INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS SPECIALIST
ABOUT ME
Hi, I'm Aaliyah.
I am a South Africa-based international relations specialist and Africa-focussed strategic advisor, with a particular focus on Africa's engagement with global governance structures and its strategic relationships with external partners. My work examines how African states navigate an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape, from their participation in multilateral institutions to their bilateral partnerships with major powers – commercial or otherwise.
PROFESSIONAL
My professional experience centres on providing strategic intelligence and advisory services to multinational organisations operating across African markets, with regional expertise spanning Southern Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, and their international partnerships with Europe and the UK. In government affairs and regulatory advisory roles, I have led risk monitoring and reporting for clients across technology, consumer goods, and government sectors, tracking political, economic, and policy developments that impact business operations and investment decisions. My work in regulatory intelligence has involved analysing legislative changes, policy frameworks, and compliance landscapes, providing clients with actionable insights on how political dynamics shape regulatory environments. Through political and security risk consulting, I have conducted geopolitical analysis and business intelligence for private sector clients, gathering and interpreting open-source intelligence to identify emerging threats and opportunities. This work has encompassed stakeholder mapping, policy advocacy support, and strategic guidance for organisations navigating complex political transitions and regulatory shifts across diverse African jurisdictions. My experience with policy research institutions has further strengthened my analytical approach, combining rigorous research methodologies with practical understanding of how policy decisions translate into operational realities for businesses, investors, and development partners operating on the continent.
ACADEMIC
I hold a Master of Science (MSc) in International Relations from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), complemented by politics-focussed Honours and Bachelor's degrees from the University of Cape Town. Throughout my tertiary education, I have been affiliated with The Commonwealth Commission as a Commonwealth Master's Scholar, the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Foundation as a Master's Scholar, and the Mo Ibrahim Foundation as a Fellow of the Now Generation Network. My education across two continents has equipped me with both theoretical rigor and practical understanding of how global power dynamics intersect with local realities, particularly in African contexts.
Media & Public Engagement. As a regular contributor to public discourse on African affairs, I have appeared on SABC News, BBC Africa, Newzroom Africa, eNCA, and other broadcast and radio platforms across the African continent, providing analysis on issues ranging from multilateral diplomacy to regional conflicts. Similarly, my written work has been published by the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, Business Day, TRT Afrika, IOL, Financial Mail, LSE Blogs, The Republic magazine and more. I believe that rigorous analysis should be accessible, and I am committed to making complex international relations issues understandable to diverse audiences without sacrificing analytical depth.
PERSONAL
Outside of politics, you'll find me at the barre, matcha in hand and scrolling Pinterest for women in pink power suits.