South Africa

Economics

Energy

Environment, Science & Technology

Politics

Science & Technology

South African Energy Minister Kgosientso Ramokgopa said he would present a revised Integrated Resource Plan -- which lays out South Africa's energy strategy -- to the Cabinet the week of Nov. 25 that would involve an "exponential increase" in the share of renewable energy in the country’s energy mix, Daily Maverick reported on Nov. 20.

South Africa: Energy Ministry To Present Revised Energy Strategy

Mozambique

Military & Security

Mozambique's opposition leader Venancio Mondlane, the presidential election runner-up, claims he survived an assassination attempt in Johannesburg, South Africa, where he fled after disputing the results of Mozambique's Oct. 9 presidential election, BBC reported on Nov. 5.

Mozambique: Opposition Leader Escapes Alleged Assassination Attempt in South Africa

South African Finance Minister Enoch Gondogwana presented the coalition government's first Medium Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS), Bloomberg reported Oct. 29. 

South Africa: Coalition Government Presents First Medium-Term Budget 

United States

The Bill Gates-backed small modular reactor, or SMR, company TerraPower and ASP Isotopes announced on Oct. 30 that they had entered a term sheet for the construction of a high-assay low-enriched uranium, or HALEU, production facility in South Africa that will be managed through ASPI’s subsidiary Quantum Leap Energy.

U.S.: TerraPower, ASP Isotopes Reach Deal on HALEU Production Facility in South Africa

Israel

Palestinian Territories

Israel-Hamas Conflict

South Africa's presidency said it filed evidence with the International Court of Justice showing that Israel was violating the genocide convention in Gaza, News24 reported on Oct. 28.

South Africa: Pretoria Files Evidence to ICJ in Gaza Genocide Case Against Israel

Ethiopia

Nigeria

Uganda

Bolivia

Brazil

Cuba

Algeria

Egypt

Iran

Saudi Arabia

Turkey

United Arab Emirates

China

Indonesia

Malaysia

Thailand

Vietnam

Uzbekistan

Belarus

Kazakhstan

Russia

India

The BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, adopted its summit declaration, which noted the creation of a BRICS "partner country" status, Reuters reported on Oct. 23.

BRICS: Bloc Creates Partner Status, Extends Status to 13 Countries

The South African Federation of Trade Unions, or SAFTU, vowed to demonstrate against a proposed bill to amend the country's labor laws that has not yet been made public, Eyewitness News reported on Oct. 23.

South Africa: SAFTU Vows Demonstrations Against Alleged Plans for Labor Reform 

The annual BRICS summit under the motto "Strengthening Multilateralism for Just Global Development and Security" commenced in Russia's city of Kazan and will issue its final declaration on Oct. 23, The Moscow Times reported on Oct. 22.

Russia: BRICS Summit Commences in Kazan

Assessments

Kenya

Moldova

Vehicles pass by a banner thanking outgoing Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and congratulating President-elect Prabowo Subianto and Vice President-elect Gibran Rakabuming Raka ahead of their Oct. 20 inauguration in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Oct. 17, 2024.

A look at what the coming week will bring -- and a list of recommended RANE articles from the week that was.

The Weekly Rundown: An Impeachment Case in Kenya, an Inauguration in Indonesia

Angola

Botswana

Comoros

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Lesotho

Madagascar

Malawi

Mauritius

Namibia

Seychelles

Eswatini

Tanzania

Zambia

Zimbabwe

Lebanon

Qatar

France

Yael Braun-Pivet, a French lawmaker for the ruling Renaissance party, delivers a speech after being reelected as National Assembly president following the third round of voting on July 18, 2024.

The Weekly Rundown: France Resumes Political Horse-Trading, Blinken Returns to Middle East

Photograph of the Union Buildings in Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa, at night. 

The government will likely face intra-coalition challenges and strong pushback from trade unions, but early signs of compromise from both the DA and ANC suggest it could successfully pass several structural reforms in the coming years.

The Challenges Facing South Africa's New Coalition Government 

Venezuela

Europe

Ukraine

U.S. President Joe Biden speaks during a press conference at the 75th NATO Summit in Washington, D.C., on July 11, 2024. 

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

U.S.-China Relations

U.S.-Iran Relations

Biden's exit from the U.S. presidential race will free him to pursue more aggressive action against Russia over Ukraine and increase pressure on Israel to end its war with Hamas. 

What To Expect from Biden's Foreign Policy Farewell Tour

Parc des Champions on July 4, 2024, at the foot of the Eiffel Tower at the Trocadero in Paris.

The Weekly Rundown: The Paris Olympics, Netanyahu Addresses Congress

Japan

The European Commission in Brussels. On July 18, incumbents Roberta Metsola and Ursula von der Leyen are expected to be confirmed for a second term as presidents of the European Parliament and the European Commission, respectively.

The Weekly Rundown: A New European Commission President, the Third Plenary Session of the CPC

Snapshots

A map illustrating Turkey (in red) and the BRICS countries (in blue).

Joining BRICS would underscore Turkey's balancing act between the West and the Global South, but the organization's weaknesses will limit its potential for economic growth.

For Turkey, BRICS Is Far From a Political and Economic Panacea

Australia

New Zealand

Germany

Switzerland

President Cyril Ramaphosa is sworn in as member of parliament during the first sitting of the new South African parliament on June 14 in Cape Town, South Africa. Ramaphosa will be inaugurated to a second term in a ceremony scheduled to take place June 19 in Pretoria.

The Weekly Rundown: Ukraine's Peace Summit, South Africa's Inauguration

South African President and leader of the African National Congress (ANC) Cyril Ramaphosa (center) delivers his remarks after the official announcement of the results of South Africa's general election at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand, on June 2, 2024. 

Global Elections

To secure a parliamentary majority, President Ramaphosa appears likely to seek an agreement with the center-right Democratic Alliance party, which would raise investor confidence but also risk triggering violent unrest.

What's Next for South Africa Following the ANC's Historic Electoral Defeat

Mexico

A rally for Morena party candidate Claudia Sheinbaum on May 29 in Mexico City's Zocalo.

The Weekly Rundown: South Africa's ANC Faces a Reckoning, Mexican Voters Select a New President

South Korea

United Kingdom

Supporters of the African National Congress (ANC) party dance, sing and chant slogans during a campaign march on May 24, 2024, in Johannesburg, South Africa. 

The Weekly Rundown: South Africa's General Election, Israel Resumes Hostage Talks With Hamas

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa greets supporters during an election rally on May 17, 2024, at Lakhis Sports Ground in Greytown, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. 

The May 29 election will likely usher in a new era of coalition governments in South Africa, with President Ramaphosa likely governing with the support of smaller, mostly centrist parties.

Previewing South Africa's General Election

At the tip of the African continent lies South Africa. The country borders Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique and also surrounds Lesotho and much of Swaziland. South Africa's current borders were consolidated by the British in 1910 as the Union of South Africa, following the Boer Wars between the United Kingdom and Dutch settlers.    The Drakensberg and Karoo mountains rim the coastlines, separating a dry interior from a coastal region, which captures the majority of the country's rainfall.    Two key factors distinguish South Africa from much of the rest of the continent. The country has a malaria-free climate, which attracted European settlers. It also has abundant mineral resources — including gold, diamonds, coal and platinum — in the north-central interior.    This mining area is the geographic core of South Africa — encompassing the cities of Johannesburg and Pretoria and adjoining parts of Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West and Free State provinces. This core is connected by road and rail to a series of ports — from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth, to Durban and Richards Bay — that carry goods and resources to and from Gauteng.    The wealth generated there underwrites financial, agricultural, industrial and manufacturing activity in other parts of South Africa.    South Africa's geographic challenge is to protect the extraction of natural resources in its interior while striving to maintain sufficient employment. It must then find ways to disperse enough wealth to appease its populations in the Gauteng and peripheral zones of the country.

SITUATION REPORTS

South Africa: Energy Ministry To Present Revised Energy Strategy

Mozambique: Opposition Leader Escapes Alleged Assassination Attempt in South Africa

South Africa: Coalition Government Presents First Medium-Term Budget

U.S.: TerraPower, ASP Isotopes Reach Deal on HALEU Production Facility in South Africa

South Africa: Pretoria Files Evidence to ICJ in Gaza Genocide Case Against Israel

BRICS: Bloc Creates Partner Status, Extends Status to 13 Countries

South Africa: SAFTU Vows Demonstrations Against Alleged Plans for Labor Reform

Russia: BRICS Summit Commences in Kazan

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