SOLOMON DERSSO

Solomon A. Dersso

Founding Director

A leading legal scholar and analyst of peace and security and current African and African Union (AU) affairs, Dr Solomon Dersso served as the Chairperson of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights during 2019-2021.

Formerly, he worked as Head of the Peace and Security Council Report Program of the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) after serving as a senior researcher, which he assumed on joining the ISS in 2008.

He was also a research fellow at the South African Institute for Advanced Constitutional Law (SAIFAC). Apart from documenting and publishing on AU policy issues and processes, Dr Dersso has delivered high-level policy briefings and presentations for governmental and inter-governmental representatives and policy-making bodies including the AU Peace and Security Council, IGAD, the Panel of the Wise and the AU High-Level Panel on Egypt.

His legal scholarship that covers teaching of human rights and academic and policy research includes non-faculty professorship at the College of Law and Governance, Addis Ababa University.

With over hundred publications including four single authored monographs, one edited book, more than two dozen peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters as well as reports and numerous opinion editorials and analysis, Dr Dersso’s expert opinion featured in the works of major media organizations including Mail and Guardian, Times, SABC, Al-Jazeera, Daily Maverick, CGTN, the Guardian, and the BBC.

He holds a PhD degree from the School of Law, University of the Witwatersrand, LLM Degree from the Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria and LLB from School of Law, Addis Ababa University.