The IGD’s focus on African diplomacy seeks to understand and influence the changing role of Africa in world affairs. A component of this is to identify ways of improving decision-making and strengthening inter-institutional linkages to ensure positive outcomes from Africa’s agreements with other regions and countries. This includes a strategic role for the AU Commission and civil society. In 2011-15, the focus is on African decision-making in regard to EU-Africa and FOCAC as well as on South Africa’s role in Africa with a special reference to its peace diplomacy in the DRC, Sudan and Zimbabwe.

Currently the IGD is engaged in working with parties in the DRC, convening an inter-Congolese dialogue, to facilitate the foundations of peace and democracy within the country. The outcomes have been published in reports (both in French and English) highlighting the key elements of discussion as well as the dialogue outcomes. This focus on supporting interventions to end conflict and strengthen post-conflict reconstruction, with a particular emphasis on second-track peace diplomacy, also includes analysis of Cote d’Ivoire, Sudan and Zimbabwe.

Dr Siphamandla Zondi co-ordinates this programme. He is also part of an AU Technical Committee on Post-Conflict Development and Reconstruction in Sudan.