The diplomacy of normalisation: The case of South Africa and Rwanda

ABSTRACT South Africa and Rwanda established full diplomatic relations in May 1995, one year after the end of apartheid and the genocide in Rwanda. Initially warm diplomatic ties evolved into concrete, diversified and upgraded diplomatic relations. However, their diplomatic relations subsequently declined significantly due to a series of accusations and counter accusations regarding Rwandan citizens living in South Africa. The two states moved to normalise diplomatic relations in 2014, however that attempt was unsuccessful. The article explores the dynamics of diplomatic normalisation and unpacks a four-phased approach to normalisation which is then applied to the South African and Rwandan normalisation efforts since 2018, when presidents Cyril Ramaphosa and Paul Kagame expressed their mutual intention in this regard within their respective foreign policy approaches. As of 2023, however, unresolved and emerging factors continue to compromise the prospects of normalised diplomatic relations between Kigali and Pretoria.