An Analysis Of South Africa’s African Strategy In Mbeki’s Period

The term of Mbeki’s presidency (1999-2008) is the first stable period of South Africa’s history after 1994. Meanwhile, African policy has become important part of South Africa’s foreign policy, based on domestic and international background. With the end of apartheid period, South Africa has played an increasing role in African affairs, together with the development of economic relations between South Africa and Africa. The significant change of bilateral relations towards Southern African countries provides a peaceful environment. Also, South Africa’s self-identity as the leader of Africa leads the focus on African development. From international background, facing African’s challenge of security and economic development, regional powers of Africa begin to seek a self-development road of Africa, together with the high pace of Africa integration.So with these backgrounds, Mbeki put forward the theory of African Renaissance at the end of 1990s, which turned into African Agenda in his presidency, including context of strengthen AU and its structure, strengthen SADC and SACU, support the implementation of NEPAD, contribute toward peace, security, and stability in Africa. In terms of continental integration, South Africa has engaged in the solution of financial problems of AU, and establishment of PAP and other institutions. In agenda of SADC, South Africa has concentrate on the implementation of RISDP, as well as engaging SADC as the block brick of REC. Then in terms of African security, South Africa has participated in the mutual peace mission of UN, AU and SADC, aiming at the peace building and reconstruction of post-conflict. For the issue of African development, South Africa has been seeking finical support towards the world, together with the improvement of APRM agenda. South Africa has developed economical and security co-operation in bilateral relation, though there are little political relations between South Africa and African countries.Mutual mission is the main method of implementation of African Strategy, and South Africa has gotten enterprise in area of peace mission and regional integration. However, African Agenda has gained little support through continent and the world. Meanwhile, South Africa has to face the challenge of civil problems and international position, as well as the changing of international relations in Africa. And these problems have to be changed in the implementation of next years.