James Barnett
James Barnett is a researcher with expertise in African conflict, armed groups, and military history, particularly in Nigeria and the Horn of Africa. In addition to being a fellow at the Centre, he is a non-resident fellow at Hudson Institute in Washington, D.C. and the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD West Africa) in Abuja, Nigeria. He is also a PhD candidate in political science at Oxford University.
James has lived in Nigeria for several years. He has extensive research experience, including working across all regions of Nigeria and reporting on conflict in Somalia, South Sudan, and Ukraine. He has worked as a consultant with organisations such as the World Bank and United States Institute of Peace; led research and authored studies funded by the European Union and Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO); and served as an international election observer in Nigeria during the 2023 presidential elections. He has also provided consultancy services to humanitarian organisations and the private sector.
James was a 2020-21 Fulbright fellow at the University of Lagos and a 2016-17 Boren Scholar at the University of Dar Es Salaam. His writing has appeared in popular magazines, edited volumes, and academic journals, and he has been quoted widely in international media and appeared on television programs such as BBC News. He holds a BA with highest honors in history and Plan II from the University of Texas and an MA in war studies from King’s College London.
Featured work
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James Barnett (2021) The Bandit Warlords of Nigeria, Newlines Magazine.
James Barnett (2023) Inside the Newest Conflict in Somalia’s Long Civil War. New Lines Magazine.
James Barnett (2023) The Oil Thieves of Nigeria, Newlines Magazine.
James Barnett (2024) War and Peace in South Sudan, Newlines Magazine.
