DIRCO Annual Report

The planned back-to-back 13th and 14th extraordinary summits on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and on Silencing the Guns in Africa were postponed and eventually held virtually on 5 and 6 December 2020, respectively. The objectives of both summits where achieved. The commencement of trading under the AfCFTA on 1 January 2021 signals a concrete achievement under South Africa’s leadership – one that will significantly boost African economic development for many decades to come. On Silencing the Guns, the introduction of periodic reviews every two years was also a major achievement that will ensure that African heads of state and government actively monitor the resolution of conflicts on the continent.

In the above regard, the SADC Council of Ministers, at a meeting held on 29 May 2020, deliberated on key strategic issues relating to COVID-19, namely: the fight against the pandemic, the impact of COVID-19 on the implementation of the SADC Work Programme and the socio-economic impact of COVID-19 on the SADC region. South Africa became the Incoming Chair of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation during the 40th Ordinary SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government, held on 17 August 2020. In this capacity, South Africa has earned a greater opportunity to positively influence regional policies and outcomes. The summit approved the SADC Vision 2050 and the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RSIDP) 2020 – 2030. The summit also reflected on the socio-economic impact of COVID-19 on SADC economies and noted its effects across sectors. As SADC Facilitator to the Kingdom of Lesotho, South Africa actively continued its mediation efforts in that country. South Africa participated in the meeting of the Ministerial Committee of the Organ (MCO), which took place from 25 to 26 June 2020. The MCO, among other things, reviewed the political and security situation in the region, specifically in the Kingdom of Lesotho, but also in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the Republic of Mozambique, respectively.

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) remains the primary vehicle for South Africa’s foreign policy to achieve regional development and integration within southern Africa. South Africa contributes within SADC towards regional initiatives geared towards peace, security, stability and sustainable development and the advancement of socio-economic development, through active participation in relevant structures, as envisaged in the SADC Treaty.

Department of International Relations and Cooperation

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