The Africa Institute for Research in Economics and Social Sciences (AIRESS) hosted a two-day workshop on Reconceptualizing African States, addressing state fragmentation and governance challenges across Africa. The event featured insightful presentations, including an introduction to the special issue on State Fragility and Fragmentation in Africa published by the African Conflict and Peacebuilding Review. Experts discussed topics such as colonialism’s lasting impact, peacebuilding efforts, and resource management dynamics, while a roundtable session focused on refining these contributions. The workshop also provided a platform for collaboration on future initiatives to strengthen governance across the continent.