An evaluation of South Africa's post-apartheid foreign policy towards peacekeeping in Southern African Development Community (SADC): case study of Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
Date
2020
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Abstract
The promotion of peace and stability in the SADC region is the key component of
South Africa's foreign policy in the post - apartheid era. The White Paper on South
Africa's foreign policy, states that, South Africa accords a central importance to its
immediate African neighborhood and the African continent. Therefore, South Africa
using its post - apartheid foreign policy should make means to intervene as DRC
remains in the barriers of intrastate wars after almost half century of colonialism. A
two-way strategy has been adopted by South Africa to deal with Congolese conflict
including military and mediation processes.
The main problem that South Africa encountered in the management and resolution
of the Congolese conflict was the absence of an organizational structure for security
mechanism at the time of the conflict and this has led to ad hoc arrangements. This
study seeks to reveal whether the role of South Africa in the DRC conflict was
successful or not. South Africa needs to address issues of financial and logistical
weakness and the lack of political consensus among leaders on collective security
norms and practices. In addition, there has been a need for DRC to take full
responsibility for its own domestic problems, so that South Africa does not concern
itself with the internal affairs of its member state, unless invited to do so by the
concerned state.
The research was conducted using a qualitative research approach. The study draws
heavily on the data gathered from two research schedules (that included DIRCO
officials and Academics). In-depth interviews and discussions from the 30 participants
were adopted and the study was guided by Rupesinghe (1996) theory of conflict
resolution.
The study found that South Africa in using its post-apartheid foreign policy played a
prominent role as the intermediary facilitator and guarantor of DRC peace process.
Under President Mbeki administration the intentions of the intervention in DRC were
clear not only on policy but also in action whereas under Zuma's administration
intervention in the DRC peacekeeping quest was vague and confused.
Description
Masters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.