Program: Master of Arts in Global African Studies
Specialization: Diplomacy and Africa’s International Relations
Contact Email: 10019@gsu.ac.ae
Mustapha Njie is a Master of Arts (MA) student in Global African Studies at The Africa Institute, Global Studies University, specializing in Diplomacy and Africa’s International Relations. From The Gambia, he draws on his experience growing up there and working as an accountant to examine how economic policies, trade agreements, and financial decisions are shaped by domestic and international actors. He is particularly interested in how African states balance external pressures with local development needs, including debt, trade, and economic sovereignty.
His thesis, Structural Adjustment and Institutional Legacy: GPMB Reform in The Gambia’s Groundnut Sector under ERP/PSD, 1985–1994, examines changes to The Gambia’s groundnut sector during the Economic Recovery Programme and Programme for Sustained Development. It considers how reforms supported by the International Monetary Fund, World Bank, and other development partners restructured the Gambia Produce Marketing Board system and affected crop purchasing, pricing, payments, agricultural credit, access to inputs, farmers’ bargaining power, and market access. Mustapha also investigates the reforms’ lasting influence on farmer–market relations and The Gambia’s dependence on groundnut exports. Through his studies, he aims to contribute to policy discussions that promote inclusive growth and regional cooperation across Africa.
Academic Background
B.A., Business Administration, International Open University, The Gambia
Professional Experience
- Intern, Sharjah Institute for Heritage, Category 2 Centre Affairs Department, Arab Heritage Centre, Sharjah, UAE
- Accountant, Unitrade Company Limited, The Gambia
In Their Own Words
“The faculty’s expertise and guidance make classes engaging and intellectually stimulating, while their support has been invaluable in developing my research skills. I am gaining hands-on experience connecting academic work to real issues shaping Africa’s international role. Student housing has provided a comfortable and welcoming environment, which has helped me settle in and focus on my studies.”
