RL31697
South Africa: Current Issues and U.S. Relations
October 07, 2008
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Summary
Over a decade after the South African majority gained its independence from white minority rule under apartheid, a system of racial segregation, the Republic of South Africa is firmly established as a regional superpower and is considered to be one of the United States' two strategic partners on the continent, along with Nigeria. With Africa's largest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and a government eager to play an active role in the promotion of regional peace and stability, South Africa is poised to have a substantial impact on the economic and political future of Africa. South Africa, twice the size of Texas, has a population of 44 million, of which about 79% is African and 10% white, and a diverse economy. The South African political system is regarded as stable, but it faces serious long-term challenges arising from poverty, unemployment, and the AIDS epidemic. The September 2008 resignation of President Thabo Mbeki, replaced by interim President Kgalema Motlanthe, is not expected to result in major policy changes prior to the 2009 elections. The African National Congress (ANC), which led the struggle against apartheid, continues to dominate the political scene, controlling the presidency, over two-thirds of the National Assembly, all nine provinces, and five of the nation's six largest cities. The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) and the South African Communist Party, key ANC partners, have been critical of the Mbeki government, arguing that its policies have increased unemployment and failed to respond adequately to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Jacob Zuma was recently elected as head of the ANC, and is expected to be the party's candidate in the 2009 presidential elections, although outstanding corruption charges could affect his candidacy. South Africa has one of the largest HIV/AIDS populations in the world, with as many as six million South Africans reportedly HIV positive. The Mbeki government's policy on HIV/AIDS has been controversial. The country has weathered a series of corruption scandals, and continues to struggle with high crime and unemployment rates. Mounting social tensions related to the competition for jobs, resources, and social services led to an eruption of xenophobic violence against immigrants in May 2008. Nevertheless, South Africa is currently experiencing its longest period of steady economic growth, and analysts expect the government's widely praised economic reform program to show substantial results. U.S. relations with South Africa are cordial, and South Africa has benefitted from export opportunities offered under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA, P.L. 106-200). However, the U.S. and South African administrations have expressed differences with respect to the situations in Zimbabwe, Iran, and Iraq, and U.S. officials have articulated frustration with the South African government on positions it has taken while serving on the United Nations Security Council. This report will be updated as events warrant. Related CRS reports include CRS Report RL33584, AIDS in Africa; CRS Report RL32723, Zimbabwe; CRS Report RL34509, Zimbabwe: 2008 Elections; CRS Report RL31772, U.S. Trade and Investment Relationship with Sub-Saharan Africa: The African Growth and Opportunity Act and Beyond; and CRS Report RS21387, United States-Southern African Customs Union (SACU) Free Trade Agreement Negotiations: Background and Potential Issues.
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Related Legislation:
- S.2138
