Jacob Zuma

=== Foreign policy ===
{{See also|List of international presidential trips made by Jacob Zuma}}
Zuma's first state visit as president was to [[Angola]], where he sought to improve relations with the government of President [[José Eduardo dos Santos]], who had had a tense relationship with Mbeki.<ref name="Landsberg-2012" /><ref name="Cilliers-2017">{{Cite journal |last=Cilliers |first=Jakkie |date=2017-06-08 |title=Life beyond BRICS? South Africa's future foreign policy interests |url=https://issafrica.org/research/southern-africa-report/life-beyond-brics-south-africas-future-foreign-policy-interests |journal=Southern Africa Report |publisher=ISS Africa |volume=9}}</ref> His government's [[foreign policy]] emphasised the [[Economic development|developmental]] objectives of African and [[Global North and Global South|Global South]] countries<ref name="Landsberg-2012" /> with a focus on [[economic diplomacy]].<ref name="Landsberg-2012" /><ref name="Cilliers-2017" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Fabricius |first=Peter |date=2021-08-31 |title=A fit for purpose foreign policy: Dispense with parochial approaches and recognise international opportunities |url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-08-31-a-fit-for-purpose-foreign-policy-dispense-with-parochial-approaches-and-recognise-international-opportunities/ |access-date=2022-01-12 |website=Daily Maverick |language=en}}</ref>  It was also characterised by a pivot towards the [[BRIC]], especially China.<ref name="Shipalana-2017" /><ref name="Mpungose-2018">{{Cite web|last=Mpungose|first=Luanda|date=2018-02-22|title=South Africa's foreign policy under Zuma: towards greater strategic partnerships|url=https://saiia.org.za/research/south-africa-s-foreign-policy-under-zuma-towards-greater-strategic-partnerships/|access-date=2022-01-12|website=SAIIA|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Maphaka|first=Dominic|date=2020-12-18|title=A Shift or Priority? An Afrocentric Analysis of Zuma's Foreign Policy towards China|url=https://upjournals.up.ac.za/index.php/strategic_review/article/view/75|journal=The Strategic Review for Southern Africa|language=en|volume=42|issue=2|pages=87–108|doi=10.35293/srsa.v42i2.75|s2cid=234511314|issn=1013-1108|doi-access=free}}</ref> In December 2010, South Africa became a formal member of BRIC, which was then renamed [[BRICS]],<ref name="foreignpolicyjournal.com">{{cite web|last=Graceffo|first=Antonio|date=21 January 2011|title=BRIC Becomes BRICS: Changes on the Geopolitical Chessboard|url=http://www.foreignpolicyjournal.com/2011/01/21/bric-becomes-brics-changes-on-the-geopolitical-chessboard/2/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110126031749/http://www.foreignpolicyjournal.com/2011/01/21/bric-becomes-brics-changes-on-the-geopolitical-chessboard/2/|archive-date=26 January 2011|access-date=12 January 2022|website=Foreign Policy Journal}}</ref> and Zuma attended the group's [[3rd BRICS summit|third summit meeting]] in [[Sanya]], China, in 2011. South Africa's admission followed a concerted campaign for membership and has been described as "a huge diplomatic coup" and "the most important foreign policy achievement of the Zuma administration".<ref name="Cilliers-2017" />[[File:Naoto Kan Barack Obama David Cameron and Jacob Zuma 20100625.jpg|thumb|left|Zuma speaks with [[Barack Obama]] and [[David Cameron]] at a [[Group of Eight|G8]] African Outreach meeting in 2010|240x240px]]During South Africa's tenure on the [[United Nations Security Council]], Zuma's administration was criticised for deviating in its stance on certain foreign regimes, especially in its attitudes towards international intervention in [[Civil war|civil conflicts]]. It voted in favour of [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 1970|Resolution 1970]] and [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973|Resolution 1973]] but condemned their use by the [[NATO|North Atlantic Treaty Organisation]] (NATO) as the basis for [[2011 military intervention in Libya|military intervention]] in [[First Libyan Civil War|Libya]].<ref name="Landsberg-2012" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-06-14 |title=Zuma lashes Nato for 'abusing' UN resolutions on Libya |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2011-06-14-zuma-lashes-nato-for-abusing-un-resolutions-on-libya/ |access-date=2022-01-12 |website=[[Mail & Guardian]] |language=en-ZA}}</ref> It also voted in favour of a 2012 resolution calling for Syrian President [[Bashar al-Assad]] to step down,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Harris |first=Paul |date=2012-02-04 |title=Syria resolution vetoed by Russia and China at United Nations |url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/feb/04/assad-obama-resign-un-resolution |access-date=2022-01-12 |website=The Guardian |language=en}}</ref> but established friendly relations with the Assad regime after the [[2014 Syrian presidential election]].<ref>{{cite web |last=al-Sabbagh |first=Hazem |date=23 June 2014 |title=President al-Assad receives congratulatory cable from South African President Zuma |url=http://www.sana.sy/en/?p=4016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150214164805/http://www.sana.sy/en/?p=4016 |archive-date=14 February 2015 |access-date=20 April 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Fabricius |first=Peter |date=2016-06-05 |title=Syrian horrors 'exaggerated', claims Mfeketo |url=https://www.iol.co.za/sundayindependent/syrian-horrors-exaggerated-claims-mfeketo-2030555 |access-date=2022-01-12 |website=[[Independent Online (South Africa)|Sunday Independent]] |language=en}}</ref> The administration also appeared to vacillate in its response to the disputed [[2010 Ivorian presidential election|2010 presidential election]] in Côte d'Ivoire.<ref name="Landsberg-2012" />

==== Zimbabwe ====

In Zimbabwe, Mbeki had advocated for non-confrontational "quiet diplomacy" as an alternative to the "megaphone diplomacy" used by Western governments that harshly criticised [[Robert Mugabe]]'s regime.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Russell|first=Alec|date=2008-04-16|title=Mbeki's stance on Zimbabwe under fire|work=Financial Times|url=https://www.ft.com/content/364a7e70-0bd3-11dd-9840-0000779fd2ac|access-date=2022-01-12}}</ref> This approach was controversial, with elements of the ruling alliance calling for a tougher stance against Mugabe and the ruling [[ZANU–PF]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Lodge|first=Tom|date=27 October 2004|title=Quiet diplomacy in Zimbabwe: a case study of South Africa in Africa|page=7|work=Paper delivered to the African Studies Centre, [[Leiden]]|url=http://wiserweb.wits.ac.za/PDF%20Files/wirs%20-%20lodge.pdf|url-status=dead|access-date=14 July 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080910185647/http://wiserweb.wits.ac.za/PDF%20Files/wirs%20-%20lodge.pdf|archive-date=10 September 2008}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Russell|first=Alec|date=2008-04-17|title=Mbeki's 'quiet diplomacy' meets an ever louder response|work=Financial Times|url=https://www.ft.com/content/ca920680-0ca9-11dd-86df-0000779fd2ac|access-date=2022-01-12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Alden|first=Chris|date=2002-06-01|title=South Africa's 'Quiet Diplomacy' and the crisis in Zimbabwe|url=https://journals.openedition.org/cea/1341|journal=Cadernos de Estudos Africanos|language=en|issue=2|pages=187–211|doi=10.4000/cea.1341|issn=1645-3794|doi-access=free|hdl=10071/3100|hdl-access=free}}</ref> In a 2006 interview with ''[[Der Spiegel]]'', Zuma had supported quiet diplomacy and said of Mugabe:<blockquote>The Europeans often ignore the fact that Mugabe is very popular among Africans... The people love him. So how can we condemn him? Many in Africa believe that there is a racist aspect to European and American criticism of Mugabe. Millions of blacks died in Angola, the Republic of Congo and Rwanda. A few whites lost their lives in Zimbabwe, unfortunately, and already the West is bent out of shape.<ref>{{cite news|date=20 December 2006|title=The West Is Bent out of Shape|work=Der Spiegel|url=http://www.spiegel.de/international/spiegel/0,1518,455681,00.html|url-status=live|access-date=14 July 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080810212413/https://www.spiegel.de/international/spiegel/0,1518,455681,00.html|archive-date=10 August 2008}}</ref></blockquote>
[[File:The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh interacting with the President of South Africa, Mr. Jacob Zuma, at the G-20 Summit, at Pittsburgh, USA on September 25, 2009.jpg|thumb|Zuma and Indian Prime Minister [[Manmohan Singh]] at the 2009 [[G20]] summit]]
By December 2007, Zuma was more forthcoming in criticising Zimbabwe's leadership, contrasting his own policy to Mbeki's, and observing that it was "tragic that other world leaders who witness repression pretend it is not happening, or is exaggerated".<ref>{{cite news|date=16 December 2007|title=Zuma blasts Mbeki's Zimbabwe quiet diplomacy|work=[[Zimbabwe Metro]]|url=http://zimbabwemetro.com/2007/12/16/zuma-blasts-mbeki-s-zimbabwe-quiet-diplomacy/|url-status=dead|access-date=18 December 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071217061621/http://zimbabwemetro.com/2007/12/16/zuma-blasts-mbeki-s-zimbabwe-quiet-diplomacy/|archive-date=17 December 2007}}</ref> He was critical of the Zimbabwean government's behaviour during the disputed [[2008 Zimbabwean general election|March 2008 elections in Zimbabwe]] and called the delays "suspicious".<ref>{{cite news|date=9 April 2008|title=Zuma condemns Zimbabwe poll delay|publisher=BBC|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7337986.stm|url-status=live|access-date=14 July 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080413062618/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7337986.stm|archive-date=13 April 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=11 April 2008|title=ZIMBABWE: Mugabe is losing the region's support|work=IRIN (UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs)|url=http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?ReportID=77725|url-status=live|access-date=14 July 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080418064638/http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?ReportId=77725|archive-date=18 April 2008}}</ref> In a press conference on 24 June he said, "We cannot agree with ZANU-PF. We cannot agree with them on values. We fought for the right of people to vote, we fought for democracy."<ref>{{cite news|date=24 June 2008|title=Zuma: Zimbabwe is out of control|work=[[Mail & Guardian]]|url=http://www.mg.co.za/article/2008-06-24-zuma-zimbabwe-is-out-of-control|url-status=live|access-date=14 July 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080704161502/http://www.mg.co.za/article/2008-06-24-zuma-zimbabwe-is-out-of-control|archive-date=4 July 2008}}</ref> At an ANC dinner in July, he rebuked Mugabe for refusing to step down,<ref>{{cite news|date=9 July 2008|title=Mugabe has overstayed welcome, Zuma|work=The Zimbabwe Times|url=http://www.thezimbabwetimes.com/?p=827|url-status=dead|access-date=14 July 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081121213710/http://www.thezimbabwetimes.com/?p=827|archive-date=21 November 2008}}</ref> and in November he said that the [[Southern African Development Community|South African Development Community]] (SADC) should "force" Zimbabwean leaders to reach an agreement, if necessary.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2008-11-07|title=Zuma says summit must "force" Zimbabwe deal|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-zimbabwe-politics-zuma-idUKTRE4A64XR20081107|access-date=2022-01-12}}</ref>

In 2010, Zuma called for international sanctions against Mugabe and his allies to be lifted.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2010-03-03|title=S.Africa's Zuma backs end to Zimbabwe sanctions|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/ozatp-safrica-zuma-20100303-idAFJOE62202020100303|access-date=2022-01-12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2010-03-02|title=Jacob Zuma calls for sanctions on Zimbabwe to be lifted|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/mar/02/jacob-zuma-robert-mugable-sanctions|access-date=2022-01-12|website=The Guardian|language=en}}</ref> After a March 2013 meeting with Mugabe in [[Pretoria]], he highlighted the commonalities between his and Mugabe's political parties, telling the press, "We share the same values, we went through the same route... We believe that our positions as former liberation movements need to be consolidated."<ref name="Drum-2013">{{Cite web|date=2013-03-08|title=Mugabe visits SA|url=https://www.news24.com/drum/news/mugabe-visits-sa-20170728|access-date=2022-01-12|website=Drum|publisher=News24|language=en-US}}</ref> Despite tensions in later months, as Zuma and SADC attempted to nudge Mugabe towards democratic reforms,<ref>{{Cite web|date=2013-07-12|title=Rift between Zanu-PF and SA deepens|url=https://mg.co.za/article/2013-07-12-rift-between-zanu-pf-and-sa-deepens/|access-date=2022-01-12|website=[[Mail & Guardian]] |language=en-ZA}}</ref> the ''[[Business Day (South Africa)|Business Day]]'' reported that relations between the countries remained "cordial" throughout Zuma's presidency.<ref name="Matsabu-2017">{{Cite web|last=Matsabu|first=Tokollo|date=2017-12-20|title=Emmerson Mnangagwa to meet Jacob Zuma in first official visit to SA|url=https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/world/africa/2017-12-20-emmerson-mnangagwa-to-meet-jacob-zuma-in-first-official-visit-to-sa/|access-date=2022-01-12|website=Business Day|language=en-ZA}}</ref>

==== International Criminal Court ====
South Africa hosted the 25th Summit of the AU in [[Johannesburg]] from 7 to 15 June 2015. It was attended by Sudanese president [[Omar al-Bashir]], then a fugitive from the [[International Criminal Court]] (ICC), which sought to prosecute him on charges of [[genocide]] and [[crimes against humanity]]. South Africa was a signatory to the [[Rome Statute]], which obliged it to arrest al-Bashir, but instead granted him diplomatic immunity while he attended the summit.<ref name="News24-2015b">{{Cite web|date=2015-06-15|title=Laughter as court told al-Bashir has left|url=https://www.news24.com/News24/Laughter-as-court-told-al-Bashir-has-left-20150615|access-date=2022-01-12|website=News24|language=en-US}}</ref> While the matter was being adjudicated by a South African High Court, and just after Judge President [[Dunstan Mlambo]] ordered al-Bashir's arrest, the state's lawyer told the court that he had left the country.<ref name="News24-2015b" /> His plane left from [[Air Force Base Waterkloof|Waterkloof Air Force Base]], presumably with the government's knowledge<ref name="Cilliers-2017" /><ref>{{Cite news|last=Onishi|first=Norimitsu|date=2015-06-15|title=Omar al-Bashir, Leaving South Africa, Eludes Arrest Again|language=en-US|work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/16/world/africa/omar-hassan-al-bashir-sudan-south-africa.html|access-date=2022-01-12|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> and reportedly with Zuma's explicit approval.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Hunter|first=Qaanitah|date=2015-06-18|title=How Zuma and ministers plotted Omar al-Bashir's escape|url=https://mg.co.za/article/2015-06-18-how-zuma-and-ministers-plotted-omar-al-bashirs-escape/|access-date=2022-01-12|website=[[Mail & Guardian]] |language=en-ZA}}</ref> When it was criticised for this breach, the South African government argued that the ICC was used unfairly against African heads of state while failing to hold Western leaders to the same standards.<ref name="Mpungose-2018" /><ref>{{Cite web|last=Bowcott|first=Owen|date=2015-06-15|title=Sudan president Omar al-Bashir leaves South Africa as court considers arrest|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jun/15/south-africa-to-fight-omar-al-bashirs-arrest-warrant-sudan|access-date=2022-01-12|website=The Guardian|language=en}}</ref> In 2016, it announced in [[New York City|New York]] that it was withdrawing from the ICC,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Du Plessis|first=Max|date=2017-12-10|title=South Africa's latest threat to withdraw from the ICC, or, How to Squander Leadership|url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2017-12-11-south-africas-latest-threat-to-withdraw-from-the-icc-or-how-to-squander-leadership/|access-date=2022-01-12|website=Daily Maverick|language=en}}</ref> and Zuma's administration subsequently tabled legislation to effect the withdrawal.<ref name="Fabricius-2019">{{Cite web |last=Fabricius |first=Peter |date=2019-11-15 |title=Is Ramaphosa still kicking the ICC can down the road? |url=https://issafrica.org/iss-today/is-ramaphosa-still-kicking-the-icc-can-down-the-road |access-date=2022-01-12 |website=ISS Africa |language=en}}</ref>