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GNU’s foreign policy mirrors that of the ANC, says new minister Ronald Lamola

GNU’s foreign policy mirrors that of the ANC, says new minister Ronald Lamola
Peter Fabricius
By Peter Fabricius
11 Jul 2024
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‘To effectively address global existential challenges such as climate change, geopolitical fragmentation and insecurity, we need solidarity and collective action among progressive forces around the globe,’ said Lamola, echoing ANC phraseology.

There were no surprises when new International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola on Tuesday laid out the Government of National Unity’s (GNU’s) foreign policy vision for the first time. That’s because it was identical to the old ANC government’s foreign policy.

“South Africa’s ‘non-alignment’ and ‘universality’ posture will remain sacrosanct,” Lamola summarised in a symposium at the South African Institute of International Affairs in Cape Town on South Africa’s foreign policy.

“To effectively address global existential challenges such as climate change, geopolitical fragmentation and insecurity, we need solidarity and collective action among progressive forces around the globe,” said Lamola, echoing ANC phraseology. 

“The evolving international world order necessitates the strengthening of the Non-Aligned Movement,” he added, uniting developing countries “that do not wish to take sides in great power rivalry.

“As our foreign policy is anchored in our history of solidarity with those struggling against oppression and occupation” — a reference specifically to the ANC’s historic allies — South Africa would continue to support the people of Palestine and Western Sahara. 

It would continue to protect the rights of Palestinians in Gaza, including pursuing the charge of genocide that it brought against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the case it led at the International Criminal Court about the situation in Palestine.

Read more in Daily Maverick: Ronald Lamola will need to be more accountable and pragmatic as foreign minister – pundits

Daily Maverick put it to Lamola after his speech that the foreign policy of the GNU which he had just presented sounded identical to the old one of the ANC. Were there any changes?

“There’s no changes. We continue to do that.

“Remember now, the Foreign Service Act is in place. The National  Development Plan is in place. All the policies are in place. We are implementing.”

He noted that the foreign policy he had enunciated was based on the GNU’s Statement of Intent, which committed the government to a foreign policy guided by human rights, constitutional principles, the national interest, solidarity and the peaceful resolution of conflict; achieving the African Agenda 2063 development plan and promoting cooperation between the Global South and Global North, and fostering multilateralism. 

DRC and Ukraine


Daily Maverick asked Lamola about the difficulties which the peace mission of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) was encountering in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Six South African soldiers have been killed, five in combat, since they began deploying there on 15 December 2023, mainly to defeat the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels.

Lamola agreed that the South African troops were taking heavy casualties and noted that SADC’s security organ was meeting in Zambia on Thursday and Friday to discuss the DRC mission.

“But we continue to think that while we need to continue with our security measures — it’s important that our forces are there — the key issue and solution there is a political one.”

Lamola confirmed that South Africa would continue to participate in Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s peace formula talks. At the last round of those talks, at the summit level in Switzerland in June, President Ramaphosa’s national security adviser, Sydney Mufamadi, declined to sign the communique, in part because Israel had been invited.

The Presidency expressed doubts then that SA would continue to participate in the talks, but Lamola confirmed, “We are still part of it.”

Africa-focused


He stressed that Africa would remain a key pillar of South Africa’s foreign policy. Through the African Union, SA would ensure the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), aimed at creating a single African market. This would be facilitated by Africa’s economic growth, which the African Development Bank has forecast will reach an average of 3.7% this year, the second fastest-growing region in the world. 

Lamola said Africa had to ensure its abundant mineral endowment benefited its people through beneficiation and local value addition. 

He said it was time for the continent to develop a common strategy for extracting and protecting its large reserves of critical minerals, such as lithium. “Africa is experiencing an intense scramble for these strategic minerals, and such a strategy would assist in preserving our supply.”

He stressed the importance of economic diplomacy, saying his department should intensify its efforts to help South African companies and state-owned enterprises engage in meaningful opportunities in Africa. 

He said the government would continue working closely with its neighbours in southern Africa to expand and strengthen collaboration in areas such as oil and gas, green hydrogen and water resources, as well as improved movements of goods and services. 

Lamola said the government was hastening to complete the Lesotho Highlands Water Project Phase 2, to increase energy cooperation with Mozambique and Namibia, and to implement the Grand Inga hydroelectric power project in DRC.

Agoa


He said that the government would continue the work of his predecessor Naledi Pandor by sending missions to the US to meet stakeholders to ensure that South Africa did not lose its preferential export privileges under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa).

SA’s participation remains under threat, mainly from Republican members of Congress who perceive Pretoria as being too close to Russia, China and Iran and being too hostile to Israel.

Lamola said it was unfair that SA should be punished for taking a human rights position on protecting the Palestinian people at the ICJ.

SA Institute of International Affairs national executive director Elizabeth Sidiropoulos agreed, but said she believed it was going to be hard to salvage Agoa. DM

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