Foreign relations of South Africa

South Africa

This article is part of the series: Politics and government of South Africa

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The foreign relations of South Africa have spanned from the country's time as Dominion and later Realm of the British Empire to its isolationist policies under Apartheid to its position as a responsible international actor taking a key role in Africa.

South Africa is active in the United Nations, the African Union and the Commonwealth of Nations. South Africa is now a respected international citizen. Considered a possible permanent addition to the United Nations Security Council, South Africa has been elected by the UN General Assembly to serve on the Security Council in 2007 for the first time ever.

World wars, international co-operation and Superpower politics

South Africa, as a key member of the British Empire and Commonwealth, fought alongside the United Kingdom and the Allies in both World War I and World War II, and it participated in the postwar United Nations force in the Korean War. South Africa was a founding member of the League of Nations and in 1927 established a Department of External Affairs with diplomatic missions in the main Western European countries and in the United States. At the founding of the League of Nations, South Africa was given the mandate to govern German South-West Africa, now Namibia; South-West Africa had been a German colony from 1884 to World War I. At the end of World War II, South Africa was also one of the founding members of the United Nations, with its prime minister of the time, Jan Smuts, having written the preamble to the UN Charter. As a result of the country's apartheid policies, its UN membership was suspended in 1974. In the process, the occupation of South-West Africa/Namibia led to the South African Border War, starting in 1966, escalating drastically after drawing in Angola and Cuba in the 1970s and stretching until the end of both Cold War and of the apartheid era in 1990.

During the apartheid era, South Africa was diplomatically shunned by the vast majority of African nations, with notable exceptions being Malawi and Ivory Coast.

End of Apartheid

In 1990, as part of the reformist policies undertaken by president F.W. de Klerk in South Africa, Namibia was granted independence, with the exception of the enclave of Walvis Bay, which was reintegrated into Namibia in March 1994. After South Africa held its first multiracial election in April 1994, most sanctions imposed by the international community in opposition to the system of apartheid were lifted. On June 1, 1994, South Africa rejoined the Commonwealth of Nations, and on June 23, 1994, it was readmitted to the UN General Assembly. South Africa also joined the Organization of African Unity (OAU), now known as the African Union; the change from the OAU to the Union was initiated by South African President Thabo Mbeki in 2002.

Post-Apartheid policies

Having emerged from the international isolation of the apartheid era, South Africa has become a leading international actor. Its principal foreign policy objective is to develop good relations with all countries, especially its neighbors in the Southern African Development Community and the other members of the African Union. South Africa has played a key role in seeking an end to various conflicts and political crises on the African continent, including in Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Comoros, and Zimbabwe. In August 1998, South Africa assumed the chair of the Non-Aligned Movement, which it relinquished in July 2002.

Swaziland has asked South Africa to open negotiations on reincorporating some nearby South African territories that are populated by ethnic Swazis or that were long ago part of the Swazi kingdom.

United Nations Security Council

South Africa has been a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council since October 2006. Its tenure lasts until 2008. South African votes in the UNSC have not been without controversy. In particular, a 'no' vote on a resulution criticising the Burmese government attracted widespread criticism.

Drugs

South Africa's status as a transshipment center for heroin and cocaine has been controversial. Domestic drug abuse has helped fuel a drug trade; cocaine consumption is on the rise, and South Africa is the world's largest market for illicit methaqualone, which is known locally as Mandrax and usually imported illegally from India through various East African countries. Illicit cultivation of marijuana (locally known as "dagga") is also widespread.

See also

• List of diplomatic missions in South Africa
• Military history of South Africa
• South African diplomatic missions

References

Department of Foreign Affairs

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