More than six months since South Africa took up its seat as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the period 2019-2020 how has it fared? Some analysts believe that South Africa has played a visible and important role in the council thus far, stating that it in one instance, during the tense debate on the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) earlier this year, South Africa blocked the council from releasing a statement that it deemed premature. In another example the situation in Sudan in June displayed how South Africa can take an independent stance against other council members, especially permanent members. South Africa pushed back against pressure from Germany and the United Kingdom and prevented the UNSC from issuing a public statement before the African Union Peace and Security Council (PSC) could meet on Sudan. But can this be sustained in the 18 months to follow?
To look at this we are joined by:
• Professor Malte Brosig is an Associate Professor in International Relations at the Department of International Relations at the University of the Witwatersrand
• Sanusha Naidoo an analyst from the Institute for Global Dialogue
• Kwezi Mngqibisa is General Manager: Political and Policy Advisor at the African Centre for the Constructive Resolutions of Disputes (ACCORD)
