# Tetede Babatunde François Akilatan

> François Akilatan is a PhD candidate in International Studies at Université Laval, under the joint supervision of Professors Anessa Kimball and Arthur Silve

Source: https://ras-nsa.ca/en/expert/tetede-babatunde-francois-akilatan/
Modified: 2026-08-04

François Akilatan is a PhD candidate in International Studies at Université Laval, under the joint supervision of Professors Anessa Kimball and Arthur Silve. He holds a master’s degree in international relations and a bachelor’s degree in political science.

His doctoral research examines the perception and construction of borders as security threats, the mechanisms underlying the contagious and cross-border diffusion of terrorist threats in sub-Saharan Africa, and the measurement of state presence in the Sahel’s border regions. Situated at the intersection of security studies, border studies, and African studies, his work seeks to deepen understanding of the relationships between border securitization, the spatial spread of terrorist violence, and state capacity in borderlands. It draws on econometric models, geospatial analysis, and indicator development to examine the diffusion of terrorist threats, assess border vulnerabilities, and measure variations in state presence. More broadly, his research interests include international security, international economic relations, terrorism risk and threat assessment, intelligence studies, strategic foresight, borderland governance, and political and security dynamics in sub-Saharan Africa and the Sahel.