The 12th to the 13th of May marked a significant point in the East African Community’s (EAC) journey to digitalisation, as members of the Regional Economic Community and invited stakeholders, including the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), met to discuss ways to position the region as a digital leader in the African continent and…
read moreSA-US Relations – A Multifaceted Quagmire In the latest action by the US government against South Africa, Ambassador Ibrahim Rasool was expelled from the US on 15 March 2025. Ostensibly, Rasool was expelled for comments made during a seminar hosted by the Mapungubwe Institute of Strategic Reflection (MISTRA). Contrary to the hasty and often repetitive…
read moreThe conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) continues to evolve, marked by escalating violence, shifting alliances, and new diplomatic interventions. The recent Extraordinary Summit of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), held on 13 March 2025, led by Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa, highlighted the deteriorating situation and made critical decisions that could…
read moreSouth Africa’s foreign policy under the Government of National Unity (GNU) is increasingly becoming a battleground for ideological and political contradictions. While President Cyril Ramaphosa’s administration continues to advocate for a non-aligned, diplomatic approach on the global stage, the Democratic Alliance (DA), a key partner in the GNU, seems to be actively pursuing a different…
read moreOn 20 January, Donald Trump was sworn in for a second term as the U.S. President. In his inaugural address, Trump proclaimed his second term, “the golden age of America,” advocating for a “revolution of common sense” and promising to swiftly enact significant policy reforms that would place the interest of Americans above all others.…
read moreFor the past two years, South Africa has been under the scrutiny of the global financial community, navigating the complexities of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) greylist. Greylisting is more than just an administrative label – it signals vulnerabilities in a country’s financial safeguards, particularly in preventing money laundering and terror financing. It affects…
read moreIntroduction Much has been said about South Africa taking over the Presidency of the Group of 20 leading economies in November 2024. With the Foreign Ministers Meeting taking place in South Africa this week, South Africa and its international partners will be keen to reaffirm the relevance of South Africa’s Presidency in light of the…
read moreRecent developments have led to a significant downturn in relations between South Africa and the United States. On 7 February, Donald Trump officially enacted an Executive Order to halt aid to South Africa, which amounts to approximately $440 million, predominantly directed towards the PEPFAR program that addresses HIV and AIDS. According to South African government’s…
read moreSouth Africa continues to navigate a complex landscape marked by economic challenges, demands for greater social transformation, and shifting political dynamics. As we gear up for the 2025 State of the Nation Address (SONA) by Cyril Ramaphosa on 6 February 2025, there are a few key issues to keep in mind. Economic Overview 1. Growth…
read moreDaniel Chapo, FRELIMO’s presidential candidate in the October 2024 elections, officially takes over the reigns as president of Mozambique today, 15 January 2025. This follows the swearing in of lawmakers in the 250-member Assembly of the Republic on 13 January, in which his party has 171 seats. Though this is 13 seats fewer than in…
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