Looking back, looking forward: South Africa in the UN Security Council

How has the country performed so far, and what can be achieved during the remainder of its term?

South Africa’s 2019-2020 term as an elected non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council is a critical opportunity for the country to demonstrate its commitment to international peace and security, the global rules-based order, and its prioritisation of the African continent. This research report aims to assess the country’s first year of its current term and to provide recommendations on how the country could optimally approach the remainder of its term. It provides a chronological overview of key highlights throughout 2019 and discusses the most pronounced political and institutional trends and dynamics that the country will need to grapple with this year.

About the authors

Priyal Singh is a researcher in the Peace Operations and Peacebuilding programme at the ISS. He has an MA with distinction in international relations from the University of the Witwatersrand.

Gustavo de Carvalho joined the ISS in 2014 as a Senior Researcher in the Peace Operations and Peacebuilding programme in Pretoria. He has a master’s degree in African studies from the University of Oxford.

Picture: UN Photo/Loey Felipe