It was a landmark day in South Africa. Elections on Saturday showed the African National Congress (ANC), the party that ended apartheid and brought hope for a vibrant democracy, was eliminated after 30 years in power.
With South Africa assuming a growing role on the international stage, including suing Israel over Gaza and taking over as chair of the G20 later this year, the ANC will have to form a coalition to govern South Africa for the first time.
This historic shift has left the future of a representative voice in the developing world in jeopardy after the ANC lost its domestic dominance.
Taking on Israel over Gaza South Africa has been one of the most vocal critics of Israel's actions in Gaza, accusing it of genocide in a lawsuit at the United Nations' highest court, the International Court of Justice. The lawsuit is driven largely by the ANC, which has long supported the Palestinian cause and draws uncomfortable parallels to the homeland the apartheid regime created for black South Africans.
Israel strongly denies these allegations of genocide. News that the ANC has lost its parliamentary majority has been widely reported in Israel.
The international court case could drag on for years, meaning a new South African coalition government would take over. The ANC is likely to strike a power deal with one or more of South Africa's three main opposition parties: the centrist Democratic Alliance, the far-left Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) or former President Jacob Zuma's new populist MK party.
The Democratic Alliance, which won about 21 percent of the vote, opposes genocide allegations against Israel and wants a mediated resolution to the Israel-Hamas conflict. The EFF shares the ANC's pro-Palestinian position and condemns Israeli genocide. The MK party's position remains unclear.
G20 Presidency Looming South Africa, long seen as the continent's leading voice, will assume the presidency of the G20 on December 1. As the only African country in the G20, the ANC and its new governing partners will need to agree on common positions on global issues such as climate change, conflict and international financial reform.
“Regardless of the election outcome, deep-rooted elements of South Africa's foreign policy will persist, such as its defense of Palestinian rights and its push for reform of international institutions to better reflect African countries' priorities,” wrote Michelle Gavin of the Council on Foreign Relations.
And then there's Russia. South Africa's ANC-led diplomacy has been notable for its pro-Moscow stance following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than two years ago. While the United States and Western countries recognize the ANC's historic ties to Russia, tensions have risen since South Africa allowed Russian and Chinese warships to conduct military exercises off its coast in early 2023.
The main opposition Democratic Alliance party has criticised the ANC's ties with Russia, accusing it of betraying its claimed neutrality in the Ukraine conflict and tensions between Russia and the West.
Gavin suggested an “unstable” governing coalition could harm South Africa as a business gateway for foreign investors and further align the country with Russia and China.
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)