CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — It was a historic day for South Africa. The political party that ended the racially divisive era of apartheid and raised global hopes with a vibrant new democracy lost control of three decades in poweraccording to Saturday’s election results.
For the first time, the African National Congress will have to form a coalition to govern South Africa, whose role on the global stage is growing as it takes Israel to court over its actions in Gaza and belatedly assumes the presidency of the Group of 20 countries. . this year.
Here’s what could lie ahead for a leading voice in the developing world after the ANC lost its domestic dominance.
CHALLENGING ISRAEL OVER GAZA
South Africa has become the most visible critic of Israel’s actions in Gaza by accusing him of genocide in a case at the International Court of Justice, the UN’s highest court.
The case has largely been driven by the ANC, which has long identified with the Palestinian cause and sees Gaza and the occupied West Bank as uncomfortable parallels to the distant “homelands” created for black South Africa by the former government-controlled by whites under the brutal system of apartheid.
Israel vehemently denies accusations of genocide. The ANC’s loss of its parliamentary majority in this week’s elections made news in Israel.
The world court case could drag on for years, meaning a new South African coalition government will inherit it. The ANC is likely to strike a governing deal with one or more of South Africa’s three main opposition parties – the centrist Democratic Alliance, the far-left Economic Freedom Fighters and the new, populist MK Party of the former President Jacob Zuma.
The Democratic Alliance, which received about 21% of the vote, said it does not agree with the genocide case against Israel and would prefer to see South Africa push for a mediated settlement in the Israel-Hamas war. The EFF is seen as being at least as pro-Palestine as the ANC and has also accused Israel of genocide. The position of the MK Party, formed at the end of last year, is unclear.
THE G20 PRESIDENCY IS AHEAD
South Africa has long been seen as one of the main representatives of the African continent in the world and, on December 1st, it assumes the prominent presidency of the Group of 20 nations – top 20 rich and developing nations. South Africa will replace Brazil, which is using its presidency to push for greater representation of developing nations on the global stage.
South Africa is the only African nation in the G20. The ANC and its new government partner or partners will need to look beyond South African politics and find a common position on pressing global issues such as of Climate Changeconflicts and reforms of international financial institutions.
“Regardless of the electoral outcome, profound elements of South African foreign policy will persist, such as defending the rights of Palestinians and calling for the reform of international institutions to better reflect the priorities of African states,” Michelle Gavin wrote last month for the Council of Foreign Affairs.
AND THEN THERE IS RUSSIA
South Africa’s diplomacy under the ANC has drawn attention for its historic pro-Moscow stance, which continued after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than two years ago. Although the United States and other Western countries have long recognized the ANC’s ties to Russia—they go back to the fight against apartheid—the U.S.-South African relationship became seriously strained when the ANC government allowed Russian warships and Chinese sail carry out exercises on its shore in early 2023.
The main opposition, the Democratic Alliance, has been highly critical of the ANC over its relationship with Russia, accusing it of betraying its alleged position of non-alignment and neutrality with regards to the war in Ukraine and the greater tensions between Russia and the West.
Gavin suggested that an “unstable” coalition government could harm South Africa as a gateway for foreign investors and “bring the country even closer to Russia and China”.
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