Political South-South Cooperation refers to the collaboration and engagement among states of the Global South in political matters, such as diplomacy, international relations, governance, policy formulation, and the promotion of common interests in the global arena (UNOSSC, n.d.). It is often aimed at creating a collective voice among Global South states in international fora, advocating for more equitable global governance, and enhancing the influence of developing states in the decision-making process.
Some of the key elements of Political South-South Cooperation include:
- Diplomatic engagement: Establishing and maintaining strong diplomatic ties among Global South states, often through direct bilateral relations, regional organizations, and multilateral institutions (G77, n.d.).
- Advocacy for shared goals and interests: Actively promoting common political values and objectives, such as poverty alleviation, climate action, and the strengthening of multilateralism (Bandung Conference, 1955).
- Alliance-building: Forming strategic partnerships and alliances among Global South states, both regionally and globally, to enhance collective bargaining power in international negotiations and to further shared objectives (Non-Aligned Movement, n.d.).
- Promotion of democratic institutions and good governance practices: Many South-South initiatives emphasize the importance of strengthening democratic institutions, enhancing transparency, and fostering good governance practices within participating Global South states (UNOSSC, n.d.).
The above parameters considered, this section delves into the intricacies of Political South-South Cooperation in the context of the African Union (AU) and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) relations. The discussion primarily focuses on the shared political interests, values, and aspirations of their member states, recognizing patterns of collaboration and intergovernmental dialogue to tackle common challenges and pursue joint objectives. Various dimensions of cooperation, such as bilateral, diplomacy, multilateral diplomacy, peace and security, and regional integration strategies, are explored to synthesize a comprehensive understanding of the evolving political partnership between these two regional organizations.
Diplomatic Engagement in AU-CARICOM Relations
This section explores diplomatic engagements between the African Union (AU) and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) for the period 2002-2022. With shared cultural, historical, and political backgrounds, the AU and CARICOM are well-positioned to foster strong diplomatic engagements that could contribute significantly to promoting mutual development between the two regions.
The section begins by providing an overview of the key milestones and developments in the history of AU-CARICOM relations, emphasizing the timeline of events that have shaped this partnership since its inception. Following this, the following will examine the various diplomatic channels and platforms that enable effective communication and collaboration between the two organizations, which include bilateral meetings, joint initiatives, and regular dialogues.
Table 1 presents a summary of diplomatic engagements between various CARICOM (Caribbean Community) countries and AU (African Union) countries. The list of CARICOM countries is provided along the left column, from Antigua and Barbuda to Trinidad and Tobago. The corresponding right column indicates AU countries with which each CARICOM country has diplomatic relations. The table aims to show the existing connections between these two regional organizations, highlighting the potential for stronger collaboration and partnership.
Table 1
Diplomatic Engagements between CARICOM and AU countries
| CARICOM Country | AU Countries with which CARICOM Country has Diplomatic Relations | Notable Outcomes |
| Antigua and Barbuda | Algeria, Botswana, Cape Verde, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Libya, Morocco, Rwanda | AU-CARICOM Summit |
| The Bahamas | Cameroon,Cape Verde, Côte D’Ivoire, Eswatini, Gambia, Ghana, Lesotho, Malawi, Maldives, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe | AU-CARICOM Summit |
| Barbados | Algeria, Angola, Botswana, Cabo Verde, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Mali, Mauritius, Morocco, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia | AU-CARICOM Summit Barbados and Ghana signed an agreement |
| Belize | Algeria, Angola, Botswana, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tunisia, Zambia | AU-CARICOM Summit |
| Dominica | Algeria, Botswana, Cape Verde, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Libya, Mauritius, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles, South Africa, Sudan, Uganda | AU-CARICOM Summit |
| Grenada | Republic of Congo | AU-CARICOM Summit |
| Guyana | Algeria, Angola, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Egypt, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe | AU-CARICOM Summit Guyana and Ghana signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen their relationship, particularly in the petroleum sector. The MoU aims to facilitate knowledge exchange and cooperation between both countries in the area of oil and gas, as well as promote collaboration on technical assistance, training, and capacity-building efforts. The MoU also includes provisions for visa-free travel between the two countries, which is expected to enhance mutual understanding, cultural exchanges, tourism, and business ties. |
| Haiti | Benin, Gabon, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Côte D’Ivoire, Liberia, Libya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles, South Africa | AU-CARICOM Summit |
| Jamaica | Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Mali, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe | AU-CARICOM Summit |
| Montserrat | AU-CARICOM Summit | |
| Saint Kitts and Nevis | Algeria, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Djibouti, Egypt, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Sudan, Togo, Uganda, Zimbabwe | AU-CARICOM Summit |
| Saint Lucia | Algeria, Cape Verde, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gambia, Kenya, Libya, Morocco, Namibia, Rwanda, Seychelles, South Africa | AU-CARICOM Summit |
| Saint Vincent & the Grenadines | Algeria, Angola, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Liberia, Libya, Mali, Mauritius, Morocco, Namibia, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles, South Africa, Tunisia, Uganda | AU-CARICOM Summit |
| Suriname | Algeria, Angola, Botswana, Cape Verde, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Libya, Maldives, Mali, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Zambia, Zimbabwe | AU-CARICOM Summit |
| Trinidad & Tobago | Angola, Botswana, Cameroon, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe | AU-CARICOM Summit |
An analysis of the table reveals the following key points:
- Diplomatic connections exist between a majority of CARICOM and AU countries, indicating a broad network of relations.
- The number of diplomatic relations between individual CARICOM and AU countries varies, with some CARICOM countries like Antigua and Barbuda having diplomatic ties with 10 AU countries, while others such as Jamaica have diplomatic relations with 29 AU countries.
- Some AU countries feature more frequently as partners to CARICOM countries (e.g., Algeria, Egypt, Rwanda, and South Africa) while others have fewer connections (e.g., Djibouti, Eritrea, and Lesotho).
From this analysis, it can be concluded that although a framework for political partnership between CARICOM and AU countries currently exists, these diplomatic engagements appear not to be massaged to their full potential. There appears to be no significant outcome from the diplomatic engagements, indicating potential for improvement in the relationships. Proper utilization of these diplomatic connections could lead to advantages for both regions in terms of regional integration, trade, development, and collective bargaining for shared goals and interests.
Advocacy for Shared Goals and Interests, Collective Bargaining and Promotion of Good Governance
The member states of the African Union (AU) and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) are integral constituents of the Organization of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OACPS), formerly known as the ACP-EU Partnership. The Cotonou Agreement, which supplanted the Lomé agreements, enshrined structured political dialogue as a crucial element, acknowledging that the attainment of sustainable development and poverty alleviation is inextricably linked to addressing political, human rights, and governance concerns. This shift towards a more comprehensive and dialogue-based approach to international cooperation emerged as a response to the increasing recognition of the need to confront issues in a holistic manner. However, the Cotonou Agreement appeared to circumscribe advocacy for mutual objectives predominantly within the realm of soft politics.
With regard to economic negotiations, Pichon (2021) observes that Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) are negotiated across three sub-regional tiers – the Caribbean, the Pacific, and five distinct African country groupings – each comprising specific trade clauses, not all of which have been implemented. This differentiation in trade agreements, as facilitated by the Cotonou Agreement, has led several analysts to conjecture that such an arrangement could potentially result in the fragmentation of the ACP-EU partnership and suggests that the Cotounou agreements continue to create an atmosphere that does not incentivize Political South-South Cooperation neither through advocacy for shared goals and interests nor through collective bargaining between AU and CARICOM member states.