The complexities of bilateral relations: the Nigeria-South African relationship (2000-2006)

Abstract

The relationship between Nigeria and South Africa is couched in the complex interdependence paradigm, in which the two states continue to depend on one another. The umbilical cord that joins the two straddles the economic, political, social, cultural and military spheres. Attempts by one to ‘do it all alone’ for the sake of self-interest will not only affect their relationship, but will also affect the whole concept on which the African Union, the brain-child of Pretoria and Abuja, is based. The sensitivity and vulnerability of the two states to each other depends on the issues at hand. While South Africa appears to be vulnerable and sensitive to Nigeria’s fossil fuel and diplomatic support, South Africa’s investments and technology transfer continue to be sources of Abuja’s vulnerability, and are very sensitive issues. As long as both states are dominant powers in their respective sub-regions, there is always a need for them to co-formulate some functional policy for African development.