SOUTH AFRICA’S SADC CHAIRMANSHIP: A MOMENT FOR REGIONAL LEADERSHIP, NOT CEREMONIAL DIPLOMACY
South Africa’s assumption of the chairmanship of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) comes at a moment when the region needs more than another cycle of summit declarations, communiqués and diplomatic handshakes. It needs leadership that can translate regional ambition into practical outcomes. On 17 August 2026, President Cyril Ramaphosa formally assumed the SADC chairmanship […]
WHY THE CHINA-AFRICA JOINT RESEARCH MATTERS BEYOND ACADEMIA
As implementation partners, the National School of Government and the University of Johannesburg have on the 22nd of July 2026 launched the China–Africa Joint Research Centre which seeks to represent more than the establishment of another academic institution. But it reflects a broader shift in international relations where knowledge, research and innovation have become strategic […]
THE FUTURE WE SHARE: XI JINPING AND CHINA-SOUTH AFRICA RELATIONS: THE GEN Z YOUTH PERSPECTIVE
The public is warmly invited to attend a distinguished Seminar and Book Launch Gala Dinner celebrating the publication of The Future We Share: Xi Jinping and China–South Africa Relations: The Gen Z Youth Perspective, authored by young South African writers, Michael Mayalo and Thabiso Mthembu. This special event will bring together leaders, policymakers, academics, youth […]
PUTIN’S 2026 BEIJING VISIT AND THE CONSOLIDATION OF A MULTIPOLAR WORLD ORDER
The May 19–20, 2026 state visit of President Vladimir Putin to Beijing was far more than a ceremonial diplomatic engagement marking the 25th anniversary of the Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation between Russia and China. It represented a carefully choreographed geopolitical statement about the changing structure of global power, the evolution of the Russia–China […]
THE MEANING OF USA’S VISIT TO CHINA: POWER, PEACE AND THE FUTURE OF THE WORLD
When the President of the United States sits across from the President of China, the meeting is never merely diplomatic theatre. It is the movement of history itself. The visit between President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping, represents far more than trade negotiations, tariffs, or ceremonial handshakes. It symbolizes a fragile but necessary recognition […]
CHINA OPENS THE GATES: WHAT ZERO TARIFFS MEAN FOR AFRICA
China’s decision to remove tariffs on imports from almost every African country marks one of the most significant developments in modern Africa–China relations. At a time when the global economy is becoming increasingly fragmented by trade wars, sanctions, and protectionist policies, Beijing is positioning itself as a defender of open trade and deeper cooperation with […]
FROM POTENTIAL TO POWER: WHY SADC MUST TURN VISION INTO ACTION
Southern Africa stands at a defining moment in its history. The Southern African Development Community (SADC) is a region blessed with strategic geography, abundant natural resources, and immense human potential. It is, in many ways, one of Africa’s most peaceful and underutilised regions. Yet despite these advantages, the region continues to underperform in areas where […]
THE U.S.–ISRAEL STRIKE ON IRAN THREATENS THE WORLD
The joint military operation launched by the United States and Israel against Iran marks one of the most dangerous escalations in modern Middle Eastern history. It is being sold as a “defensive necessity.” In reality, it is a calculated gamble which has catastrophic consequences—legally dubious, strategically reckless, and morally indefensible. This was not an act […]
SOUTH AFRICA IS BACK AT THE CENTRE OF AFRICA’S SECURITY TABLE
South Africa’s election to the African Union Peace and Security Council (PSC) is more than a diplomatic win in Addis Ababa. It is a statement: Pretoria is reclaiming its place at the centre of Africa’s peace and security architecture. At a time when coups are no longer shocking, terrorism is mutating across the Sahel, and […]
SOUTH AFRICA DRAWS THE LINE WITH ISRAEL
South Africa’s decision to declare Israel’s Chargé d’Affaires, Ariel Seidman, persona non grata is not just a diplomatic slap on the wrist. It is a calculated way for South Africa to assert sovereignty. And this is a warning shot fired across the bow of a relationship that has been deteriorating in plain sight. In the […]
THE U.S. IS NOT DEFENDING DEMOCRACY IN VENEZUELA — IT IS ENFORCING CONTROL
The United States insists its actions toward Venezuela are driven by a commitment to democracy and human rights. That claim no longer withstands scrutiny. What is unfolding is not principled foreign policy but a campaign of coercion, punishment, and force designed to impose political outcomes favourable to Washington. This is about power, resources, and control […]
ISRAEL’S SOMALILAND RECOGNITION IS A LINE AFRICA MUST NOT ALLOW TO BE CROSSED
Israel’s decision to recognise Somaliland as an independent state is not diplomacy. It is disruption that is deliberate, calculated, and dangerous. It undermines African sovereignty, weakens an already fragile region, and sends a clear message that Africa’s borders can still be reshaped from the outside when it suits powerful interests. This move is being dressed […]