Relationship dossier
South Africa
Syria
Relationship assessment
Political affinity and calls for a negotiated settlement, with limited evidence of extensive bilateral cooperation
South Africa toward Syria
+15South Africa has supported United Nations efforts aimed at addressing the Syrian conflict, including voting for resolutions establishing the 2012 observer mission and the 2013 chemical-weapons framework. Its government has also favored a political settlement and emphasized respect for Syrian sovereignty.
Syria toward South Africa
+20The Syrian government historically supported the anti-apartheid struggle, aligning itself with the movement that became South Africa’s governing African National Congress. This political affinity is a significant feature of the relationship, though the extent of subsequent bilateral cooperation is unclear.
Overall relationship
+15The relationship combines South Africa’s preference for negotiated conflict resolution and respect for Syrian sovereignty with Syria’s historical support for the anti-apartheid struggle. These features indicate political affinity, but the scale and durability of practical bilateral cooperation are unclear.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
South Africa has generally favored a negotiated political resolution to the Syrian conflict and emphasized Syria’s sovereignty, including through its votes on United Nations measures concerning Syria. Syria’s historical support for the anti-apartheid struggle provides a basis for longstanding political affinity. The relationship has not been marked by a broad, clearly established program of bilateral cooperation.
Key developments
The United Nations Security Council established a United Nations observer mission in Syria; South Africa voted in favor of the resolution.
The United Nations Security Council adopted a framework for eliminating Syria’s chemical weapons; South Africa voted in favor of the resolution.
Major uncertainties
- The extent and practical effects of bilateral cooperation beyond political engagement are unclear.
- The scope of current diplomatic and economic engagement is unclear.