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

The author argues that despite a change in leadership from Thabo Mbeki to Jacob Zuma, South Africa's foreign policy is likely to maintain continuity. This continuity is expected to manifest as ongoing support for the African Union (AU), NEPAD, and the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), as well as a persistent 'anti-imperial' philosophical approach in international relations and continued engagement in regional conflicts such as those in Zimbabwe and Sudan.

• South Africa is expected to remain a strong financial and political supporter of the African Union (AU), the New Economic Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), and the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) under Jacob Zuma's presidency.
• The author anticipates continuity in South Africa's foreign policy, suggesting that the transition from Thabo Mbeki to Jacob Zuma will be primarily a 'change of faces' rather than a shift in strategic direction.
• The African National Congress (ANC) maintains a guiding foreign policy philosophy centered on the 'fight against -imperialism', which the author suggests will persist under the Zuma administration.
• The ANC's election manifesto indicates that South Africa will continue to play an assertive role in specific troubled regions, including Zimbabwe, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Swaziland.

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} }