South Africa, Angola: The Politics of Dominance

As South African President Jacob Zuma begins a two-day state visit to Angola on Aug. 20 — with more than 10 ministers and 200 businesspeople in tow — there is likely to be a call between the two nations for better bilateral relations. However, the two countries are natural rivals for influence in southern Africa. While no pushover, Luanda will probably have to yield to Pretoria, or brace itself for a competition that it may not be ready for just yet.