The Centre, based in the Department of Politics, Institutions, History, Faculty of Political Science, University of Bologna, has the main aim to promote research about Africa and the Middle East within political sciences, contemporary political and social institutions, development issues.

The Centre has been officially created in December 2006 and is the result of years of academic activities and researches coordinated by the Chair of History and Institutions of Afro-Asian Countries within the Department of Politics, Institutions, History.

Activities of the Centre include research, network initiatives with other Centres, organization of conferences, workshops, and seminars, realization and promotion of scientific publications. Its members are professors, lecturers and young researchers with a consolidated experience in interdisciplinary research. Chair of the Centre is Professor Anna Maria Gentili.
The Centre is member of the network Africa-Europe Group for Interdisciplinary Studies (AEGIS) and of the European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), and intends to develop a relevant network with other national and international Centres, research institutes and institutions with similar aims.