Foreign Relations of South Africa

The foreign relations of South Africa have spanned from the country's time as Dominion and later Realm of the British Empire to its isolationist policies under Apartheid to its position as a responsible international actor taking a key role in Africa.

South Africa is active in the United Nations, the African Union and the Commonwealth of Nations. Considered a possible permanent addition to the United Nations Security Council, South Africa was elected in 2006 by the UN General Assembly to serve on the Security Council for the first time ever, and again in 2010, where it is currently serving a mandate that ends 31 December 2012.

Read more about Foreign Relations Of South Africa:  Post-apartheid, United Nations Security Council, Africa, Europe, Americas, Rest of World

Famous quotes containing the words foreign, relations, south and/or africa:

    The past is a foreign country; they do things differently there.
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    Happy will that house be in which the relations are formed from character; after the highest, and not after the lowest order; the house in which character marries, and not confusion and a miscellany of unavowable motives.
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    A friend and I flew south with our children. During the week we spent together I took off my shoes, let down my hair, took apart my psyche, cleaned the pieces, and put them together again in much improved condition. I feel like a car that’s just had a tune-up. Only another woman could have acted as the mechanic.
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    In Africa, there is much confusion.... Before, there was no radio, or other forms of communication.... Now, in Africa ... the government talks, people talk, the police talk, the people don’t know anymore. They aren’t free.
    Youssou N’Dour (b. 1959)