Dr. Christopher Fomunyoh is currently the Senior Associate for Africa and Senior Advisor to the President at the National Democratic Institute (NDI.) He has organized and advised international election observation missions to Benin, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Liberia, Madagascar, Mali, Nigeria and Sierra Leone. He has also designed and supervised country specific democracy support programs with civic organizations, political parties and legislative bodies in Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Guinea Conakry, Liberia, Mali, Madagascar, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal and Togo. In the course of his work, Dr. Fomunyoh interacts regularly with heads of state and government, cabinet ministers, elected officials and political and civic leaders. He recently designed and helped launch the African Statesmen Initiative (ASI), a program aimed at facilitating political transitions in Africa by encouraging former democratic heads of state to stay engaged in humanitarian issues, conflict mediation, public health and other key sectors of political, economic and human development on the continent. 

As an expert on democratization in Africa, Dr. Fomunyoh makes frequent guest appearances on major radio and television networks including CNN, BBC, NewsHour, National Public Radio, Voice of America, and Radio France Internationale, and provides interviews for major national and international newspapers, including the Los Angeles Times, New York Times, Washington Post, Washington Times, Le Monde and The International Herald Tribune. He has published a number of articles in academic journals on African politics and democratization. 

Dr. Fomunyoh has traveled extensively in Africa, Europe and North America, and is bilingual in English and French. He holds a Licence en Droit from Yaoundé University in Cameroon, a master’s degree (LL.M.) in international law from Harvard Law School; and a Ph.D. in political science from Boston University. Dr. Fomunyoh is an adjunct faculty at the African Center for Strategic Studies and a former adjunct professor of African politics and government at Georgetown University. He also is the founder of a nonprofit organization interested in supporting democracy and humanitarian causes in Cameroon. Additionally, he volunteers as a Goodwill Ambassador for Ukraine, on the #Grain From Ukraine Initiative.

Selected writings and appearances by Dr. Fomunyoh:

• Military Seizes Power in Apparent Coup in Guinea, Chris Fomunyoh on CNN Newsroom with Robyn Curnow September 7, 2021 
• Canada House of Commons Subcommittee on International Human Rights of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development “Briefing on the Current Situation in Cameroon” Feb 16, 2021
• New York City Bar Association Panel on “Constitutionalism & Presidential Term Limits: Effects on Democracy, Governance, & Security in Africa” January 11, 2021
• Chatham House - Undercurrents podcast - Assessing Change in African Democracies December 18, 2020
• U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa "Democratic Backsliding in Sub-Saharan Africa" September 30, 2020
• Africa News - Impact of COVID-19 on democracy in Africa - Interview with Dr. Christopher Fomunyoh June 6, 2020
• U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations “Terrorism and Instability in sub-Saharan Africa: A Good Governance Imperative”, May 10, 2016
• U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations “The U.S. Role in Helping Nigeria Confront Boko Haram and Other Threats in Northern Nigeria”, May 11, 2016
• Dr. Fomunyoh assessing the substance and symbolism of Obama's Africa Trip on PBS' NewsHour, TV appearance, June 2, 2013
• U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Subcommittee on African Affairs “Addressing Developments in Mali: Restoring Democracy and Reclaiming the North”, December 5, 2012
• U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Subcommittee on African Affairs “Entrenched African Leadership: Progress Made, Challenges Remaining”, April 18, 2012
• Dr. Fomunyoh discusses the political situation in Côte d'Ivoire on PBS' NewsHour, TV appearance, December 29, 2010
• Mediating Election-Related Conflicts, July 1, 2009
• Dr.Fomunyoh is interviewed by Voice of America about the effects of the U.S. presidential election on U.S.-Africa relations, November 24, 2008
• The Challenges of Leadership, Government and Opposition Workshop — Roles, Rights and Responsibilities, June 2008
• Democratization in Fits and Starts, Journal of Democracy, July 31, 2001