South African Institute of International Affairs
The pandemic creates ideal conditions for the rise of populism
27th May 2020 Prior to the coronavirus pandemic the world’s political climate was darkening. Rising and deepening levels of authoritarianism, protectionism,... →
Africa Day: recalibrating the continent’s future
26th May 2020 Fifty-seven years ago today, the Organisation of Africa Unity was born. Founded by 32 states, its quest was to bring about freedom and unity on the... →
Cybercrime and COVID-19: A concern for financial stability during the pandemic
18th May 2020 The largest continent in the world today is no longer a physical geographical location but a virtual one. Cyberspace has redefined how people,... →
COVID-19: Implications for the ‘digital divide’ in Africa
18th May 2020 This article is part of the ‘ COVID-19 and Innovation in Africa’ series, produced by the Africa Portal, Wits University and the African Centre for... →
Can the ‘super year for nature’ be salvaged? Reflecting on Earth Day 2020
22nd April 2020 The year 2020 was billed as a ‘Super Year for Nature’ – a year of important global negotiations on the future of biodiversity, oceans governance... →
Renewed urgency to implement the African Continental Free Trade Area: How can Africa prepare now?
22nd April 2020 In recent weeks, the Covid-19 pandemic has had a massive impact on the world. While there is uncertainty about how long this pandemic will disrupt... →
Are states ready to commit to providing global public goods?
15th April 2020 Covid-19 is the crisis no one expected to happen in our generation despite frequent speculation about the potential impact of the recurrence of the... →
Fragile African health systems face COVID-19 catastrophe
2nd April 2020 By March 31, Africa had 5,431 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with almost a quarter (1,353) in South Africa, followed by 656 in Egypt and 584 in... →
Ambassador Lin Songtian’s recall signals shifts ahead in China-Africa relationship
30th March 2020 The sudden recall from South Africa of Chinese ambassador Lin Songtian was initially interpreted as being a demotion. But the contrary appears to... →
Immunising one country and leaving the rest to their fate not enough to protect citizens
23rd March 2020 The Group of 20, chaired by Saudi Arabia, must consider the specific plight of the poorest countries during global pandemics With the number of... →
Coronavirus and upcoming elections in Africa: What are the options?
20th March 2020 At the rapid rate at which the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, has been spreading, it was only a matter of time before Africa was affected. At the... →
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty 50 years on: Where does Africa stand?
6th March 2020 Today marks 50 years since the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) entered into force. Resting on three pillars – nuclear disarmament, nuclear... →
A decade of G20 summitry: Assessing benefits, limitations & future of global club governance
27th February 2020 A decade on from its elevation to a global leadership forum, the Group of 20 (G20) merits nuanced, updated evaluation. The G20 met for the first... →
Africa could be the winner as the US attempts to stifle Huawei
25th February 2020 The adoption of 5G technology, powered by Chinese tech giant Huawei, has become a game of international geopolitical football with Donald Trump as... →
Strategic choices for South Africa as it enters 2020
21st February 2020 In February, President Cyril Ramaphosa became the chairman of the African Union (AU) for a year, as well as the chairman of the African Peer Review... →
Trump’s travel ban benefits only China
17th February 2020 If the US wants to counter Chinese influence in Africa, greater engagement with Nigeria seems like a no-brainer. But, with its decision to include... →
South Africa has a new chance to promote good governance in Africa
11th February 2020 As South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa begins his term as chairperson of Africa’s premier instrument aimed at promoting good governance among... →
Turkey and the shifting geopolitical sands of North and East Africa
4th February 2020 In the last few months Turkey’s actions in North Africa and the greater Middle East have confirmed it as an important regional power. These efforts... →
Cybercrime and data privacy: How Africa can up its game
30th January 2020 Africa is the fastest-growing continent when it comes to internet penetration. The percentage of people on the continent using the internet... →
SAIIA Futures: anticipating & preparing for major disruptors facing Southern Africa
2nd December 2019 South Africa has had a long tradition of undertaking scenario exercises at critical times in its history – from the Mont Fleur to the Dinokeng... →
Stepping up e-commerce would boost SA Inc
18th November 2019 A market of 1.3-billion people could be tapped into if postal and internet services were made efficient and accessible. Just over 25 years ago, on... →
The retreat of multilateralism: What should Africa do?
7th November 2019 For developing countries multilateralism with the UN at its centre, is considered a key pillar of the global system because it provides for an... →
Springboks’ triumph provides hope for country and continent
5th November 2019 The power of sport to bring people together was on display when underdogs South Africa upset a previously rampant England 32-12 in the Rugby World... →
African Union must create compensatory mechanisms for free trade area members
11th October 2019 The African Union has to develop compensatory mechanisms for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) member states that may suffer losses... →
How to facilitate trade in Africa
10th October 2019 While the World Trade Organisation’s Trade Facilitation Agreement can act as a powerful tool for progress, it cannot work in isolation. It also... →
Rethinking Africa’s role at the Human Rights Council
9th October 2019 In UN human rights forums, African States have a reputation for voting as a bloc, obstructing human rights, and defending the sovereignty of... →
Atoms for Development
7th October 2019 The South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) is pleased to announce the commencement of a new three-year project on the peaceful... →
Climate change: A race we must win
20th September 2019 The timing of the Climate Action Summit later this week, only three months before the annual meeting of the United Nations Framework Convention on... →
Robert Mugabe’s journey from freedom fighter to oppressor
11th September 2019 During a trip to Harare a few years ago, I met with local officials and businesspeople, chatting with them in their offices, in hotel lobbies, and... →
SAIIA strongly condemns xenophobic attacks, calls for leaders to ‘step up to the plate’
5th September 2019 South Africans like to repeat a saying that is supposed to encompass the country’s philosophy and behaviour: ‘Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu’, or a... →
Synchronicity for Africa and the G7
23rd August 2019 Engagement with Africa requires facing up to inequalities that erode growth and development. We call for a harmonised approach for deeper, more... →
How Africa measures up on governance
19th August 2019 Data on governance, like any other official statistics, are a public good and should be accessible to all. Otherwise, the true scale of violence,... →
‘African states among most innovative in measuring & reporting on SDG 16’
10th July 2019 African states are among the most innovative and committed countries in measuring and reporting on the UN’s Governance Goal (Sustainable... →
The Osaka G20 Summit and Africa
1st July 2019 G20 leaders meeting in Osaka on June 28 and and June 29 may be wondering whether the planned agenda will be overtaken by rapidly unfolding events... →
Africa and G20: Not just development
1st July 2019 As the world’s premier forum on international economic governance, the G20 plays an important role in global rule-making. Born out of crisis, the... →
Free trade area finally comes to Africa
14th June 2019 May 30 was a particularly significant day for Africa. While global trends move from integration towards heightened protectionism, African countries... →
New Bill offers robust game plan against cybercrime in South Africa
13th June 2019 A significant increase in internet access combined with a growing reliance on e-governance, commercial services, social networks, and the Internet... →
African governments can learn lessons from Asia’s industrialisation
12th June 2019 South Korea’s new ambassador to South Africa, Jong-Dae Park, offers advice on growing economies South Korea’s new ambassador to SA, Jong-Dae Park,... →
Tracking AU themes: Why the APRM should rise to the occasion
6th June 2019 Africa and its diaspora community are wrapping up the commemoration Africa Month – marking the anniversary of the creation of the Organisation of... →
Xenophobia erodes South Africa’s leadership potential
28th May 2019 President Cyril Ramaphosa’s inauguration, scheduled to coincide with Africa Day on 25 May this year, intended to highlight ‘government’s commitment... →
East Africa: Marine-based ‘blue economies’ offer massive potential
24th May 2019 Developing ocean-based resources in areas such as fisheries, aquaculture, coastal tourism, transport and ports, mining and energy, could generate... →
