Habiba ABUBAKER

Current position

Habiba Abubaker is currently a Doctoral Researcher at the University of Luxembourg, a position she has held since January 2024. Her research focuses on conflict mediation, with a particular emphasis on the African Union’s non-adjudicative mechanisms of dispute settlement.

Research

Habiba Abubaker’s doctoral research, titled “Navigating Peace through Dialogue: A Legal Analysis of the African Union’s Mediation Framework and Strategic Peace Efforts,” delves into the complexities of conflict mediation within the African Union. Her work critically examines the AU’s mediation processes. The research highlights how the AU employs mediation to navigate conflicts in Africa, balancing regional sovereignty with its legal mandate for peace and security.

Her study draws insights from three pivotal case studies: the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) dispute, the Mali military coups of 2020–2021, and Sudan’s 2023 civil war. These cases reflect varying levels of AU engagement, ranging from full leadership to competing mediation efforts by other regional and international actors. Through these, her research explores the challenges of external interference, underutilization of APSA (African Peace and Security Architecture) mechanisms, and fragmented mediation processes.

By integrating theoretical analysis with practical applications, Habiba’s work not only evaluates the AU’s mediation frameworks but also provides strategic recommendations to enhance their efficacy. This includes strengthening collaboration with Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and the United Nations, addressing procedural gaps, and ensuring better coordination among APSA’s critical components, such as the Peace and Security Council (PSC), the Panel of the Wise, and the Continental Early Warning System.

Habiba’s research aspires to contribute to the ongoing discourse on conflict resolution, positioning the African Union as a global leader in innovative and effective mediation practices.

Work experience

Habiba has a wealth of professional experience that reflects her dedication to international law and dispute resolution. From September 2020 to December 2023, she worked as a Research Fellow at the Max Planck Institute Luxembourg, where she contributed to the Department of European and Comparative Procedural Law. Since March 2021, she has been pursuing her Ph.D. at the University of Luxembourg, where her research integrates legal theory with practical applications.

Prior to this, Habiba served as a Research Fellow at the Max Planck Foundation for International Peace and the Rule of Law in Heidelberg, Germany, between August 2018 and August 2020. Her earlier experiences include her role as Assistant Legal Counsel at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague from September 2017 to July 2018 and as a Legal Intern at the African Union Commission in Addis Ababa from August 2016 to February 2017.

In 2017, Habiba participated in the United Nations Regional Course on International Law for Africa, which provided her with an advanced understanding of international legal frameworks and mechanisms. This experience further deepened her knowledge and enhanced her expertise in international law and its practical applications across diverse contexts.

Educational background

Habiba holds an LL.M. in International Law and Human Rights from the University of Reading, which she completed in 2015. She also earned her LL.B. (Hons.) from the same institution in 2014. Her academic journey has been marked by a commitment to international law and its practical applications in fostering peace and justice.