North Africa and The Horn
For the purposes of the Department of Foreign Affairs
this region comprises fourteen countries of which
nine are defined as North Africa and five as Horn
of Africa. These countries stretch from Mauritania
in the West through to Somalia in the East.
South African enjoys a special relationship with
the countries of the region. This is epitomised
by Joint Commissions held annually with three countries
at Ministerial level (Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia),
and an annual Binational Commission at Presidential
level with Algeria. Negotiations for a suitable
date for the inaugural Joint Commission with Libya
is in the process of being finalised.
North African countries represent the largest economies
in Africa apart from South Africa and Nigeria. Thus,
the region will be crucial in the realisation of
the objectives espoused by the Millennium Partnership
for the African Recovery Programme (MAP) and the
African Renaissance. Through the Magreb Arab Union
(UMA), North African countries are trying to organise
themselves into a political and economic union,
but the Western Sahara issue is impeding an effective
union. The Western Sahara issue remains a source
of political tension in the region. Peaceful settlement
of this dispute according to the UN Settlement Plan
or a mutually acceptable alternative solution will
clear the way for a better regional co-operation
and integration.
The Horn region represents one of the most daunting
challenges to the continent and the international
community. The region is characterised by cases
of both intrastate and interstate conflicts, the
seventeen-year-old Sudanese civil war, the interstate
conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea and anarchy
in Somalia constituting a conundrum for the continent
and international community at large.
The Sudanese civil war that has been raging for
seventeen years has in recent months gained increasing
continental and international attention. South Africa
as a firm supporter of the IGAD led peace process
(as espoused by the agreed upon Declaration of Principles
signed by the Government of Sudan and the SPLM/A
in 1994), is exploring possible ways to assist in
the search for a comprehensive negotiated peace
settlement.
Following the two-year border conflict between
Ethiopia and Eritrea, South Africa has seconded
a number of South African National Defense Force
officers as part of UNMEE/OLMEE observer and Peace-
keeping force. It should be noted however, that
tension continues between the two states on a variety
of issues relating to the demarcation process of
the common border.
South Africa supports efforts at re-emergence of
a semblance of governance in Somalia that culminated
in the appointment of a Transitional National Assembly
(TNA) led by President Hassan Salat. South Africa
calls upon the TNA and all other role-players in
greater Somalia to continue engaging in an all-inclusive
process towards reconciliation and mutually beneficial
re-establishment of effective governance in all
parts of Somalia.
