The African Programme on Rethinking Development Economics (APORDE) is a high high-level training programme in development economics targeting policy-makers, researchers, academics and civil society representatives from Africa and other developing countries. The programme has been running since 2007 and is a joint initiative between the South African Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) and Trade and Industrial Policy Strategies (TIPS). This second in a six part APORDE series will focus on exploring the role of conflict on the African continent by consideration whether political economy considerations help in understanding what informs the key conflicts in Africa. Ayabonga Cawe will explore with his guests Thomas Selemane, an independent economic and governance consultant based in Mozambique and Dr Grieve Chelwa, director of Research Institute on Race, Power and Political Economy at the New School in the US.