South Africa’s Foreign Policy and International Relations during 2012

Abstract

The year 2012 was significant for South Africa’s foreign policy and relations in the sense that the country held a seat on the United Nations (UN) Security Council, and, earlier in the year, completed its term as a member of the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council. At the same time South Africa chaired SADC’s Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation and was, therefore, specifically responsible for peace processes in Zimbabwe, Madagascar and the DRC. It was also the year after the global COP17/CMP7 meeting in Durban, and the complex developments in North Africa – Libya in particular. The year did not see significant formal policy developments save for the ANC’s policy-making National Conference at which international relations were considered.