A year in office: Dlamini-Zuma at the African Union

The research paper evaluates Nandi Dlamini-Zuma's first year as Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC). It credits her with improving the Commission's administrative efficiency, enhancing the AU's global diplomatic visibility, and initiating the 'Agenda 2063' framework. However, it highlights failures in managing conflicts in Mali and the Central African Republic, tensions arising from the appointment of South African diplomats to senior roles, and the ongoing challenge of the International Criminal Court's jurisdiction in Africa.

• Dlamini-Zuma improved the administrative efficiency and management of the African Union Commission, specifically regarding the organization of summits and the use of resources.
• Under her leadership, the AU launched a consultation process for 'Agenda 2063', a strategic framework for the next 50 years, with a dedicated website launched on 3 September 2013.
• The AU's capacity to provide 'African solutions to African problems' was limited during conflicts in Mali and the Sahel, and the body failed to provide substantive solutions to the April 2013 coup d'état in the Central African Republic.
• Dlamini-Zuma's appointment of senior officials, primarily South African diplomats on secondment from the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, has caused tension within the Commission.
• The Chairperson successfully managed tensions regarding the International Criminal Court and the Rome Statute, preventing an immediate African withdrawal.

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (2013). A year in office: Dlamini-Zuma at the African Union. https://saiia.org.za/research/a-year-in-office-dlamini-zuma-at-the-african-union/

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. A year in office: Dlamini-Zuma at the African Union. 2013. https://saiia.org.za/research/a-year-in-office-dlamini-zuma-at-the-african-union/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=A year in office: Dlamini-Zuma at the African Union |date=30 October 2013 |url=https://saiia.org.za/research/a-year-in-office-dlamini-zuma-at-the-african-union/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairs2013year, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{A year in office: Dlamini-Zuma at the African Union}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2013}, month = oct, url = {https://saiia.org.za/research/a-year-in-office-dlamini-zuma-at-the-african-union/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }