The Africa We Want: Unpacking the Primacy of Africa in South Africa’s Foreign Policy

The research paper examines the alignment between South Africa's stated foreign policy goal of 'Africa's centrality' and the actual expenditure of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO). It finds that South Africa's normative goal of deepening engagement in Africa is generally matched by its resource deployment, with significant spending directed toward strategic economies like Nigeria, Angola, and Ethiopia. Despite budget reductions in 2016 necessitating the closure of non-essential missions, the document argues that diplomatic engagement remains vital for defending national interests and enhancing international prestige.

• South Africa's foreign policy is guided by the 'primacy of Africa', a commitment reaffirmed in the 2015 and 2016 Budget Vote Speeches, positioning the continent as central to the country's global friendship, cooperation, and peace efforts.
• Analysis of DIRCO budgets indicates that South Africa's stated goal of deepening engagement within Africa is supported by its resource allocation, with political engagement leading to increased economic engagement.
• Some of South Africa's most costly diplomatic missions are located in Africa, specifically in Ethiopia, Angola, and Nigeria, which are identified as strategic economies essential for broader continental engagement.
• DIRCO's 2016 operations faced a budget reduction of R153 million, which required the closure of missions deemed non-essential.

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (2016). The Africa We Want: Unpacking the Primacy of Africa in South Africa’s Foreign Policy. https://saiia.org.za/research/the-africa-we-want-unpacking-the-primacy-of-africa-in-south-africas-foreign-policy/

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. The Africa We Want: Unpacking the Primacy of Africa in South Africa’s Foreign Policy. 2016. https://saiia.org.za/research/the-africa-we-want-unpacking-the-primacy-of-africa-in-south-africas-foreign-policy/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=The Africa We Want: Unpacking the Primacy of Africa in South Africa’s Foreign Policy |date=4 May 2016 |url=https://saiia.org.za/research/the-africa-we-want-unpacking-the-primacy-of-africa-in-south-africas-foreign-policy/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairs2016africa, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{The Africa We Want: Unpacking the Primacy of Africa in South Africa’s Foreign Policy}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2016}, month = may, url = {https://saiia.org.za/research/the-africa-we-want-unpacking-the-primacy-of-africa-in-south-africas-foreign-policy/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }