The 14th Ordinary Session of the African Union held in Addis Ababa on 31 January to 2 February 2010, endorsed South Africa's candidature for the non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council for the period 2011-2012.

South Africa's candidature for 2011-2012 will be guided by its commitment to strengthening the multilateral system and its support for a broader multilateral approach to questions of international peace and security. Membership of the Security Council will present an opportunity to promote the African Agenda and to contribute to achieving peace and stability in the continent and in all regions of the world. In putting forward its candidature South Africa also recognises the necessity and importance of continuing to work together with all the members of the African Union and United Nations in pursuit of effective global governance, multilateralism and the reform of the United Nations system, including the reform of the Security Council in order to make it more transparent and accountable to enhance its legitimacy, representivity and effectiveness.

The election for this African seat will be held during the 65th session of the United Nations General Assembly in October 2010. If elected this would be South Africa's second term as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.

South Africa served its first ever term of the UNSC in 2007 and 2008. During that period, membership of the Security Council was seen as an opportunity to promote the African Renaissance, the African agenda and South Africa's national interests, whilst advancing the maintenance of international peace and security globally. The country also regarded the Security Council as a platform to help promote multilateralism and respect for international law as the most appropriate means of achieving global political and economic stability and security.

South Africa brought to the Security Council a strong reputation and track record as an ‘agent of change' after its chairing of the Non-Aligned Movement, Commonwealth, African Union and G77&China. South Africa had also contributed towards norm-setting in the multilateral arena by hosting major conferences, such as the World Conference against Racism and the World Summit on Sustainable Development.

South Africa was also active in the subsidiary bodies of the Security Council such as the Rwanda Sanctions Committee.

The country will continue to contribute to the deepening of the relationship and cooperation between the United Nations Security Council and the African Union - as this was the country's main theme during its last tenure.
South Africa's nomination to serve once again in the UNSC follows close on the heels of the AU Summit electing the country to serve in the AU's Peace and Security Council (PSC) a second term.