation is to provide an analytical framework for improving the living conditions of communities within conservation areas. Keywords: non-timber forest product, wellbeing, indigenous people and local communities, sustainable use, conservation concerns, Dja Biosphere Reserve ◆Speaker: Dr.Marlene NGANSOP (Visiting Associate Professor at African Studies Center, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies / University of Douala) ◆Date：Wednesday, June 10th, 2026/ 5:40p.m.～7:10p.m.（JST） 8:40a.m.～10:10a.m.（GMT)◆Venue：Hybrid・Onsite Room103（1F Research and lecture bldg.,TUFS Fuchu Campus）＆ Online（ZoomMeeting）・Access：https://www.tufs.ac.jp/abouttufs/contactus/access.html◆Language：English◆Addmission fee：FREE Just come straight to the classroom on the day of the seminar. You're welcome to join! Registration deadline: Noon June 10th, 2026 (Wed) ◆Jointly organized by African Studies Center - TUFS and Kanto Branch of Japan Association for African Studies Report The 114th ASC Seminar was held in a hybrid format and welcomed a total of 65 participants (17 in person and 48 online).Dr. Marlene, our invited Visiting Associate Professor, gave an in‑depth talk about her research, followed by a Q&A session.Even after the seminar, those who attended on-site continued an active discussion until later in the evening. We would like to express our sincere appreciation to everyone who participated.Please note that the deadline for submitting the participant questionnaire is June 17, one week after the seminar. We would be grateful for your cooperation.

113_ASCSeminarEnglishVer.pdf The 113th ASC Seminar will feature a talk by Mr. MOUVY Dodzivi Eva Kekeli, Chargé d'Affaires, Head of Mission, Embassy of the Republic of Togo on "Togo, Mediator and Gateway of West Africa" The seminar will be held in a hybrid format, allowing participation via Zoom as well. Please be sure to register in advance. Title: "Togo, Mediator and Gateway of West Africa" Abstract: This presentation provides a comprehensive and detailed overview of Togo, exploring how this narrow, 600-kilometer-long West African nation leverages its strategic geographical positioning and historical neutrality to act as both a highly efficient economic gateway and a pivotal diplomatic mediator. Despite its relatively modest geographical size, Togo punches significantly above its weight on the African continent. A central focus of the presentation is Togo's exceptional logistical infrastructure, which capitalizes on its strategic location along the Gulf of Guinea. The Port of Lomé serves as the cornerstone of this strategy; as West Africa's only natural deep-water port, it presently handles over 30.6 million tonnes of cargo annually. It ranks as the region's premier container transit point and functions as an indispensable economic lifeline for landlocked Sahelian nations like Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. Furthermore, the Gnassingbé Eyadéma International Airport reinforces this connectivity by acting as a major aviation hub for ASKY Airlines, accommodating over 1.5 million passengers yearly. Economically, Togo demonstrates a resilient growth rate of approximately 5.3 percent and is actively transitioning from a transit-based economy to an industrialized model through initiatives like the Adétikopé Industrial Platform. This structural transformation is heavily supported by a dynamic population of 8.8 million people and substantial human capital investments driven by public institutions such as the University of Lomé and the University of Kara. Politically, the country maintains security and stability, having shifted to a parliamentary system in May 2024 to establish a new model of institutional governance. Beyond trade, the presentation thoroughly emphasizes Togo's robust soft power strategy as the highly respected "Swiss of Africa". Rooted in a strict policy of non-interference, Lomé has historically brokered significant peace agreements, including the 1999 Lomé Peace Accord for Sierra Leone. Today, President Faure Gnassingbé effectively continues this celebrated legacy of quiet diplomacy. In the volatile Sahel region, Togo has kept dialogue and maritime ports open for transition governments, most notably securing the 2023 release of 46 Ivorian soldiers detained in Mali. Furthermore, Togo actively mediates the complex conflict between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda by championing a strategic "Framework of Coherence". This framework gracefully aligns overlapping regional peace initiatives, such as the Luanda and Nairobi processes, to ensure unified diplomatic action. Ultimately, Togo's national success is securely built upon a dual-pillar strategy balancing cutting-edge physical logistics with impartial diplomacy. By seamlessly connecting both goods and people across borders, Togo definitively proves itself to be an indispensable anchor for continental peace, economic resilience, and sustained regional integration. Keywords: Logistics Hub, Deep-Water Port of Lomé, Regional Mediator, Strategic Neutrality, West Africa Gateway, Transshipment, ECOWAS, Adétikopé Industrial Platform (PIA), Sahel Stability, Great Lakes ◆Speaker: Mr. D. E. Kekeli MOUVY, Chargé d'Affaires, Head of Mission, Embassy of the Republic of Togo Bio-note: Dodzivi Eva Kekeli Mouvy is a Togolese diplomat with over fifteen years of experience in international relations, public administration, and diplomatic protocol. After serving at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he worked at the Prime Minister's Office as Chief of Protocol from 2014 to 2020, coordinating high-level state ceremonies. Since 2020, he has been posted to Japan. Currently serving as Chargé d'Affaires a.i., he heads the Embassy of the Republic of Togo, overseeing bilateral relations with Japan and outreach across the Asia-Pacific. His responsibilities encompass political and economic diplomacy, investment promotion, and multilateral engagement. Alongside his diplomatic duties, he is pursuing a Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) at the International University of Leadership in Florida. His research focuses on how multilateral partnership platforms generate concrete development outcomes for Africa, aiming to strengthen strategic diplomacy that links international cooperation with national priorities. ◆Date：Wednesday, May 27th, 2026/ 5:40p.m.～7:10p.m.（JST） 8:40a.m.～10:10a.m.（GMT)◆Venue：Hybrid・Onsite Room 103（1F Research and lecture bldg.,TUFS Fuchu Campus）＆ Online（ZoomMeeting）・Access：https://www.tufs.ac.jp/abouttufs/contactus/access.html◆Language：English (No taranslate)◆Addmission fee：FREEPlease pre-register in advence from here. Or Use QR Code.※ The Zoom link will be sent after you pre-registerd. Registration deadline: Noon May 27th, 2026 (WED) ◆Jointly organized by African Studies Center - TUFS and Kanto Branch of Japan Association for African Studies Notice of Cancellation of the 113th ASC Seminar We regret to announce that the 113th ASC Seminar, scheduled for May 27, has been cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances affecting the speaker, the Chargé d'Affaires ad interim of the Republic of Togo. We sincerely apologize for this last-minute cancellation and for any inconvenience caused to those who had registered for and planned to attend the seminar. At present, there are no plans to reschedule this event. Should a similar event be organized in the future, we will provide further information through our website and other communication channels. We greatly appreciate your understanding and apologize once again for any disappointment or inconvenience this cancellation may cause.

111th_ASCセミナー英語版.pdf The 111th ASC Seminar will feature a talk by Dr. Rafael VERBUYST on "The many meanings of 'indigenous': lessons from South Africa" The seminar will be held in a hybrid format, allowing participation via Zoom as well. Please be sure to register in advance. If you are nearby, we warmly encourage you to register in advance and join us. Please note that this seminar will start earlier than the usual ASC seminar time (from 4:00 PM). ◾️Date&Time: March 5, 2026 (Thu) 4:00p.m. - 5:30p.m. (JST) / 7:00a.m.～8:30a.m.（GMT) Title: "The many meanings of 'indigenous': lessons from South Africa" ◆Speaker: Dr. Rafael VERBUYST Bio-note: Rafael Verbuyst is a historian and anthropologist. He is a Junior Postdoctoral Researcher at Ghent University's History Department and a Senior Research Affiliate at the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Johannesburg. His research focuses on post-apartheid South Africa, settler colonialism, indigeneity, and ethnographic methodology. Abstract: The concept 'indigenous' is notoriously ambiguous, especially in Africa. Drawing on ethnographic research in South Africa, I argue that this ambiguity stems from a divide between 'indigenous' and 'non-indigenous' that revolves around three problematic axes: pristineness vs. modernity; prior occupants vs. latecomers; inclusion vs. exclusion. These oppositions have long histories and remain commonplace. They are upheld for a variety of reasons and by a diverse set of actors, including by those who identify as indigenous. I suggest an alternative analytical framing of 'indigenous' that is not rooted in identity, belonging, or even history. Building on scholarship advocating for a relational understanding of indigeneity, I argue that 'indigenous' should be understood as a contemporary form of marginalization within a specifically settler-colonial constellation. Settler colonialism is the type of structural oppression that ensues when settlers establish permanent settlements beyond their metropole, as happened in South Africa. A settler-colonial lens is not without pitfalls, but it allows us to better appraise the grievances of indigenous activists and nuance the implications for people who arguably do not fit that category. As such, I posit that my framework can reduce the temperature in what are often highly contentious and unproductive debates. Keywords: indigenous people, settler colonialism, Khoisan, South Africa, ethnicity ◆Venue：Hybrid ・Onsite Room102（1F Research and lecture bldg.,TUFS Fuchu Campus）＆ Online（ZoomMeeting）・Access：https://www.tufs.ac.jp/abouttufs/contactus/access.html ◆Language：English ◆Addmission fee：FREE Please pre-register in advence from here. Or Use QR Code. The Zoom link will be sent after you pre-registerd. Registration deadline: Noon March 5th, 2026 (Thu) ◆Jointly organized by African Studies Center - TUFS and Kanto Branch of Japan Association for African Studies