Axis and Arch

MEA Institute for Strategic Studies

Power, influence, and ideas are reshaping the Middle East and Africa. Axis and Arch explores the strategic trends, regional tensions, and partnerships defining the future of these regions. Each episode brings together diverse perspectives to unpack regional developments, emerging challenges, and opportunities for cooperation. Through thoughtful conversations and analysis, the show traces the lines of conflict, culture, and cooperation shaping global affairs.

Episodes

  1. Aug 8

    The Indigenisation of Drone Warfare in Africa

    The Indigenisation of Drone Warfare in Africa explores how the future of drone warfare is shifting from who owns the hardware to who controls the software. In this conversation, Genevieve Labuschagne and Anya Melnyk examine how affordable drone technology is reshaping the balance of power between states and non-state armed groups. They discuss why software sovereignty has become a strategic advantage, how AI and autonomous systems are changing modern conflict, and why many policymakers continue to misunderstand the realities of drone warfare. Read the full Article: https://meainstitute.org/research/indigenisation-of-drone-warfare-in-africa/ Speakers Genevieve Labuschagne: https://meainstitute.org/people/genevieve-irene-labuschagne/ Anya Melnyk: https://meainstitute.org/people/anya-melnyk/ Key Takeaways - Drone warfare is no longer the exclusive domain of state militaries, with non-state actors increasingly deploying drone capabilities. - The strategic advantage is shifting from airframes to algorithms, making software sovereignty a critical element of national security. - AI, autonomy, and software ecosystems are becoming more decisive than hardware alone. - Policymakers must rethink how they understand and regulate the rapidly evolving landscape of drone warfare. Stay connected: Follow us on our socials and subscribe to Strategic Frontlines our free newsletter for fresh, youth-led takes on diplomacy, security, and innovation. Instagram: @meainstitute LinkedIn: MEA Institute for Strategic Studies Twitter/X: @MEAInstitute Facebook: MEA Institute for Strategic Studies Disclaimer: This podcast is produced by the Middle East & Africa Institute. The views expressed by the hosts and guests are their own and do not necessarily represent those of the Institute. The Middle East & Africa Institute remains independent and does not endorse or adopt institutional positions on the issues discussed.

  2. Jun 8

    Patron to Partner: Rethinking Gulf Defence After the Iran War

    In this episode of Axis & Arch, we sit down with two of the authors behind the recent report Patron to Partner: Rethinking Gulf Defence After the Iran War. As regional conflicts intensify and vulnerabilities become more exposed, GCC states face mounting uncertainty without a clear alternative framework in place.  This episode explores the growing strain on the Gulf’s longstanding security model, historically anchored in U.S. protection.    Karl Theus and Nicole Weber examine the structural, legal, and strategic challenges shaping the region today - from the limits of GCC defence cooperation to the legal and normative tensions emerging in contemporary conflicts. Together, they discuss what a future regional security architecture for the Gulf could look like amid increasing fragmentation and risk.    This episode of Axis and Arch was recorded May 3.    Guests   Karl Theus, Research Fellow at the MEA Institute for Strategic Studies: https://meainstitute.org/people/karl-theus/    Nicole Weber, Research Fellow at the MEA Institute for Strategic Studies: https://meainstitute.org/people/nicole-weber/ Host Ahmad M Alkuchikmulla, Communications Associate at the MEA Institute for Strategic Studies: https://meainstitute.org/people/ahmad-m-alkuchikmulla/ Stay connected: Follow us on our socials and subscribe to Strategic Frontlines our free newsletter for fresh, youth-led takes on diplomacy, security, and innovation. Instagram: @meainstitute LinkedIn: MEA Institute for Strategic Studies Twitter/X: @MEAInstitute Facebook: MEA Institute for Strategic Studies Disclaimer: This podcast is produced by the Middle East & Africa Institute. The views expressed by the hosts and guests are their own and do not necessarily represent those of the Institute. The Middle East & Africa Institute remains independent and does not endorse or adopt institutional positions on the issues discussed.

    Patron to Partner: Rethinking Gulf Defence After the Iran War

  3. Feb 23

    The MEA Institute at One: Growth, Community, and Impact 

    In this special one-year anniversary episode, Abdel-Illah Boukhezer, Founder and President of the Middle East and Africa Institute for Strategic Studies, reflects on the Institute’s journey from concept to implementation. What began as an idea developed in the corridors of La Sorbonne evolved into a youth-led, impact-driven think tank operating across borders to drive change in Africa and the Middle East. The conversation explores the founding vision, the behind-the-scenes work of launching the Institute’s first conference, and the rapid growth that has followed. The discussion dives into youth leadership as a strategic pillar, regional integration, and why shifting from a profit-first to an impact-driven model is critical for the future of policy research. This episode offers insight into how institutions can rethink traditional structures and empower the next generation to shape geopolitical dialogue. Key topics • Origins and founding journey of the MEA Institute • Youth-led think tanks and policy innovation • Regional cooperation between Africa and the Middle East • Moving from business-first logic to impact-driven research • Community building across borders

    The MEA Institute at One: Growth, Community, and Impact 

  4. 12/07/2025

    Part 2: The Future Africa's Youth Are Building

    This is the second episode of a three-part series of MEA's annual security conference recorded at the University of Cambridge. This conversation brings together leading voices on youth leadership, mobility, and the future of African development. Moderated by Sara Feletto, the conversation features Dr. Marina Ikodos, senior lecturer in Sustainability and Business Ethics at Holloway University of London, and Rayan Hamila, Executive Vice President for Strategy & Operations Delivery at the MEA Institute. Together, they explore what a new development model for Africa could look like, how to reclaim communitarian values, and why the next chapter of the continent will be written by its young people.

    Part 2: The Future Africa's Youth Are Building

  5. 11/11/2025

    Part 1: MEA’s Journey to Success

    This is the first episode of a three-part series of MEA's annual security conference, held at the University of Cambridge. MEA Institute founder Abdel-illah Boukhezer joins MEA Fellow Sara Feletto to share how an idea became a global institution in less than six months. Together, they trace MEA’s rapid expansion, from a small vision to a network of 80+ professionals worldwide, and how the Institute built credibility by collaborating with partners such as the African Union Commission. Abdel-illah offers a candid look at what it took to be taken seriously in policy spaces traditionally reserved for established institutions, arguing that youth organizations deserve not just a seat at the table, but recognition as equal contributors, and then showing exactly how he made that happen. They share MEA's upcoming involvement in a UN High-Level Conference and next steps that will continue to expand the Institute's presence on the global stage. Stay connected: Subscribe to Strategic Frontlines, our free newsletter for fresh, youth-led takes on diplomacy, security, and innovation.

    Part 1: MEA’s Journey to Success

  6. 08/13/2025

    What Would Reparations for Colonialism Look Like?

    Over 90% of Africa’s cultural artefacts remain in European museums and private collections, including sacred regalia, burial items, and ancestral remains taken through colonial conquest. Their theft fractured identity, erased history, and severed spiritual ties. In this episode, we examine the African Union Commission policy paper Reparations for African Peoples, written by the youth-led MEA Institute, which proposes a blueprint for restorative justice through heritage repatriation. I speak with Genevieve Labuschagne, Co-Director at MEA’s Intelligence Desk and co-coordinator of the project, about why the team approached reparations through art and heritage, how our team's proposed AU Endowment Fund could shift power back to African institutions, and why bridging policy rooms with communities is essential for meaningful restitution. From countering colonial narratives to centring African perspectives in law and history, we explore what real cultural justice could look like, and why the time for return is now. Stay connected: Follow us on our socials and subscribe to Strategic Frontlines our free newsletter for fresh, youth-led takes on diplomacy, security, and innovation. Instagram: @meainstitute LinkedIn: MEA Institute for Strategic Studies Twitter/X: @MEAInstitute Facebook: MEA Institute for Strategic Studies Disclaimer: This podcast is produced by the Middle East & Africa Institute. The views expressed by the hosts and guests are their own and do not necessarily represent those of the Institute. The Middle East & Africa Institute remains independent and does not endorse or adopt institutional positions on the issues discussed.

    What Would Reparations for Colonialism Look Like?

  7. 07/15/2025

    Breaking Away from the CFA Franc: Is West Africa Ready for the Eco?

    Established by France in December 1945, just after World War II, the CFA Franc, originally “Colonies Françaises d’Afrique” (French Colonies of Africa), still shapes the economies of 14 countries across West Africa. Today, it’s often said to mean “Communauté Financière Africaine” (African Financial Community), but its colonial legacy runs deep. In this episode of Strategic Talks from the MEA Institute for Strategic Studies, host Chaima Ouahil sits down with Muhammed Musa, Head of our Sub-Saharan Africa Desk and investment research associate, to unpack the promise and the pitfalls of the proposed Eco currency. From the colonial legacy of the CFA Franc to the tough convergence criteria, political exits, and lessons from Asia, this conversation dives deep into what it really takes to build true regional integration. Is West Africa ready for a single currency? And what happens if it’s not? Stay informed on one of the continent’s most significant monetary debates, and what it could mean for sovereignty, stability, and growth in West Africa. Stay connected: Follow us on our socials and subscribe to Strategic Frontlines our free newsletter for fresh, youth-led takes on diplomacy, security, and innovation. Instagram: @meainstitute LinkedIn: MEA Institute for Strategic Studies Twitter/X: @MEAInstitute Facebook: MEA Institute for Strategic Studies Disclaimer: This podcast is produced by the Middle East & Africa Institute. The views expressed by the hosts and guests are their own and do not necessarily represent those of the Institute. The Middle East & Africa Institute remains independent and does not endorse or adopt institutional positions on the issues discussed.

    Breaking Away from the CFA Franc: Is West Africa Ready for the Eco?

  8. 07/08/2025

    Contracts & Control: Who Shapes Syria’s Next Chapter?

    Welcome to the first episode of Axis and Arch, the youth-led podcast from the MEA Institute for Strategic Studies, an independent think tank led entirely by young analysts and researchers working to reshape policy, diplomacy, and innovation across the Middle East and Africa. In this episode, MEA Institute founder Abdel-illah Boukhezer sits down with Abdul Fattah El Cheikh, MENA Research Director, to break down the power plays and promises behind Syria’s fragile recovery. They talk cautious optimism on the ground, reopening markets, and capital flows as sanctions lift. From oil prices and port deals to lessons from Lebanon’s stalled rebuild, they ask: How can Syria avoid old mistakes? Hear how local SMEs, regional players, and foreign heavyweights are shaping Syria’s next chapter - and why transparency and youth participation will be key. Stay connected: Follow us on our socials and subscribe to Strategic Frontlines our free newsletter for fresh, youth-led takes on diplomacy, security, and innovation. Instagram: @meainstitute LinkedIn: MEA Institute for Strategic Studies Twitter/X: @MEAInstitute Facebook: MEA Institute for Strategic Studies Disclaimer: This podcast is produced by the Middle East & Africa Institute. The views expressed by the hosts and guests are their own and do not necessarily represent those of the Institute. The Middle East & Africa Institute remains independent and does not endorse or adopt institutional positions on the issues discussed.

    Contracts & Control: Who Shapes Syria’s Next Chapter?
  • 8 Episodes

About

Power, influence, and ideas are reshaping the Middle East and Africa. Axis and Arch explores the strategic trends, regional tensions, and partnerships defining the future of these regions. Each episode brings together diverse perspectives to unpack regional developments, emerging challenges, and opportunities for cooperation. Through thoughtful conversations and analysis, the show traces the lines of conflict, culture, and cooperation shaping global affairs.

Information

  • Creator
    MEA Institute for Strategic Studies
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    8
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 MEA Institute for Strategic Studies
  • Show Website
    Axis and Arch