Article 6 (3) of the Southern African Development Community’s Mutual Defence Pact: The position of South Africa’s peace diplomacy

Abstract

The emergence of Southern African Development Community (SADC) as an institutional structure was
a function of political construction and a reaction against the apartheid system in South Africa.
Regulating and strengthening of security relations through effective structures for defence, peace,
security, stability, and post-conflict reconstruction initiatives are some of the factors that stir the
formation of SADC’s Mutual Defence Pact. However, this work identifies its article 6 (3) as a leverage
for member states to pursue a unilateral diplomatic agenda owing to its wordings. Hence, an
opportunity for South Africa to explore this gap to pursue its own diplomatic agenda in the region.
Using thematic content analysis, this paper argued that the provision in article 6 (3) takes down the
effectiveness and credibility of SADC’s MDP and conclude that although, the signing of the SADC’s
MDP is a development and a product of history, but it needs intensive deliberations and agreements
on its 6th article.