Prof Hussein Solomon

One of the recent additions to our university's academic staff was nominated to participate in the conference of the Africa Centre for Strategic Studies entitled Developing comprehensive solutions to the challenges of radicalisation. Prof Hussein Solomon, senior professor in Political Science, recently returned from this event hosted in Dakar, Senegal.

"Because we came from different regions in the world, the idea was to share ideas about issues of radicalisation and terrorism from our respective regions – with the aim to discuss the comprehensive solutions reached and lessons learned, which holds true for all the different regions in the world," Prof Solomon said.

He spoke on South Africa and Southern Africa at the conference where he stressed the need for comprehensive solutions which are reinforced at local, national, regional, and international levels. He also spoke about integrated solutions needing to deal with socioeconomic, cultural, and political factors.

On the contributions our university can make to radicalisation, he said: "I believe our university can possibly get involved through structures like its new International Institute for Studies in Race, Reconciliation, and Social Justice, which might reduce the antagonism between us and them – the dichotomies of difference, if you wish. We can also be involved in terms of assisting governments and regional organisations with strengthening a culture of human rights and ending impunity."

- Gerda-Marie Viviers