The more things change, what Zuma’s presidency means for the rest of Africa

This research paper analyzes the potential impact of Jacob Zuma's presidency on South Africa's foreign policy and its relationship with the African continent, arguing that continuity is more likely than dramatic change due to the overarching influence of the African National Congress (ANC).

• Jacob Zuma's presidency is expected to maintain South Africa's role as a strong financial and political supporter of continental institutions, including the African Union (AU), the New Economic Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), and the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM).
• Continuity in South Africa's foreign policy is anticipated because the Foreign Affairs Department, led by Foreign Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, has consistently pursued a pan-African approach involving conflict mediation and the promotion of an "African" agenda in the G8 and United Nations.
• The ANC's election manifesto and party resolutions indicate that the Zuma administration will maintain a geographic focus on Zimbabwe, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Swaziland, while continuing a guiding philosophy of fighting "imperialism".
• The ANC's 2007 Polokwane Conference resolutions define imperialism as a sophisticated global system associated with aggression and resource exploitation in developing countries, committing the party to fight for a more equitable economic global order and fairer global governance institutions.

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (2009). The more things change, what Zuma’s presidency means for the rest of Africa. https://saiia.org.za/research/the-more-things-change-what-zumas-presidency-means-for-the-rest-of-africa/

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. The more things change, what Zuma’s presidency means for the rest of Africa. 2009. https://saiia.org.za/research/the-more-things-change-what-zumas-presidency-means-for-the-rest-of-africa/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=The more things change, what Zuma’s presidency means for the rest of Africa |date=21 April 2009 |url=https://saiia.org.za/research/the-more-things-change-what-zumas-presidency-means-for-the-rest-of-africa/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairs2009more, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{The more things change, what Zuma’s presidency means for the rest of Africa}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2009}, month = apr, url = {https://saiia.org.za/research/the-more-things-change-what-zumas-presidency-means-for-the-rest-of-africa/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }