Post‐1994 South Africa's peacekeeping and military intervention in Southern Africa, reference from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Lesotho

• Author: Toyin Cotties Adetiba,Daniel N. Mlambo
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1002/pa.1984
• Date: 01 February 2020
• Published date: 01 February 2020

ACADEMIC PAPER

Post‐1994 South Africa's peacekeeping and military

intervention in Southern Africa, reference from the

Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Lesotho

Daniel N. Mlambo

1

|Toyin Cotties Adetiba

2

1

Department of Public Administration,

University of Zululand, KwaDlangezwa, South

Africa

2

Department of Politics and International

Studies, University of Zululand,

KwaDlangezwa, South Africa

Correspondence

Daniel N. Mlambo, Department of Public

Administration, University of Zululand,

KwaDlangezwa, South Africa 3886.

Email: mlambo1@ymail.com

South Africa, once a pariah state as a result of the apartheid regime destabilization

policies in Southern Africa, became a full fledge democratic state following the victory

of the African National Congress (ANC) in the first and all‐inclusive democratic elec-

tions of 1994. The ANC's vision for Southern Africa was to be routed on the notion of

curbing the imbalances of the past (pre‐1994), which had cost the Southern African

region great economic loss. Here, one of the many fundamentals that were to drive

the ANC's foreign policy doctrine was that of conflict resolution for a more stable

and prosperous Africa particularly Southern Africa. Conflict resolution was viewed

as a pivotal element for the new democratic government in order to stimulate

beneficial relations with other African states post the apartheid era. In light of the

above, and using a qualitative method approach, this paper draws a nuanced appraisal

and examines the role of South Africa's peacekeeping and mediation initiatives in the

Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Lesotho post‐1994. In conclusion, South

Africa has been able to utilize its regional hegemonic stance to ensure regional

security while ensuring economic stability at home.

1|INTRODUCTION

It is indisputable that several decades after the end of colonialism,

political instability has remained a core challenge for most African

states. By narrowing this down to Southern Africa, South Africa's dra-

matic transition from 1990 to 1994 not only brought with it hope and

relief to millions of South Africans but was also welcomed by the

Southern African community, Africa at large and other international

actors. Africa and Southern Africa, in particular, had suffered

immensely because of the apartheid regime destabilization policies,

which accounted for huge losses in potential economic growth

(Stanford, 1997). South Africa through its first democratically elected

president Mr Nelson Mandela (the late) was to reshape its foreign

policy doctrine towards Africa and specifically Southern Africa. This

was to be driven on the notion of beneficial arrangements driven by

mutual respect and cooperation in various aspects. Of importance

was to also (as a result of its robust economy) be a driver of regional

peace and security unlike its predecessor government (de Coning &

Lotze, 2013).

The belief and expectations of African states and the international

community that the democratic ANC government would post‐1994

play a vital role as a driver for democratic values, economic growth,

and political stability became a norm when Mandela became presi-

dent. This is because he had a year earlier (1993) in his article in

Foreign Affairs clearly articulated that South Africa's foreign policy

was to be driven on the pillars of promoting human rights, democracy,

the quest for peace, and the respect for international law (Mandela,

1993; Vines, 2010). Solomon (2010) submits that post‐1994, Pretoria

was expected to make use of its vast military and economic might to

diminish the vast conflicts that were taking place continentally. Hence,

over the years, South Africa has been involved in peacekeeping

initiatives in countries such as Angola, Burundi, the DRC, Ivory Coast,

Lesotho, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, Sudan, and Zimbabwe just to

name a few.

Received: 15 April 2019 Accepted: 9 May 2019

DOI: 10.1002/pa.1984

J Public Affairs. 2020;20:e1984.

https://doi.org/10.1002/pa.1984

© 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/pa 1of8