Andreas Mehler

Prof. Dr. Andreas Mehler is a Professor of Development Policy and Theory of Development at the University of Freiburg and Director of the Arnold-Bergstraesser-Institut (ABI). He previously served as Director of the GIGA Institute for African Affairs (2002–2015) and has been a Co-Editor of Africa Spectrum since 2009. His research focuses on power-sharing agreements, violent conflict prevention, statehood dynamics, democratization, and French/German Africa policy, with expertise in Francophone Central and West Africa.

Key research projects include Governing People's Safety in Areas of Extremely Limited Statehood (DFG-funded, 2014–2017) and Institutions for Sustainable Peace (Leibniz Association, 2012–2017). His publications analyze fragile states, peacebuilding mechanisms, and security provision in conflict zones like South Sudan and the Central African Republic.

• Media contributions include interviews on Côte d'Ivoire elections and Kenyan security threats.
• Organized high-profile events like the Institutions for Sustainable Peace Conference (2012) and GIGA Talks on Ebola in West Africa (2014) and German military engagement in Africa (2014).
• Teaching activities include courses on armed conflicts in sub-Saharan Africa at Universität Hamburg (2010).

Laboratory/Team Affiliations: Core researcher at the GIGA and ABI, contributing to transnational research networks on peacebuilding and development policy.