Awet T. Weldemichael

Awet T. Weldemichael is a Professor and Queen's National Scholar at the Department of History, Queen's University. A former refugee goatherd from a Sudanese camp, his academic work focuses on colonialism, decolonization, and conflict studies in Africa and Southeast Asia. He holds a PhD in History from UCLA and advanced degrees in African Studies and International Law from Queen's University.

Research Interests:

• Political economy of conflict in the Horn of Africa
• Piracy dynamics in Somalia
• Comparative postcolonial nation-building
• Ethiopian-Eritrean relations

Recent publications analyze Somali piracy root causes, Ethio-Eritrean diplomatic tensions, and Eritrean refugee crises. His 2019 book on Somali piracy earned the IASOC Best Book Award. Teaching focuses on war, revolution, and postcolonial African history courses.

Awards include Royal Society of Canada membership and the IASOC honor. Research collaborations include Dalhousie University's Marine Piracy Project and the Puntland Development & Research Center.