Ishmael Bhila is a doctoral researcher at Paderborn University, focusing on Global South perspectives and participation of smaller states in the discussions on autonomous weapons systems. He is also a research fellow in the Collaborative Research Centre 1187 – Media of Cooperation at the University of Siegen. Ishmael’s research is based on event ethnography at international spaces for the deliberations on autonomous weapons systems. He is also a member of the Stop Killer Robots Campaign, working towards the increased inclusion of African states in the efforts to develop a legally binding instrument on autonomous weapons systems.