SA concludes second term on UN Security Council

South Africa's second tenure in the Council, said Dirco, was aimed at building upon its experience during its previous term by contributing to achieving peace and stability on the African continent and in all the regions of the world; developing effective partnerships between the UN and regional organisations in maintaining international peace and security; advancing the African Agenda, including highlighting the continent's priorities in the area of peace and security; promoting the rule of law within multilateralism and the reform of the United Nations system; and working towards improving the working methods of the Security Council to make it a more legitimate, representative and effective body.

The permanent representative of South Africa to the UN, Ambassador Baso Sangqu said: "Throughout its term, South Africa sought to promote a multilateral, rules-based system. We approached our membership of the Security Council from the premise that the UN remains the most appropriate forum for addressing international challenges in the maintenance of international peace and security, which are best served through collective co-operation."

Despite constraints, South Africa influenced a large number of Council outcomes and actively engaged on all issues on the Security Council's agenda pursuant to the global mandate associated with its membership added the department.

It added that South Africa's leadership role and significant contribution to the work of the Council on African issues particularly on Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, DRC, Mali and Libya and its principled position on the Middle East and Western Sahara is well recognised.

"Notable achievements during South Africa's tenure include its leadership role in chairing the Working Group on Conflict Prevention and Resolution in Africa, whose strategic intent is to find ways by which to prevent and resolve conflicts in Africa and the 1540 Committee, which prevents non-state actors from gaining access to weapons of mass destruction."

South Africa also championed landmark Council decisions on strengthening the strategic cooperation between the UNSC and the African Union Peace and Security Council in Resolution 2033 as well as the promotion of the rule of law in conflict and post-conflict situations. The country also co-led a Security Council Mission to Africa and led a successful visit of the Council to Timor-Leste in 2012.

Ambassador Sangqu said: "Looking back, South Africa's participation in the over 800 meetings held by the Council during our tenure, we can in all humility, boldly state that South Africa has made a positive and significant contribution to the international community's efforts to prevent and resolve conflicts the world over."