Petr Boháček, Founder & Director
Petr Boháček is the founder and director of the board at the European Security Journal. He is a research fellow at the Association for International Affairs, and Strategy Manager at TRL Space with branches in Europe and Africa.
Petr Boháček previously worked as a political and security analyst for the region of American states for several foreign companies. He has published for international and Czech media. He has worked on developing space applications for space at the Institute of Physics of Czech Academy of Science, and as a space technology and policy researcher at the European University Institute and Charles University.
Vojtěch Bílý, Regional Manager
Vojtěch Bílý is the regional manager in charge of the Afripoli West office (Dakar/Abidjan).
He began his educational journey at the Carnot Lycée in Dijon, France, and later pursued psychology at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland, earning his M.A.Vojtěch volunteered in the Central African Republic (CAR) from September 2013 to June 2014, where he bore witness to the challenging civil war.
During the turmoil in CAR, Vojtěch actively engaged in crisis negotiations and humanitarian interventions, collaborating with global media to report on the unfolding events. He is also a co-author of the book “When Mangoes Fall,” a compelling account of his experiences during the CAR conflict.
In his commitment to humanitarian work, Vojtěch has served with the non-profit organization SIRIRI for several years, culminating in his role as director in 2016. His expertise has also extended to research, as he has been an external researcher at the Prague Centre for Middle East Relations (PCMR) at the CEVRO Institute since 2021.
Deretha Bester, Chief Analyst
Deretha Bester is the lead analyst for African markets, specializing in political risk, security environments, and strategic developments across the continent. Originally from South Africa, she brings a sharp analytical perspective shaped by both personal experience and academic training in international politics and conflict studies.
Deretha holds a Master’s degree in Conflict and Democracy Studies and is currently pursuing a PhD in Security and Strategic Studies at Masaryk University in the Czech Republic. Her expertise lies in interpreting complex political developments, assessing risk in fragile environments, and identifying the broader implications of regional instability for market access and investment.
Deretha plays a key role in translating political and security analysis into actionable insights for decision-makers exploring opportunities in dynamic and often underexamined regions.
Petr Fena, Operations Manager
Petr Fena is the Operations Manager at Afripoli, responsible for driving the organization’s strategic coordination and internal development.
He holds an M.A. in Security and Strategic Studies from Masaryk University in the Czech Republic. His background includes work in international security policy and capacity-building, with hands-on experience in the South Caucasus and the Western Balkans. He has worked with the Institute of International Relations in Prague and contributed to international efforts to strengthen security institutions in Southeast Europe.
Petr has been involved with the European Security Journal since 2018 and has served as its editor-in-chief since August 2020.
Afripoli: An Initiative by The European Security Journal
Afripoli is an undertaking brought to you by The European Security Journal (ESJ), a non-governmental, non-profit research institution established in 2017. The Institute has had a dynamic history, running a web portal of the same name, the European Security Journal. This platform provided insightful commentaries, analyses, interviews, and reports covering a spectrum of security and political topics pertinent to Europe.
Throughout its existence, the Institute has evolved into a steadfast organization devoted to matters of international security, politics, and international relations. Recent years have witnessed the establishment of several productive partnerships. Notably, in 2021, the Institute forged a media partnership with the Prague European Summit, where it also took charge of moderating the discussion panel “EU-UK Internal Security Relations Post-Brexit: Common Grounds for Enhanced Cooperation”.
Moreover, the Institute has cultivated valuable relationships with regional collaborators. In collaboration with the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Prague office and Euractiv in 2019, it produced a Special Report titled “The Future of the EU’s Eastern Partnership: Challenges and Opportunities,” followed by co-organized expert events. Additionally, in cooperation with the European online newspaper Brussels Morning, the Institute contributed a regionally-focused column titled “Eastern Partnership Security Review“.
Podcast: ESJ Insight
Another noteworthy initiative by The European Security Journal is the ESJ Insight Podcast, offering an insider’s view of security issues, with a primary focus on the European context. The archive of the ESJ Insight podcast is available in all podcast apps.
The series of podcast episodes featured an array of security experts, ranging from journalists and academic researchers to politicians and military authorities. These thought-provoking discussions delved into crucial topics that extend beyond conventional military affairs, exploring the ever-evolving threats posed by technology, climate change, and geopolitical dynamics. ESJ Insight goes the extra mile to unearth the implications of these challenges, peer into the future, and piece together the broader security landscape.
