Navigating South Africa's diplomatic dilemma: crafting a coherent foreign policy for engagement with transitional governments

Abstract

South Africa's performance in achieving the Agenda 2063 Goals, particularly in peace and security, raises questions about the country's consistency in condemning and intervening in the Unconstitutional Changes of Governments (UCGs) and the resurgence of military coups in Africa. It further challenges the African Union's (AU) commitment to upholding constitutionalism and achieving its goals for a peaceful and secure Africa. The predicament faced by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) in engaging with suspended member states further complicates South Africa's diplomatic stance on not engaging with suspended countries. This policy brief evaluates citizens' attitudes towards demanding democracy and rejecting military rule, thus measuring their perceptions regarding the impact of UCGs on their country. The recommendations serve as a coherent foreign policy approach for engagement with transitional governments to reinforce South Africa's foreign policy behaviour and approach to existing diplomatic dilemmas in Africa.