Southern Africa Centre for Mediation and Extremism Prevention (South Africa)

Southern Africa Centre for Mediation and Extremism Prevention (SACMEP) is a regional transdisciplinary research and knowledge hub focused on mediation and preventing violent extremism across the SADC region. SACMEP is registered in South Africa as a non-profit company (Incorporation No. 2026/106841/08). SACMEP envisions a peaceful, secure, and resilient Southern Africa where violent extremism is proactively prevented and mediation efforts are effective, inclusive, and data driven. Our mission is to generate empirical research and provide technical support to strengthen regional and national capacities on violent extremism prevention and mediation, fostering multi-stakeholder partnerships and community-driven solutions. SACMEP is built on an existing, pan-SADC network of leading academics and practitioners, with institutional homes at various SADC-based institutions.

Our overall goal is to generate empirical evidence, inform policy and practice, build regional capacity, and foster multi-stakeholder dialogue to promote conflict mediation practices and prevent and counter violent extremism and terrorism in the SADC region.

SACMEP is aligned with the work of the Global South Perspectives Network (GSPN) by promoting development coordination between and within Think tanks in the Global South. It also emphasizes the importance of inclusive dialogue and representation in global governance, advocating for the voices of marginalised communities to be heard and considered in decision-making processes.