African Diplomacy Observer

The president of the South African National Assembly, Mrs. Baleka Mbete, started on 23 November a-three-day-official visit in Algeria to "strengthen and reaffirm friendship ties" between the two countries. According to a communiqué of the Algerian National Popular assembly, the aim of this visit is to "contribute to the reinforcement of relations between the two parliamentarian chambers and to emphasize the important role of parliamentarians in the framework of African multilateral institutions".

Mrs. Baleka Mbete will be accompanied by an important delegation of South African parliamentarian and will have talks with the president of the Algerian Assembly, Mr. Abdelaziz Ziari, and with high political personalities as well. during this visit, a bilateral cooperation framework protocol is to be signed between the two parliaments.

The creation of an Algerian-South African inter-parliamentarian friendship group was mentioned in the communiqué as an instrument of parliamentarian diplomacy to strengthen and boost their bilateral relations and cooperation in all aspects.

The visit of the SA parliamentarian delegation will give the opportunity to examine the two countries contribution and commitments to the implementation of the New Partnership for Africa Development (NEPAD). Moreover, the two delegations will address and exchange views on possible solutions to resolve the conflict over the Western Sahara opposing Morocco and the Polisario Front. In that regard, a group from the SA delegation is expected to visit Sahraouian refugee camps as a sign of solidarity with the Sahraouian people in its struggle for self-determination. Should we remind that SA has been one of the first countries that recognized the Sahraouian Arab Democratic Republic as a sovereign State.

Source: El Moudjahid

The French State Secretary for Cooperation and Francophonie, Mr. Jean-Marie Bockel travelled to South Africa, Lesotho and Namibia from September 9-12, 2007. In South Africa, the Secretary had talks with the Deputy-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Aziz Pahad and visited some projects funded through loans from the French Agency for Development (AFD). Mr. Bockel also took part to the signing of a €40 million Convention between the AFD and the ABSA Bank in favor of social housing projects.

In Namibia, the French Official signed with the Prime Minister, Mr. Nahas Angula, a Framework Partnership Document aims at enabling loans or gifts totaled to €130 million over the period 2007-2012. France envisions to focus its cooperation in that country in the areas of education and infrastructure, notably in the energy sector, with possible recourse to the French Fund for World Environment. Mr. Bockel also proceeded to the launching of a new project amounting to €1 million over three years supported by the Social Solidarity Fund. This fund will be affected in priority to the promotion of Human Rights and to the support of micro-enterprises.

In Lesotho, the State Secretary had talks with the King Lestsie III and with the Prime Minister, Mr. Pakalitha Mosisili. The visit of the French State Secretary was also the opportunity for the delivery of a French food assistance of $500,000 channeled through the World Food Programme (WFP).

Source: French Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs

This month of March 2007 South Africa assumes the presidency of the United Nations Security Council. During this month, the Council will address and discuss, among others, issues, questions and situations in the following countries and regions: Afghanistan, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guinea-Bissau, Iran (nuclear proliferation), Iraq, Kosovo, Liberia, Palestine, Somalia, Sudan (particularly the Darfur issue as well as the eventuality of sanctions), the Great Lakes region, cross-border issues in West Africa, as well as UN missions/operations (the mandate of some UN missions has to be extended and the UN Secretary-General is expected to report on some situations) in some of these countries.

Three African countries are currently non-permanent members of the UN Security Council: Congo and Ghana (until 31 December 2007) and South Africa (until 31 DEcember 2008).

Source: Programme of work of the Security Council for the month of March 2007