South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Monday that the 7th government administration will remain committed to a foreign relations policy and outlook that prioritizes the achievement of the African Union’s (AU) Agenda 2063.
“South Africa’s role on the continent and across the world remains firmly on our agenda,” Ramaphosa said in Cape Town, the country’s legislative capital, when responding to the parliament’s debate on his address from last week.
South Africa sees the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and other instruments of continental economic integration as vital to its economic fortunes, he said. “We are extremely encouraged by the potential the AfCFTA presents in terms of new markets for South African goods, products, and services.”
Ramaphosa added that the country remains committed to playing its part in peacekeeping and peacebuilding efforts in Africa as it has deployed members of the national defense force to support the United Nations, the African Union, and the Southern African Development Community peacekeeping missions in several parts of the continent.
“As the Government of National Unity, we will continuously pursue a foreign policy based on the national interest, our country’s economic objectives, and in furtherance of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all,” Ramaphosa said, noting that the country is preparing to host the annual G20 Summit in 2025.
