South African Perspectives: The Domestic and International Implications of South Africa’s 2024 Elections
Cooperation Event
South African Perspectives: The Domestic and International Implications of South Africa’s 2024 Elections
Date
06/06/2024
Start
04:30 p.m. (CEST)
End
06:00 p.m. (CEST)
Video South African Elections
Video South African Elections
On 29 May 2024, South Africans voted and an embattled African National Congress lost its majority for the first time since it came to power in 1994. The country will experience its first coalition government at a time when decisive action is needed to combat slow economic growth, rolling power blackouts, high crime, and poverty. The election results will also affect South Africa’s delicate balancing of its foreign policy goals: achieving a rules-based international order, strengthening Africa’s position in the global order, and improving South–South cooperation.
South Africa is not only an important country that must be engaged with in general, but also one of Germany’s key partners on the African continent. The BRICS member is set to host the G20 in 2025 and has made headlines both for its move to sue Israel before the International Court of Justice and for its position towards Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. What are the implications of South Africa’s election results for its domestic politics and foreign policy, as well as its relations with Europe and Germany? What prospects and challenges do the election results present for collaborative efforts between Europe and South Africa in addressing global challenges such as climate change, security, and human rights?
These and other questions are at the core of the discussion to which the German Institute for Global and Area Studies (GIGA) and the German Africa Foundation cordially invite you.
We look forward to your participation and to collectively exploring the future trajectory of South Africa in a rapidly evolving global context.
Welcome Remarks: Sabine Odhiambo is Secretary General at the German Africa Foundation.
Discussants: Mohamed Cassimjee is a Geopolitical Consultant and former Diplomat and former Minister Plenipotentiary at the South African Embassy in Berlin.
Qaanitah Hunter is a former Assistant Editor for the major SA online news platform News24 and author of the book Who Will Rule South Africa?
Dr. Maxine Rubin is a Research Fellow at the GIGA Institute for African Affairs.
Moderator: Prof. Dr. Christian von Soest is Head of Research Programme “Peace and Security” at the German Institute for Global and Area Studies (GIGA).
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Democracy will remain strained in Africa, with crucial elections in 2024. Conflict risks may arise alongside the further waning of Western influence. Economic growth will continue, but also structural socio-economic challenges too. Western policymakers should address migration and decarbonisation.
The GIGA Institute for African Affairs analyses political and socio-economic developments in sub-Saharan Africa. The institute’s thematic core comprises political institutions, violent conflicts, and a variety of socio-economic challenges. The aim of our research is to paint a nuanced picture of sub-Saharan Africa.
Opposition politician Bassirou Diomaye Faye has won the presidential election in Senegal with an absolute majority. In this interview, GIGA researcher Martin Acheampong explains what the new head of state stands for, the condition the country is in ahead of Faye’s turn at the helm, and what the election result means for West Africa.
Botswana ist eine unerwartete Erfolgsgeschichte. Bei der Staatsgründung wirtschaftlich schwach und ohne nennenswerte Infrastruktur, gilt Botswana heute als eines der wohlhabendsten und stabilsten Länder Afrikas. Das liegt nicht nur am überlegten Umgang mit Diamantenvorkommen. Wie hat Botswana das geschafft?
Democracy will remain strained in Africa, with crucial elections in 2024. Conflict risks may arise alongside the further waning of Western influence. Economic growth will continue, but also structural socio-economic challenges too. Western policymakers should address migration and decarbonisation.
The GIGA Institute for African Affairs analyses political and socio-economic developments in sub-Saharan Africa. The institute’s thematic core comprises political institutions, violent conflicts, and a variety of socio-economic challenges. The aim of our research is to paint a nuanced picture of sub-Saharan Africa.
Opposition politician Bassirou Diomaye Faye has won the presidential election in Senegal with an absolute majority. In this interview, GIGA researcher Martin Acheampong explains what the new head of state stands for, the condition the country is in ahead of Faye’s turn at the helm, and what the election result means for West Africa.
Botswana ist eine unerwartete Erfolgsgeschichte. Bei der Staatsgründung wirtschaftlich schwach und ohne nennenswerte Infrastruktur, gilt Botswana heute als eines der wohlhabendsten und stabilsten Länder Afrikas. Das liegt nicht nur am überlegten Umgang mit Diamantenvorkommen. Wie hat Botswana das geschafft?
Democracy will remain strained in Africa, with crucial elections in 2024. Conflict risks may arise alongside the further waning of Western influence. Economic growth will continue, but also structural socio-economic challenges too. Western policymakers should address migration and decarbonisation.
The GIGA Institute for African Affairs analyses political and socio-economic developments in sub-Saharan Africa. The institute’s thematic core comprises political institutions, violent conflicts, and a variety of socio-economic challenges. The aim of our research is to paint a nuanced picture of sub-Saharan Africa.
