In South Africa, the government’s non-interventionist foreign policy has been used an excuse not to develop a robust response or build the capacity of the relevant state actors to analyse or respond to threats. Experts agree that this may be short-sighted considering a) South Africa has historically served as a place of rest and respite for terrorists, b) the spread of radical ideology from Somalia down the eastern corridor of Africa to Northern Mozambique, where at least twelve attacks attributed to suspected Islamist militants have occurred since October 2017, c) the fact that 60-100 South Africans have left the country to fight alongside ISIS in the Middle East, who must only represent a

ALPS Resilience and its partner, the Somali Association of South Africa, came together with diplomats, representatives from UNHCR, and local civil society to celebrate our most recent graduates from the joint-project “Promoting the integration and self-reliance of Somali refugees and asylum seekers in the Western Cape”. The project, funded by the US Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (BPRM) and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), offers a variety of courses, services, and activities to provide the foundation for Somali refugees and asylum seekers in the Western Cape to live comfortable, productive and prosperous lives. With the generous support of our don

Human rights organizations in Cape Town have embarked on an intense advocacy action to pressure the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) to reopen the city’s Refugee Reception Office (RRO) as ordered by the Supreme Court of Appeal. The DHA closed Cape Town’s RRO in July 2012, and it has failed to reopen it despite two court orders. The most recent court order of September 2017 mandated the DHA to reopen the RRO by 31 March 2018. Despite being in contempt of court, there is no indication from the DHA that they are working urgently to reopen the RRO. Currently, asylum seekers must register at one of three RROs located in Durban, Musina and Pretoria. Asylum seekers are granted temporary permits, wh

Our first policy brief addresses the topic of the growing threat of terrorism in Southern Africa. Since 2006, there has been a tremendous growth in the number of violent extremist attacks across the African continent. The growth of violent extremism – and the devastating impact of groups espousing violent ideologies – is not only setting in motion a dramatic reversal of the development and democratic gains already made, but also threatening to stunt prospects of political and economic development for decades to come. The most vulnerable and at-risk regions are in West Africa, the Sahel, and East Africa. The continued presence and influence of violent extremist groups has spread outside of it