Matthew LeRiche is currently an Assistant Professor of Global Studies, and the Director of the Global Leadership Center at Ohio University. He has written about the approach of integrating armed groups after peace agreements and other aspects of post-conflict security sector reform as a part of peace building. He is an expert analyst of Sudan, South Sudan and East African political and security issues. He co-authored the book South Sudan: From Revolution to Independence (2012).

Friedrich W. Opitz is a senior graduate student at Dresden University’s School of International Studies, Germany, and Sciences Po Strasbourg, France. He focuses on Comparative Global Political Economy and the interplay of Post-industrialism and Right-wing Populism. Friedrich holds a Bachelor Plus degree in American Studies and Journalism from Leipzig University and Ohio University.