South Africa on the UN Security Council: The Mouthpiece for the Developing World

On October 16, 2006, South Africa was elected to a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council. South African Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr Nkosazama Dlamini Zuma, expressed gratitude on behalf of the country for the confidence shown by the nations of the world in South Africa's ability to serve in this high profile leadership role. "We humbly accept the mandate thrust upon us by the peoples of Africa, the South and the world in general in electing us to this position of responsibility," she said.

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Former president FW de Klerk congratulated South Africa and the foreign ministry on their election to the SC seat. He expressed optimism for the future: "I hope that our country's election to the Security Council will be the precursor to our appointment before long to a permanent seat in an expanded Security Council." The official opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA) welcomed the announcement, but urged government to use the opportunity wisely. DA spokesperson Douglas Gibson said, "If the government is interested in winning the confidence of South Africans and the international community regarding its foreign policy, it must use this opportunity to lobby for issues such as nuclear disarmament and the promotion of African issues to the council."

Ever since the country adopted a democratically elected governance system in 1994, it has played a very active role in the UN. South Africa serves on UN bodies such as the UN Commission on Human Rights, the UN Commission on the Status of Woman and the Executive Board of the UN Development Programme (UNDP). A seat on the Security Council gives South Africa the opportunity to endorse programmes that will benefit South Africa and the developing world.

The SA Permanent Mission to the UN's major focus is the promotion of NEPAD (New Partnership for African Development) established in July 2001. The programme was designed by the African Union (formerly known as the OAU) to address the current challenges facing the continent. Primary objectives of NEPAD include the eradication of poverty, combating underdevelopment, the complete integration of Africa into the global economy, and support for the empowerment of women. A holistic programme of action, supported by the members of the African Union (AU), has been designed in order to ensure Africa's Renewal.

At the launch of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Cape Town, President Mbeki said, "Africa is working to respond to many challenges facing the continent through the development programme of the African Union, the New Partnership for Africa's Development, NEPAD. NEPAD seeks to engage different sectors to mobilise internal and external resources so as to contribute to the regeneration of our continent and the expansion of the full spectrum of human capabilities this entails."

As one of the architects of NEPAD, South African State President Thabo Mbeki is passionate about the plight of the developing nations. At the 61st Session of the General Assembly in September 2006 he said, "As the divide between the rich and the poor widens and becomes a serious global crisis we see an increase in the concentration of economic, military, technological and media power." He finished his address with an impassioned appeal, "Everyday the masses cry out in pain, frustration and anger. Everyday they ask: Is anybody there who stops to hear their voices! Is there anybody there who listens to and is ready to respond to their heartfelt plea for the restoration of their dignity?" South Africa finds itself in a well-placed strategic position to make the industrialized nations listen to this plea.

South Africa's President Mbeki was praised in the Communiqué of the 64th African Union Peace and Security Council Meeting held on 17 October 2006. The Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the AU commented, "The numerous initiatives he has taken to move forward the peace process, in his capacity as African Union Mediator, driven by his deep commitment to finding African solutions for African problems." Although President Mbeki has stepped down from this position following South Africa's election to the SC, the country will continue to strive for world peace and security.

South Africa's Foreign Affairs policy emphasizes that South Africa's future is directly linked to that of Africa and the South. Peace and stability on the continent are very critical for economic growth and development. Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr. Nkosazama Dlamini Zuma, said South Africa was called to service at a time when the SC was faced with a number of African issues. Western Sahara, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Cote d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Sudan, Somalia and Ethiopia and Eritrea were all mentioned as international concerns. "We see our membership of the Security Council therefore allowing us to enhance the role that we are already playing in conflict resolution and peacebuilding on the African continent.to see our continent achieve peace as a prerequisite for sustainable development," Dr. Zuma said.

The country has strong political ties with several fellow SC members. As a prominent member of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), South Africa will form part of the NAM Security Council Caucus. This group works to "constantly strive to adopt unified positions". NAM members work together in order to "promote the interests of developing countries in international fora". The other six countries representing the movement are, The Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Indonesia, Panama, Peru, and Qatar. Although none wield a veto, their unified voice will certainly affect the outcome of major decisions taken by the UN Security Council.

South Africa also has a good economic relationship with several of the five permanent SC members. The United States is South Africa's largest single foreign investor and donor of development assistance, while the European Union (EU) is its largest trading partner. At the recent Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), held in Beijing on November 5 2006, China and South Africa agreed that in reforming of the UN Security Council, priority should be given to increasing the representation of developing countries. The two sides will also work to strengthen consultation and co-operation in international affairs, serving the common interests of both sides and other developing countries. In addition, Russia has established bilateral agreements with the country in several sectors, including trade and industry. These partnerships may influence decisions made behind closed doors. However, South Africa's role on the Council, described in an address on September 28 by Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister, Sue van der Merwe, will be that of, "an independent-minded country with a principled and predictable foreign policy."

This policy, which is guided by the vision of "a better South Africa in a better Africa and a better world, that is, a better life for all", will inform all of the country's decisions. The SC seat will give South Africa the opportunity to usher the nations of the world into what President Mbeki calls, "The Age of Hope and the People's Season of Joy."

South Africa will also continue to lobby for UN reform. As early as 2004, the country announced its willingness to serve as a member on an expanded UN Security Council. Kofi Annan stated in his report, In Larger Freedom, "we will not enjoy development without security, we will not enjoy security without development, and we will not enjoy either without respect for human rights and the rule of law." The country's history has left it with a respect for human rights and a desire to promote development. According to James Paul and Céline Nahory of the Global Policy Forum, South Africa has a strong claim for permanent membership of the Security Council. They also suggest, "Each region could have its own secretariat in New York that could strengthen its own elected members and promote common policies." South Africa was uncontested in its regional nomination to the non-permanent SC seat-could this foreshadow the result if Africa has to nominate a candidate for a permanent SC seat? Only time will tell.