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On the eve of African Union (AU) intervention in Cote d'Ivoire, the Democratic Alliance (DA) is concerned that the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, appears to have unilaterally reversed the Zuma administration's endorsement of the legitimate winner of the Cote d'Ivoire elections, Alassane Ouattarra. This about-turn raises serious concerns about the administration's ability to ensure a proper democratic transition in that country and, more broadly, undermines our potential for leadership in Africa.

Last week, the minister was quoted as calling the election results 'inconclusive.' This after the results were endorsed by the United Nations, the AU, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Zuma administration.

The minister was further quoted as saying:

"I thought it was not our business to drag them backward but to help them forward. [...] We have no favourite."

The minister appears to misunderstand. This is not about favourites; the administration should not be concerned that it may hurt someone's feelings. What should preoccupy the minister is the policy imperative of respecting the electoral wishes of the people of Cote d'Ivoire and being a facilitator of democracy.

In effect, the minister has declared that elections do not matter and that a 'political solution' is more important than a goverment elected by a nation's people. What is more, official recognition of results can seemingly be changed as the political priorities of the administration shift.

The minister should explain her comments to Parliament. I shall request that the minister be summoned to appear before the portfolio committee on international relations and cooperation and explain this ostensible turn-around.

It is incumbent upon President Zuma to demonstrate to his minister, and the people of Cote d'Ivoire, that his administration's commitment to democracy is durable enough to withstand the whims of personality politics and emotional appeals from those who will not relinquish power.

The AU's High-Level Panel on Cote d'Ivoire is set to begin its intervention in that country's crisis tomorrow, and we trust that it will be guided by the AU’s Charter on Elections, Democracy and Governance, which endorses the acceptance of election results, rather than trying to accommodate political solutions. In a time when the popular force of democracy is toppling dictatorial governments elsewhere, the Zuma administration should demonstrate that elections will always be respected. President Zuma should reaffirm his administration's recognition of Alassane Ouattara.