SALO Manager Mr. Lwazi Somya forming part of an expert civil society panel at a Symposium organised by DIRCO and the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA)
The Southern African Liaison Office’s (SALO) Manager of Policy, Stakeholder Engagement, and Senior Researcher, Mr. Lwazi Somya, had the honour of forming part of an expert civil society panel at a Symposium organised by DIRCO and the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA). South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, spoke about the 7th Administration’s Foreign Policy priorities ahead of his inaugural Budget Vote on the 11th of July 2024.
Minister Lamola highlighted the 7th administration’s priorities as being: building a capable and professionalised foreign service; economic diplomacy; peacekeeping missions in SADC; multilateralism and geopolitical reforms; international solidarity with Palestine and Western Sahara; and geopolitical balance of forces [Click Here for Transcript of the Speech].
Minister Lamola’s speech presented a view of continuity from the 6th administration’s foreign policy priorities and then translated into the Government of National Unity (GNU) statement of Intent, as seen in clause 11.9 for the 7th Administration. [Click Here for GNU Statement of Intent].
SALO’s Lwazi Somya in response to the Minister’s initial points highlighted the following:
The continuity of foreign policy priorities for the South African government is critical in building consensus on an international context that is in flux. Foremost in the considerations of the GNU, is leveraging upon the National Interest Framework Document as a mechanism of building domestic consensus in defining the national interest.
Mr. Somya also mentioned that the key to the industrialisation prospects of the 7th administration is linking economic diplomacy initiatives with industrial policy. This would integrate the Department of Trade, Industry, and Competition (DTIC)’s industrial strategy with the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCTA). However, this industrial policy would be undercut by any xenophobic commentary if it were made by components of the GNU, like the current Minister of Sports, Recreation, Arts, and Culture, Mr. Gayton McKenzie.
Furthermore, Mr. Somya also highlighted the need to reform Africa’s Peace and Security Architecture, including reforming the Southern African Development Community, which is South Africa’s Regional Economic Community. Alignment of political systems, processes, enhancing trade, and other measures aspired to in Africa’s Agenda 2063, is contingent on relative peace and stability within the region.
Mr. Somya affirmed the need to create supranational institutions that hold member states to account, and said that state actors such as South Africa have a critical role to play in granting legitimacy to the regional institutions by upholding the reports of its subordinate organs, such as the SADC Elections Advisory Council (SEAC), along with its Elections Observer Mission Reports, such as the SEOM Report on the 2023 Elections in Zimbabwe.
For the full engagement, please see the link here: https://www.facebook.com/share/r/FvgtGX1MpQduwfN2/?mibextid=4UDYQr