Abdel-illah Boukhezer

Abdel-illah Boukhezer is a geopolitical strategist and thinker specialising in the political, security, and development affairs of Africa and the Middle East. He is pursuing his academic work at the School of Global and Area Studies, University of Oxford, and is a member of St Antony’s College.

His work focuses on governance, conflict prevention, regional integration, and the evolving geopolitical dynamics shaping the Global South. He is the Founder and President of the MEA Institute for Strategic Studies, the first youth-led think tank operating across the Middle East and Africa, which brings together research, policy dialogue, and cross-regional engagement on issues of strategic importance to the region.

Abdel-illah advises and engages with multilateral institutions, including the United Nations and the African Union, as well as sovereign governments and international stakeholders, on matters relating to governance, conflict prevention, regional integration, and strategic development. He has led delegations to the UN Headquarters in New York and contributed to high-level international policy discussions spanning diplomacy, development, and global affairs.

Prior to his work in policy, he held diverse experience across international media, the private sector, and the non-profit world, shaping a multidisciplinary approach to international affairs and institutional leadership.

Abdel-illah has distinguished himself through a strong academic record and a sustained commitment to building trust in the international community and among emerging leaders. Looking ahead, he aims to contribute to a new and diverse generation of African and Middle Eastern leadership, advancing ideas, institutions, and partnerships that strengthen regional cooperation and help shape a more resilient and strategically confident world.