Our Team
Zineb Benalla
Morocco
Zineb Benalla: Zineb Benalla is the CEO and Founder of Eirene Peace Building, Co founder of a civil society organization working on transnational violence (TICVE) and a Co founder of the peace building network. Zineb Benalla is a visiting professor at the intersession unit at Al Akhawayan University where she teaches Rethinking Counterterrorism in Africa: Lessons in Prevention.
Publications:
- Jackie True, Melissa Johnston, Zineb Benalla (2019) Gender Equality and Violent Extremism: A Research Agenda For Libya
- After the revolution, a decade of Tunisian and north African politics (2021) Zineb Benalla, Prevention as a cornerstone of Counter Terrorism in Morocco
- Messari, Nizar and Zineb Benalla (2015), “Seeds of Peace to Counter Seeds of Violence”, in German Marshall Fund of the United States and OCP Policy Center, Atlantic Currents. An Annual Report on Wider Atlantic Perspectives and Patterns, Washington, German Marshall Fund of the United States and Rabat, OCP Policy Center, p. 49-61,
- Francesca Torlone, Martina Capaccioli, Zineb Benalla International student mobility, multiculturalism training within the framework of the core contents of a degree programme. The mobility experience between the University of Siena and Al Akhawayn University (AUI).
Educational Reflective Practice - Zineb Benalla contribution highlighted in page 7, “Women s Roles in Terrorist Groups in the Middle East and North Africa” NATO Southern Hub ( page 7). September 2021.
- Contribution as an expert “Victim” or “Security Threat”: Gendered Narratives on Women Returnees to the MENA Region
- Contribution as an expert Counter-Terrorism : Best Practices in North Africa and the Sahel
Rime Benmimoun
Researcher
Rime Benmimoun works as a researcher at the Eirene Peace Building Her research focuses on gender and terrorism. She joined Eirene Peace Building in September 2021, before earning a Master degree of Governance and International Intelligence in the International University in Rabat and Sciences Po Grenoble, France (2022). She has a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies at Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane (2019).
Prior to joining the Eirene Peace Building, Rime interned with them, where she helped at conducting research work for the project of Gender equality and Violent Extremism in North Africa in partnership with UN Women and Monash University.
Issam Moussali
Researcher
Issam Moussali is a Moroccan and French citizen who graduated in International Studies and Diplomacy from Al Akhawayn University with research interests centred around peace-building, state building, and non-state actors. He graduated with honours after defending a Thesis assessing the United Nations’ Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS). He has experience in France and Morocco and is a researcher at Eirene Peace Building. He also worked as an intern at Hedayah’s capacity building department
Clarisse Coutouzis
2023 Intern
Clarisse Coutouzis, a Master’s student in History of International Relations and Social Sciences from Montpellier, France, has a passion for history, fashion, and general culture. Despite limited professional experience due to her age and global health lockdowns, her academic background has provided her with knowledge in international law, geopolitics, and international history. Her interest in human rights was sparked by a brief she wrote on the United Nations and women’s rights. In April 2023, she interned with Eirene Associates International in Morocco as a research assistant, conducting studies on women and Daesh, gaining valuable research and interview skills, and experiencing life in a foreign country.
