Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane in Nairobi, Kenya, on the occasion of the Africa Regional Heads of Mission Conference, 21 - 23 October 2010

Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane arrived in Nairobi, Kenya, on the occasion of the Africa Regional Heads of Mission (HoM) Conference scheduled from 21-23 October 2010. During her stay in Nairobi the Minister was received in audience by HE Kalonzo Musyoka, the Vice-President of Kenya, and held bilateral discussions with her Kenyan counterpart, Mr. Moses Wetangula.

The Conference is expected to provide South African Heads of Mission accredited to African countries with a unique opportunity to:

• discuss the implementation of South Africa’s Foreign Policy - with a particular focus of Africa - and how South Africa should approach and address its foreign policy objective of Consolidation of the African Agenda through the Africa Union;
• contribute towards the shaping of  South Africa’s Foreign Policy positions on such topics as - The Sudan, Somalia, the Great Lakes;
• reflect on the economic and political integration process within the framework of the  African Union – including issues of peace and stability in the Continent;
• strategize around and re-calibrate South Africa’s approach to the United Nations Security Council, in view of our two-year tenure as a non-permanent member of the UNSC – including the prioritization of Africa within the UN agenda;
• provide an update on the South Africa Development Partnership Agency (SADPA), as an added foreign policy tool and bridge-head that seeks to complement our foreign policy in the promotion of democracy, good governance, Human Rights, humanitarian intervention, etc;
• provide space to discuss the draft White Paper on Foreign Policy, in terms of what key international relations and cooperation questions it should respond to;
• receive briefings on capacity challenges and constraints faced by the Department; and possible means of ameliorating / alleviating these challenges.

In her address to the Heads of Mission in attendance, the Minister said South Africa was fortunate in that her priorities correspond with those of the African Continent, i.e. those of peace and security and socio-economic development. She called on HoM to recall that, sixteen country-specific situations that are currently on the agenda of the UNSC are in the African Continent. Such a reality, the Minister said, will require South Africa to be visible on these agenda issues, thus calling on all Heads of Mission in Africa to continue playing their meaningful roles by amplifying our country’s foreign policy – in their countries of accreditation and global arena.

Minister Nkoana-Mashabane’s address spoke to the importance of the SADC region and its integration process; the challenges of a divided SADC in as far as the Economic Partnership Agreements negotiations are concerned; and the importance of the COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite FTA process. On the peace and security front, the Minister spoke, amongst others, about the pressing challenges of Madagascar, Zimbabwe, Lesotho and the DRC; the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in Sudan and South Africa’s role as chair of the AU’s PCRD; the ongoing clashes in Somalia and their impact on the Transitional Federal Government, including the need to support efforts by AMISOM to establish security and stability in Somalia; and last but not least, the revitalization of the NEPAD in pursuit of socio-economic development in the African Continent.  

In conclusion, the Minister reiterated that South Africa’s national interests are best safe-guarded by taking care of the interests of this Continent.

For further information, please contact the Chief Director for Public Diplomacy, Mr Saul Kgomotso Molobi on 082-940-1647 or at molobisk@dirco.gov.za

Issued by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation

OR Tambo Building
460 Soutpansberg Road,
Rietondale
Pretoria, RSA

22 October 2010