The United States fears unstable coalition rule in SA…

The United States fears that “any coalition government” in South Africa would be unstable and might not hold. This is the concern shared by a former diplomat to both South African governments, Dr. Edward Mienie, who is the Executive Director and Professor of Strategic & Security Studies & External Relations at the University of North Georgia in the United States. He stresses that the US needs a “stable” government so that South Africa can serve as a “bulwark” against Chinese and Russian expansionism in Africa - and says if the US lost South Africa as a partner, it would lose its influence in sub-Saharan Africa. “…they cannot afford to lose South Africa to the influence of Russia or China. It's not in the national security interests of the United States at all.” Dr Mienie thinks the “most stable” coalition government would be between the African National Congress (ANC), the Democratic Alliance (DA), and “perhaps” the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP). However, he warns that the ideological differences between the ANC and the DA “on many fronts’ would take “some nifty negotiations”. Meanwhile, Dr Mienie believes the US should - and will - maintain AGOA with South Africa.