Australia, New Zealand and the African Union

Australia and New Zealand are increasing their diplomatic and economic engagement with the African Union and African nations. Australia is leveraging its experience in mining, agriculture, and forestry, while New Zealand focuses on agriculture and peace operations. Both nations are seeking support from African states for non-permanent seats on the UN Security Council, with Australia campaigning for the 2013-14 term and New Zealand for the 2015-16 term.

• Australia is positioning itself as a partner to Africa based on shared economic interests in agriculture, mining, forestry, and fisheries, as well as its experience as a nation on a "continent of climatic extremes".
• Australia has significantly increased its financial and educational support for the region, doubling its Official Development Assistance (ODA) over three years and expanding its scholarship programme to target 1,000 recipients annually by 2013.
• New Zealand is seeking closer engagement with Africa driven by economic opportunities, peace operations, and a desire for a reformed UN Security Council with a larger role for Africa. In 2011, its ODA efforts in Africa totaled nearly ZAR 300 million.
• Both Australia and New Zealand are pursuing non-permanent seats on the UN Security Council, with Australia campaigning for the 2013-14 term and New Zealand for the 2015-16 term; securing African support is described as necessary for their success.
• Australia currently maintains seven diplomatic missions in AU member states (Abuja, Accra, Addis Ababa, Cairo, Harare, Nairobi, Port Louis, and Pretoria) and has signaled the possible opening of a new embassy in Dakar, Senegal. New Zealand has two missions, located in Cairo and Pretoria, and appointed an Ambassador to the AU and Ethiopia resident in Wellington in 2011.

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (2012). Australia, New Zealand and the African Union. https://saiia.org.za/research/australia-new-zealand-and-the-african-union/

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. Australia, New Zealand and the African Union. 2012. https://saiia.org.za/research/australia-new-zealand-and-the-african-union/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=Australia, New Zealand and the African Union |date=28 March 2012 |url=https://saiia.org.za/research/australia-new-zealand-and-the-african-union/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairs2012australia, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{Australia, New Zealand and the African Union}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2012}, month = mar, url = {https://saiia.org.za/research/australia-new-zealand-and-the-african-union/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }