The New South Africa confronts Abacha's Nigeria: The politics of human rights in a seminal relationship

Abstract

The 'new' South Africa's effort to confront and bring pressure to bear on the rights-abusive Nigerian military regime of General Sani Abacha is revisited in this article as a seminal case in a pivotal relationship. The challenge posed by the Abacha regime put to the test two central pillars of post-apartheid foreign policy: the promotion of human rights and democracy; and the commitment to put Africa at the forefront of foreign policy choices. The widely held perception that the government failed to manage this test adequately led to important 'lesson-learning' among South Africa's foreign policy community, and has strongly influenced subsequent policy-making, especially related to human rights. Two sets of analytical lessons are emphasised. The first concerns the complex, identity-based challenge for South Africa of becoming a country of Africa. The second concerns the role and adaptation of the country's civil society in a 'post-liberation' context. Both highlight the protracted challenges of democratic consolidation in the new South Africa.