Germany, South Africa discuss peace, security

By Hassan Isilow

JOHANNESBURG (AA) – South Africa’s Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor and her visiting German counterpart Annalena Baerbock on Tuesday discussed peace and security, particularly in Africa, and how conflicts can be resolved.

“We appreciate the role that many of our partners in the global community play in assisting us to end the conflict,” Pandor told reporters at a joint press conference with Baerbock following the 11th Meeting of the South Africa-Germany Bi-National Commission in the capital Pretoria.

"We are convinced, along with the African Union (AU), that we must have a stronger focus on African solutions to African problems, and that Africa must play a role in resolving its issues of peace and security," she stressed.

The top German diplomat is in the country for the one-day 11th Meeting of the South Africa-Germany Bi-National Commission.

The two ministers also pledged to review their bi-national commission in order to strengthen areas such as science and technology, the economy, energy, and security policy, among others.

Concerning the conflict in Sudan, where the army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have been fighting for over two months, Pandor said South Africa supports the role of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) in assisting the warring parties to seek peace.

She said they have also agreed in their discussions as the AU and UN Security Council to establish a high-level panel that will work alongside IGAD in Sudan for the restoration of peace.

"We are watching with great interest the developments in Mali following the recent referendum on the constitution, and we would like to see a process that leads to a democratic outcome, elections, and the installation of a civilian government," she said.

She said they are paying closer attention to entrenching democracy on the continent and are dismayed by the number of coups that occurred in Africa in 2020 and want coups to be a thing of the past.

The two ministers also discussed the need for UN reform and technology transfer, among other topics.

Baerbock, for her part, expressed delight that both of them want to deepen their relationships even further.

Earlier, in her opening remarks at the 11th Meeting of the South Africa-Germany Bi-National Commission, Pandor said, "Our relationship with Germany is one of the most important and most strategic that we have with any country, and our Bi-National Commission is one of the most substantive that we have.”

South Africa is Germany's largest trading partner on the African continent. At the same time, Germany is the third largest export market for South African products, the majority of which are value-added.

"The German economy is export-oriented, but we have a healthy trade surplus. Your country is a major investor in South Africa and an important development partner," Pandor told Baerbock.