Namibia follows a largely independent foreign policy, with strong affiliations with states that aided the independence struggle, including Nigeria, Libya, and Cuba.
In Africa, Namibia has been involved in conflicts in neighbouring Angola as well as Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Namibia is a member of 47 international organizations. These are: [1]
Namibia became the 160th member of the United Nations on 23 April 1990 upon independence. [1]
Namibia is involved in several minor international disputes. [1]
List of countries which Namibia maintains diplomatic relations with: [2] [3]
# | Country | Date |
---|---|---|
1 | Algeria | 21 March 1990 |
2 | Brazil | 21 March 1990 [4] |
3 | Canada | 21 March 1990 [5] |
4 | Germany | 21 March 1990 [6] |
5 | Ghana | 21 March 1990 |
6 | Finland | 21 March 1990 |
7 | Iran | 21 March 1990 |
8 | Japan | 21 March 1990 |
9 | Kenya | 21 March 1990 [7] |
10 | Malawi | 21 March 1990 |
11 | Malaysia | 21 March 1990 |
12 | North Korea | 21 March 1990 |
13 | Norway | 21 March 1990 [8] |
14 | Poland | 21 March 1990 [9] |
15 | Romania | 21 March 1990 |
16 | Russia | 21 March 1990 |
17 | Serbia | 21 March 1990 |
18 | South Africa | 21 March 1990 [10] |
19 | South Korea | 21 March 1990 [6] |
20 | Sweden | 21 March 1990 |
21 | United States | 21 March 1990 |
22 | Zimbabwe | 21 March 1990 [11] |
23 | China | 22 March 1990 |
24 | Hungary | 22 March 1990 |
25 | Pakistan | 22 March 1990 [12] |
26 | Republic of the Congo | 23 March 1990 |
27 | Morocco | 23 March 1990 [13] |
28 | Tunisia | 23 March 1990 [14] |
29 | Kuwait | 27 March 1990 [15] |
30 | Turkey | 27 March 1990 [16] |
31 | Nigeria | 28 March 1990 |
32 | Spain | March 1990 [17] |
33 | United Kingdom | March 1990 [18] |
34 | Cuba | 2 April 1990 |
35 | Barbados | 6 April 1990 |
36 | Lesotho | 11 April 1990 [19] |
37 | Venezuela | 12 April 1990 |
38 | Mexico | 17 April 1990 [20] |
39 | Senegal | 18 April 1990 [21] |
40 | Italy | 20 April 1990 |
41 | Switzerland | 22 April 1990 |
42 | Netherlands | 23 April 1990 [22] |
43 | Colombia | 28 April 1990 |
44 | Liberia | 28 April 1990 [23] |
45 | Papua New Guinea | 30 April 1990 |
46 | France | 3 May 1990 [24] |
47 | Libya | 8 May 1990 [25] |
48 | Egypt | 20 May 1990 |
49 | Bulgaria | 6 June 1990 |
50 | Iraq | 3 July 1990 [26] |
51 | Cameroon | 10 July 1990 [27] |
52 | Peru | 11 July 1990 |
53 | Ecuador | 12 July 1990 |
54 | Maldives | 25 July 1990 |
55 | Botswana | 26 July 1990 |
56 | Argentina | 31 July 1990 |
57 | Albania | 2 August 1990 |
58 | Greece | 9 August 1990 |
59 | Benin | 13 August 1990 |
60 | Jamaica | 28 August 1990 |
61 | Angola | 18 September 1990 [28] |
62 | Belgium | 21 September 1990 |
63 | Democratic Republic of the Congo | October 1990 [29] |
64 | Afghanistan | 3 October 1990 |
65 | Austria | 5 October 1990 |
66 | Chile | 15 October 1990 |
67 | Mongolia | 30 October 1990 |
68 | Thailand | 6 November 1990 |
69 | Sudan | 8 November 1990 [30] |
70 | Suriname | 15 November 1990 |
71 | Zambia | 26 November 1990 |
72 | Yemen | 26 November 1990 [31] |
73 | Iceland | 10 December 1990 |
74 | India | 19 December 1990 |
75 | Rwanda | 21 December 1990 |
76 | Denmark | 1990 [32] |
77 | Ethiopia | 1990 [33] |
78 | Tanzania | 1990 [34] |
79 | New Zealand | 23 January 1991 [35] |
80 | Vietnam | 1 February 1991 |
— | State of Palestine | 2 May 1991 [36] |
81 | Indonesia | 13 May 1991 [37] |
— | Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic | 21 May 1991 |
82 | Portugal | 22 November 1991 [38] |
83 | Seychelles | 9 December 1991 [39] |
84 | Eswatini | 28 February 1992 |
85 | Ukraine | 5 October 1992 [40] |
86 | Ivory Coast | 3 December 1992 |
87 | Gabon | 1990–1992 [41] |
88 | Gambia | 1990–1992 [41] |
89 | Uganda | 1990–1992 [41] |
90 | Czech Republic | 1 January 1993 |
91 | Guatemala | 19 February 1993 |
92 | Eritrea | 28 January 1994 [42] |
93 | Israel | 11 February 1994 |
94 | Slovenia | 24 March 1994 [43] |
95 | Australia | 8 June 1994 [44] |
96 | Uruguay | 13 September 1994 [45] |
97 | Guyana | 3 November 1994 |
98 | Singapore | 9 November 1994 [46] |
99 | Trinidad and Tobago | 1 December 1994 |
100 | Ireland | 1994 [47] |
— | Holy See | 12 September 1995 [48] |
101 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 19 October 1995 [49] |
102 | Philippines | 17 May 1996 [50] |
103 | Brunei | 27 June 1996 |
104 | United Arab Emirates | 22 July 1996 |
105 | Cape Verde | 21 August 1996 [51] |
106 | Qatar | 16 October 1996 |
107 | Dominican Republic | 7 February 1997 |
108 | Slovakia | 9 November 1997 [52] |
109 | Latvia | 11 April 1997 [53] |
110 | Bangladesh | 16 July 1997 [44] |
111 | Mauritius | 16 July 1997 [44] |
112 | Croatia | 22 June 1998 |
113 | Sri Lanka | 8 April 1999 [54] |
114 | Uzbekistan | 30 August 1999 [55] |
115 | Kyrgyzstan | 29 November 2000 |
116 | Belarus | 21 December 2000 [56] |
117 | Panama | April 2000 [57] |
118 | Guinea | 18 September 2002 [58] |
119 | Sierra Leone | 18 September 2002 [58] |
120 | East Timor | 1 October 2003 |
121 | Estonia | 26 May 2004 [59] |
122 | Malta | October 2004 [60] [61] |
123 | Mali | 27 October 2004 [58] |
124 | Madagascar | 13 July 2005 [58] |
125 | Lithuania | 22 December 2005 [62] |
126 | Paraguay | 17 April 2006 [63] |
127 | Grenada | 15 July 2006 [64] |
128 | Armenia | 2 October 2006 [65] |
129 | Cyprus | 4 September 2007 [66] |
130 | Luxembourg | 20 September 2007 [67] |
131 | Bahamas | 15 May 2008 [68] |
132 | El Salvador | 5 August 2008 [69] |
— | Sovereign Military Order of Malta | 31 March 2009 [70] |
133 | Montenegro | 16 November 2009 |
134 | Burundi | 23 April 2010 |
135 | Cambodia | 25 June 2010 |
136 | Mauritania | 29 September 2010 [71] |
137 | Togo | 24 November 2010 [71] |
138 | South Sudan | 12 July 2011 [72] |
139 | Equatorial Guinea | 3 August 2011 [71] |
140 | North Macedonia | 21 December 2011 |
141 | Niger | 26 March 2014 [73] |
142 | Burkina Faso | 23 July 2014 [74] |
143 | Kazakhstan | 7 October 2014 [75] |
144 | Haiti | 24 October 2014 [76] |
145 | Costa Rica | 12 December 2014 [77] |
146 | Saudi Arabia | 29 July 2015 |
147 | Georgia | 5 November 2015 |
148 | Central African Republic | 21 July 2016 [78] |
149 | Chad | 25 October 2016 [79] |
150 | Djibouti | 15 May 2017 [80] |
151 | Oman | 27 February 2018 |
152 | São Tomé and Príncipe | 14 September 2018 [81] |
153 | Monaco | 12 September 2019 |
154 | Nicaragua | 16 October 2019 [82] |
155 | Azerbaijan | 17 October 2019 [83] |
156 | Saint Lucia | 29 October 2019 |
157 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 5 December 2019 [84] |
158 | Liechtenstein | 22 September 2021 [85] |
159 | Comoros | 20 October 2021 [86] |
160 | Guinea-Bissau | 8 December 2023 [87] |
161 | Lebanon | Unknown |
162 | Mozambique | Unknown |
163 | Somalia | Unknown |
Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
---|---|---|
Angola | See Angola–Namibia relations In 1999 Namibia signed a mutual defence pact with its northern neighbour Angola. This affected the Angolan Civil War that has been ongoing since Angola's independence in 1975. Namibia's ruling party SWAPO wanted to support the ruling party MPLA in Angola to fight the rebel movement UNITA, whose stronghold is in southern Angola, bordering Namibia. The defence pact allowed Angolan troops to use Namibian territory when attacking UNITA. The alliance between SWAPO and MPLA has deep roots and began as both Angola's and Namibia's ruling parties sought independence during the mid twentieth century and into the Angolan Civil War. In Angola, the leftist movement MPLA was fighting the rightist movement UNITA, which was supported by South Africa. In Namibia, SWAPO, then being a rebel movement, was fighting for independence from South Africa along the Angolan border. Angola allowed SWAPO to establish training and refugee camps for Namibians and PLAN (People's Liberation Army of Namibia) fighters. As MPLA and SWAPO shared a common ideological ground, and had a common enemy in South Africa, they came to cooperate. The Angolan civil war resulted in a large number of Angolan refugees coming to Namibia. At its peak in 2001 there were over 30,000 Angolan refugees in Namibia. The calmer situation in Angola has made it possible for many of them to return to their home with the help of UNHCR, and in 2004 only 12,600 remained in Namibia. [88] Most of them reside in the refugee camp Osire north of Windhoek. | |
Botswana | See Botswana–Namibia relations Botswana–Namibia relations are friendly, with the two neighbouring countries cooperating on economic development. Botswana gained independence from Britain in September 1966. Namibia gained independence from South Africa in 1990 following the Namibian War of Independence. | |
Eswatini | 28 February 1992 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 28 February 1992 [89]
|
Ethiopia | During the South African occupation of Namibia, Ethiopia was one of the country's leading proponents abroad; Ethiopia and Liberia were the first two states to bring the question of independence for then South West Africa to the United Nations. [90] In 2007, the two governments signed an agreement which expanded air travel between the two states. [91] In December 2009, Namibia's Foreign Minister, Marko Hausiku met with Ethiopian Foreign Affairs Minister Seyoum Mesfin and noted the economic, science, technical and cultural agreements in place between the two countries and expressed a desire to improve the trade relations. [92]
| |
Liberia | In 1960, Liberia and Ethiopia brought litigation against apartheid South Africa in the International Court of Justice to end its occupation of Namibia. [93] As part of Liberia's support for Namibia's liberation struggle, many Namibian students received Liberian passports which helped them study abroad. As of July 2008, a total of 5,900 Namibia Defence Force troops had been rotated through Liberia as part of the United Nations Mission in Liberia. [94] Namibia maintained a battalion of about 800 personnel in Grand Cape Mount county for several years, for most of the period part of UNMIL Sector 2, headquartered at Tubmanburg. In May 2005, Namibian troops were accused of sexual exploitation of young girls and women; three Namibian soldiers were sent home from the force after a United Nations investigation found them guilty of "engaging in sexual activity with civilians", which is against United Nations rules for peacekeepers. [95]
| |
Nigeria | 21 March 1990 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 21 March 1990 [96] Namibia and Nigeria have binding bilateral agreements, but as of 2014, trade between the two countries was low. In March 2014, Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan visited Namibia for Namibia's 24th independence day celebrations. The two countries also discussed establishing an oil refinery in Namibia for Nigerian oil. [97]
|
South Africa | See Namibia–South Africa relations Upon independence in 1990, Namibia's economy was still tied to South Africa's. [98] To this day, the economy of Namibia is still closely contacted to South Africa through both institutional relationships (Southern African Customs Union, for example) and privately owned mining concessions. [99] The South African rand is still legal currency within Namibia, while the Namibian dollar is not so in South Africa and the currencies are traded on par locally.
| |
Zambia | 5 August 1990 | See Namibia–Zambia relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 5 August 1990 [100]
|
Zimbabwe | See Namibia–Zimbabwe relations The ruling parties of Namibia (since independence in 1990) and Zimbabwe (since independence in 1980) have been close since pre-independence days, as both were anti-colonial movements against white-minority governments. [101] Namibia sent troops in the Namibia Defence Force to the Democratic Republic of the Congo alongside Zimbabwe in a SADC coalition to support President Joseph Kabila. [102]
|
Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
---|---|---|
Brazil | 1990 | See Brazil–Namibia relations |
Canada | See Canada–Namibia relations Canada's relationship with Namibia began in 1977 when Canada joined the Western Contact Group, a joint diplomatic effort of France, United Kingdom, United States, Canada and West Germany to bring an internationally acceptable transition to independence for Namibia. In 1990 official relations started; Canada has dispatched an Honorary Consul to Windhoek. [103] Canada is one of the main destinations for Namibian refugees. Together with Botswana and Denmark, Canada has been granting asylum to people fleeing Namibia in the aftermath of the Caprivi conflict, and particularly the Caprivi treason trial that followed in which the Namibian government was accused of human rights violations. [104] Only in 2010 Canada has changed its standpoint and is now considering the CLA to be a terrorist organisation that has "attempted to usurp an elected government". Nonetheless, Canada received a steady inflow of Namibian immigrants who seek economic betterment under the pretense of humiliation and harassment in Namibia. In 2011 more than 1,000 Namibians entered Canada. Three-quarters of them applied for refugee status, but only a few were successful. [105]
| |
Cuba | See Cuba–Namibia relations Cuban-Namibian relations date back to the Namibian War of Independence when Cuba politically, militarily and diplomatically supported the Namibian rebel organization and future ruling party, South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) against the military of Apartheid South Africa. [106] Since independence, Namibia and Cuba have held joint meetings every two years for Economic, Scientific-Technical and Commercial Cooperation. In 2005, it was reported that 1,460 Cuban professionals had worked in Namibia, including 208 in 2005. [106]
| |
Mexico | 17 April 1990 | See Mexico–Namibia relations Mexico recognized and established diplomatic relations with Namibia on 17 April 1990. In 1993, Mexico opened an embassy in Windhoek, however, the embassy was closed in 2002. [107] |
United States | See Namibia–United States relations U.S.-Namibian relations are good and continue to improve. Characterized by shared democratic values, commitment to rule of law, and respect for human rights, the bilateral relationship has been strengthened through trade ties and U.S. assistance programs. Namibia has seized opportunities created by AGOA. Currently the SACU countries and the U.S. are negotiating a Trade, Investment and Development Cooperation Agreement, scheduled to be signed in 2008. Namibia has been included in President Bush's International Mother and Child HIV Initiative and the Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. The U.S. Agency for International Development's (USAID) bilateral presence in Namibia has been extended until 2010. In addition to the Embassy, the Centers for Disease Control, Peace Corps, and the United States Department of Defense have offices in Windhoek.
|
Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
---|---|---|
China | See China–Namibia relations Governmental relations were first established the day after Namibia's independence, but relations with Namibian independence movements date back to the 1960s. [110] China and Namibia have developed close economic relations, with trade increasing twofold between the two countries from 2003 to 2006. During a February 2007 visit, Chinese President Hu Jintao pledged Namibia "RMB 1 billion of concessional loans, 100 million US dollars of preferential export buyer's credit, RMB 30 million yuan of grants and RMB 30 million of interest-free loans..." [110] | |
India | See India–Namibia relations Relations began between SWAPO and the Indian government prior to independence. In 2010, relations were described by Indian officials as "warm and cordial". India has been involved in training the Namibian Air Force and bilateral trade in 2008–09 stood at $80 million. [111] | |
Indonesia | See Indonesia–Namibia relations
| |
Israel | See Israel–Namibia relations
| |
Japan | See Japan–Namibia relations Diplomatic relations between Japan and Namibia were established in March 1990.
| |
Malaysia | See Malaysia–Namibia relations Both countries were once part of the British Empire and before Namibia achieved its independence, Malaysia has contributed to some operations in Namibia by sending a group of soldiers to help monitor the Namibian elections and peace process. [114] Today, the relations are much more focused in economic cooperation.
| |
Turkey | 1966 [115] | See Namibia–Turkey relations |
Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
---|---|---|
Finland | See Finland–Namibia relations Finland recognised Namibia on 21 March 1990. Both countries established diplomatic relations on the same day, and Namibia was represented in Finland through its embassy in Stockholm, Sweden. Since 2015 Namibia has an embassy in Helsinki. Finland has an embassy in Windhoek and an honorary consulate in Walvis Bay. [116] Finland has stated it is a staunch supporter of Namibian independence. [117] The Finnish Government has provided assistance in the sectors of forestry, water, environment and health. [118] Namibia's exports to Finland increased from N$810 million in 2004 to over N$1 billion (approximately 90 million EUR) in 2007. [119] In June 2008, Prime Minister of Namibia Nahas Angula visited Finland. [120]
| |
Germany | See Germany–Namibia relations First contacts between people of the two countries took place when German missionaries were hired by the London Missionary Society to commence working in Southern Namibia during the late 18th and early 19th century. [121] In the 1880s the German Empire came to what is now Namibia as a colonizing power, creating German South-West Africa. The German colonial rule was marked by tensions and led to the genocide of the Herero and Namaqua people from 1904 to 1907, which resulted in the deaths of 65,000 Herero (80 percent of the total Herero population), and 10,000 Nama (50% of the total Nama population). The colony was ruled by Germany until 1915 when it was conquered by troops from the Union of South Africa. During South African rule, German was one of the three official languages of Namibia, the others being Afrikaans and English. Likewise during Apartheid rule, West Germany maintained a consulate in Windhoek despite United Nations resolutions calling for the isolation of South Africa. Namibian independence in 1990 coincided with German reunification, resulting in an initially slow development of diplomatic relations. However, in both 1989 and 2004 the German government acknowledged its responsibility for Namibia as a priority partner country. [122] Since then German Development minister Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul visited Namibia, asking the country for forgiveness of the past. [123] Today, not least due to substantially improved co-operation and exchange, as well as by fate of the permanent presence of the "German tribe in Namibia", the two countries have mostly learnt to a new dialogue, which at times also still stagnates.
| |
North Macedonia | On 21 December 2011 North Macedonia and Namibia established diplomatic relations at ambassadorial level when the Ambassadors of both countries to the UN, Pajo Avirovic and Wilfried Emvula respectively, signed the joint communiqué. With the establishment of diplomatic relations, Namibia recognised Macedonia under its constitutional name the 'Republic of Macedonia' as opposed to its provisional name the 'former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia'; in doing so Namibia became the 133 country to recognise Macedonia's constitutional name. [124]
| |
Poland | See Namibia–Poland relations
| |
Russia | See Namibia–Russia relations Relations between Namibia and Russia were considered "excellent" in 2006 by then-Namibian Minister of Education Nangolo Mbumba, while Russia expressed a desire for even stronger relations, particularly in the economic field. Also in 2006, the Namibia-Russia Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation was officially opened during a visit by Russian Natural Resources Minister Yuri Trutnev to Windhoek. During said visit, the Minister said Russia was interested in investing in oil, hydro-electric power and tourism. [125] In 2007, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov held discussions with Namibian Deputy Prime Minister Nahas Angula and President Hifikepunye Pohamba in regards to the possibility of developing Namibia's significant uranium deposits with an aim towards creating a nuclear power plant in the country. [126] In 2008, Trutnev returned to Namibia, this time to Swakopmund, to meet at the third annual Intergovernmental Commission. Top foreign ministry official Marco Hausiku and his deputy Lempy Lucas represented Namibia in discussions with Trutnev. [127]
| |
Serbia | 1990 | Diplomatic relations between Namibia and Serbia were officially established in 1990. [128] Serbia, then part of Yugoslavia, provided education, training, and financial support for SWAPO members during the entirety of the South African Border War, and the two countries have shared close relations ever since. [129] During the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia in 1999, Namibia, which was then on the UN Security Council, voted with Russia and China for an immediate cessation of NATO attacks. Namibia also strongly supports the Serbian position on the Kosovo dispute. [130]
|
Spain | See Namibia–Spain relations
| |
Sweden | See Namibia–Sweden relations
| |
Switzerland |
| |
United Kingdom | See Namibia–United Kingdom relations
|
Namibia has been a Commonwealth republic since 1990, when South West Africa became independent of South Africa.
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(help)The foreign relations of Angola are based on Angola's strong support of U.S. foreign policy as the Angolan economy is dependent on U.S. foreign aid. From 1975 to 1989, Angola was aligned with the Eastern bloc, in particular the Soviet Union, Libya, and Cuba. Since then, it has focused on improving relationships with Western countries, cultivating links with other Portuguese-speaking countries, and asserting its own national interests in Central Africa through military and diplomatic intervention. In 1993, it established formal diplomatic relations with the United States. It has entered the Southern African Development Community as a vehicle for improving ties with its largely Anglophone neighbors to the south. Zimbabwe and Namibia joined Angola in its military intervention in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where Angolan troops remain in support of the Joseph Kabila government. It also has intervened in the Republic of the Congo (Brazzaville) in support of Denis Sassou-Nguesso in the civil war.
Botswana has put a premium on economic and political integration in southern Africa. It has sought to make the Southern African Development Community (SADC) a working vehicle for economic development, and it has promoted efforts to make the region self-policing in terms of preventive diplomacy, conflict resolution, and good governance.
The foreign relations of the Dominican Republic are the Dominican Republic's relations with other governments.
Gabon has followed a non-aligned policy, advocating dialogue in international affairs and recognizing both parts of divided countries. Since 1973, the number of countries establishing diplomatic relations with Gabon has doubled. In inter-African affairs, Gabon espouses development by evolution rather than revolution and favors regulated free enterprise as the system most likely to promote rapid economic growth. Concerned about stability in Central Africa and the potential for intervention, Gabon has been directly involved with mediation efforts in Chad, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, Angola, and former Zaire. In December 1999, through the mediation efforts of President Bongo, a peace accord was signed in the Republic of Congo between the government and most leaders of an armed rebellion. President Bongo has remained involved in the continuing Congolese peace process. Gabon has been a strong proponent of regional stability, and Gabonese armed forces played an important role in the UN Peacekeeping Mission to the Central African Republic (MINURCA).
Liechtenstein's foreign economic policy has been dominated by its customs union with Switzerland. This union also led to its independent membership in the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) in 1991. Unlike Switzerland however, Liechtenstein is part of the European Economic Area.
Malawi's former President Bakili Muluzi continued the pro-Western foreign policy established by his predecessor, Hastings Banda. It maintains excellent diplomatic relations with principal Western countries. Malawi's close relations with South Africa throughout the apartheid era strained its relations with other African nations. Following the collapse of apartheid in 1994, Malawi developed, and currently maintains, strong diplomatic relations with all African countries.
Mauritius has strong and friendly relations with the West, with South Asian countries and with the countries of southern and eastern Africa. It is a member of the World Trade Organization, the Commonwealth of Nations, La Francophonie, the African Union, the Southern Africa Development Community, the Indian Ocean Commission, COMESA, and the recently formed Indian Ocean Rim Association.
While alliances dating back to the Mozambican War of Independence remain relevant, Mozambique's foreign policy has become increasingly pragmatic. The twin pillars of the policy are maintenance of good relations with its neighbors and maintenance and expansion of ties to development partners.
Since independence, with Jaja Wachuku as the first Minister for Foreign Affairs and Commonwealth Relations, later called External Affairs, Nigerian foreign policy has been characterised by a focus on Africa as a regional power and by attachment to several fundamental principles: African unity and independence; capability to exercise hegemonic influence in the region: peaceful settlement of disputes; non-alignment and non-intentional interference in the internal affairs of other nations; and regional economic cooperation and development. In carrying out these principles, Nigeria participates in the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Non-Aligned Movement, the Commonwealth of Nations, and the United Nations.
Paraguayan foreign policy has concentrated on maintaining good relations with its neighbors, and it has been an active proponent of regional co-operation. It is a member of the United Nations and has served one term in the UN Security Council in 1967-1969. It maintains membership in several international financial institutions, including the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, and the International Monetary Fund. It also belongs to the Organization of American States, the Latin American Integration Association (ALADI), the Rio Group, INTERPOL, MERCOSUR and UNASUR.
For the two decades preceding the Republic of the Congo's 1991 National Conference, the country was firmly in the socialist camp, allied principally with the Soviet Union and other Eastern bloc nations. Educational, economic, and foreign aid links between Congo and its Eastern bloc allies were extensive, with the Congolese military and security forces receiving significant Soviet, East German, and Cuban assistance.
The foreign relations of South Africa have spanned from the country's time as a Dominion of the British Empire to its isolationist policies under apartheid to its position as a responsible international actor taking a key role in Africa, particularly Southern Africa. South Africa is a member of the United Nations, the African Union and the Commonwealth of Nations. Considered a possible permanent addition to the United Nations Security Council, South Africa was elected in 2006, 2010 and 2018 by the UN General Assembly to serve on the Security Council. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa was the chair of the African Union from 2020 to 2021, the second time South Africa has chaired the organisation since its formation in 2003.
Eswatini is a member of the United Nations, the Commonwealth of Nations, the African Union, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, and the Southern African Development Community. Currently, the Kingdom of Eswatini maintains 11 embassies and High Commissions along with 15 consulates and other representations around the world, while there are five embassies and High Commissions in Eswatini as well as 14 consulates and other representations.
Tanzania's first president, Julius Nyerere also was one of the founding members of the Non-Aligned Movement, and, during the Cold War era, Tanzania played an important role in regional and international organisations, such as the Non-Aligned Movement, the front-line states, the G-77, and the Organisation of African Unity (OAU). One of Africa's best-known elder statesmen, Nyerere was personally active in many of these organisations, and served chairman of the OAU (1984–85) and chairman of six front-line states concerned with eliminating apartheid in Southern Africa. Nyerere was also involved with peace negotiations in Burundi until his death. Nyerere's death, on 14 October 1999, is still commemorated annually.
Former President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali has maintained Tunisia's long-time policy of seeking good relations with the West, while playing an active role in Arab and African regional bodies. President Habib Bourguiba took a nonaligned stance but emphasized close relations with Europe, Pakistan, and the United States.
After independence in 1964 the foreign relations of Zambia were mostly focused on supporting liberation movements in other countries in Southern Africa, such as the African National Congress and SWAPO. During the Cold War Zambia was a member of the Non-Aligned Movement.
Uganda has formal diplomatic relations with many countries, some accredited. Since the colonial era and after independence Uganda has grown to be one of the most important African countries. Uganda has diplomatic relations with many countries throughout Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe and Oceania. Uganda is a member of the United Nations and the Commonwealth of Nations since 1962.
Until independence in 1975, São Tomé and Príncipe had few ties abroad except those that passed through Portugal. Following independence, the new government sought to expand its diplomatic relationships. A common language, tradition, and colonial legacy have led to close collaboration between São Tomé and other ex-Portuguese colonies in Africa, particularly Angola. São Toméan relations with other African countries in the region, such as Gabon and the Republic of the Congo, are also good. In December 2000, São Tomé signed the African Union treaty; it was later ratified by the National Assembly.
The Bahamas has a strong bilateral relationship with the United Kingdom, represented by a High Commissioner in London. The Bahamas also associates closely with other nations of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).
Its location in the center of Africa has made the Democratic Republic of the Congo a key player in the region since independence. Because of its size, mineral wealth, and strategic location, Zaire was able to capitalize on Cold War tensions to garner support from the West. In the early 1990s, however, with the end of the Cold War and in the face of growing evidence of human rights abuses, Western support waned as pressure for internal reform increased.