XChange EMEA 2026: Mohamedou Ould Slahi on resilience, humanity and finding connection in the darkest places

Join  CRN  for the return of the EMEA’s premier channel conference for partners on 22-23 June at The Hague, Netherlands

CRN is proud to announce Mohamedou Ould Slahi as a closing keynote speaker at XChange EMEA 2026, taking place on 22 to 23 June in The Hague, Netherlands.

An internationally acclaimed writer, speaker and human rights advocate, Slahi’s extraordinary life story is one of survival, resilience and the enduring power of human connection.

His keynote will bring a powerful and deeply human perspective to the XChange EMEA stage, challenging attendees to think differently about leadership, adversity and the values that shape our decisions, both in business and in life.

Born in 1970 in Rosso, Mauritania, into a family of camel herders, Slahi’s early life was far removed from the global stage he now occupies.

After earning a scholarship to study electrical engineering at the University of Duisburg in Germany, he lived what he has described as an ordinary life, until it was abruptly upended in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks.

In 2001, Slahi was arrested in Mauritania and ultimately transferred to the US detention facility at Guantánamo Bay, where he was held for 14 years without ever being formally charged.

During his imprisonment, he endured extreme conditions, including prolonged isolation, sleep deprivation and intense interrogation.

Despite this, Slahi continued to seek meaning, hope and connection in circumstances designed to strip all three away.

Although a federal judge ordered his release in 2010, Slahi remained detained until October 2016.

Throughout his imprisonment, he was never charged with a crime.

At XChange EMEA, Slahi’s closing keynote will explore what it truly means to remain human under extreme pressure and how empathy, curiosity and connection can exist even in the most hostile environments.

His story offers a profound reminder of the importance of integrity, moral courage and critical thinking, qualities that resonate strongly as the IT channel navigates increasing complexity, scrutiny and responsibility in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.

XChange EMEA will bring together senior MSPs, VARs, vendors and distributors for two days of high-level discussion, peer-led debate and strategic insight.

Slahi’s closing keynote promises to be a standout moment of reflection and perspective, leaving attendees with powerful lessons that extend far beyond the conference walls.

Click  here  to view the full event agenda and here  to secure your free place.