Arms control, South African style: The dynamics of post-1994 arms export control policy

This paper examines arms export policy since 1994 by examining the dynamics pertaining to policy-making and policy-execution

In the last two years, the debate surrounding the conventional Arms Control Bill in the South African Parliament has became the catalyst for a far-reaching examination of South Africa’s foreign policy. The Bill portrays a government in transition but trapped between entrenched secrecy and the need for transparency and accountability. This paper examines South Africa’s arms export policy since 1994 by examining the dynamics pertaining to policy-making and policy-execution in relation to arms export control. The central focus of this paper is the debate in parliament between the National Conventional Arms Control Committee and the Parliamentary Committee on Defence regarding the regulation of South Africa`s arms imports and exports.

Author

Xolani Skosana is a researcher in the Arms Management Program at the ISS who specializes in conventional arms.