Briefing Paper

Africa, South Africa and the United Nations’ Security Architecture

The Centre for Conflict Resolution (CCR), Cape Town, South Africa, hosted a policy advisory group seminar at Erinvale Estate, Western Cape, South Africa, from 12 to 13 December 2012 on “Africa, South Africa, and the United Nations’ (UN) Security Architecture”. In December 2012, South Africa completed its second two-year term (2011-2012) as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, after its earlier tenure in 2007-2008. The Cape Town seminar convened about 30 leading practitioners, civil society actors, and scholars, from Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the United States (US), to assess South Africa’s current and past performance on the Security Council. The meeting, which focused in particular on the institutional dynamics that help to shape the work of the Council, also crafted concrete policy recommendations for strengthening the diplomatic role adopted by Tshwane (Pretoria) and promoting Africa’s interests at the UN and other international fora.