Name: Ignored Insurgencies
Start: 2026-01-30T12:00:00-05:00
End: 2026-01-30T13:30:00-05:00
Location: American University, School of International Service, Room SIS 300

Join us for a discussion on the impact of U.S. foreign aid cuts and policy shifts on critical global security threats around the globe.
About this Event

The year 2025 began with a major wave of attacks by al-Qaeda affiliated groups in western Mali and concluded with US attacks on ISIS affiliates in Syria and northwest Nigeria. Meanwhile, Pakistan faces militant violence from at least three insurgencies, and researchers at West Point estimate that Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula remains determined to attack the U.S. Have foreign aid cuts, the emphasis on domestic immigration, and other policy shifts fostered neglect of such critical global security threats? Join four distinguished experts for a discussion under Chatham House rules.

Speaker Bios:

Vanita Datta recently received her PhD from Oxford and is the author of “Education and Conflict in Northeast Nigeria: Navigating Learning and Peace.” Datta served for over 16 years with USAID as a Senior Policy Advisor for Peace and Security, and Civil-Military Cooperation. She has expertise in counterterrorism, violent extremism, and geopolitical risk analysis.
Amb. is an international policy leader with over 15 years of experience. From 2011 to 2014, Amb. Gavin served as U.S. Ambassador to Botswana and served concurrently as the U.S. Representative to SADC. She also served for two years as a Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for African Affairs on the National Security Staff. She is now a senior fellow for Africa studies at the Council on Foreign Relations.
Chrissy Bishai is a PGE Adjunct Professor and Harvard graduate. She currently works at the State Department as a Senior Energy Advisor on the Middle East, North Africa, and Eastern Mediterranean. Holding a Juris Doctorate in Law, she has particular expertise in counterterrorism financing/money laundering and international law. Here at AU, she teaches "Multilateral Diplomacy" and "Non-Traditional Security Threats."
Carl LeVan will be serving as the moderator for this discussion. He has been teaching here at AU for over 20 years and is the author of "Contemporary Nigerian Politics." He has particular expertise in comparative political institutions, democratization, and African politics.