When South Meets South: A Case of African-Philippines Treaty Relations

Noel  Sinco,

When South Meets South: A Case of African-Philippines Treaty Relations

Discipline: Politics

Abstract:

The African-Philippines Relations connected through the manifestation of bilateral agreements with the respective African States with Egpyt obtaining the most of it. The World Bank (2023) established the Small States Forum (SSF) mostly composed of the African States. The Philippines and specific African States share surprising similarities that qualify them as Small States under the World Bank (2023) definition. Sadly, the Philippines did not give enough attention to increase its African diplomatic base. The study mainly aims to analyze the depth of Philippine Relations with these African Small States and what diplomatic instruments these two states connect. The study found that Small States in Africa namely Gabon (4) and The Gambia (3) obtained the most bilateral agreements with the Philippines. Twenty-five (25) agreements are in the forms of Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) or Treaty. With these findings in mind, the researcher concludes that the Philippine Foreign Policy Realities should be revisited to also include Africa as one of its increased establishment of diplomatic networks as in Middle Eastern States like Saudi Arabia.. Despite that, these African States only began their diplomatic approach with the Philippines with non-binding instruments (MOUs) and no follow-up documents to upgrade their ties. Having seen their similar nature and issues, it is only imperative that the Philippine Foreign Policy should give more focus on the continent of Africa as a whole as a Small State to assert its good relations with the family of nations.

References:

Acharya, Amitav. 2016. “Studying the Bandung conference from a Global IR perspective”. Australian Journal of International Affairs. 70: 4. 342–357. ISSN 1035-7718. https://doi:10.1080/10357718.2016.1168359.
Bahgat Korany and Ali E. Hillal Dessouki. The Foreign Policies Of Arab States: The Challenge of Change. (2008). Routledge. New York. pp. 27-41Commissioner of Customs v. Eastern Sea Trading, October 31, 1961. G.R. No. 14279
Department of Foreign Affairs. 2021. The Republic of the Philippines joins the African Union in celebration of Africa Day. Facebook. https://web.facebook.com/dfaphl/posts/the-republic-of-the-philippines-joins-the-african-union-in-celebration-of-africa/1964192433735581/?_rdc=1&_rdr
Department of Foreign Affairs. (n.d.) OUR FOREIGN SERVICE POSTS. https://dfa.gov.ph/about/dfa-directory/our-foreign-service-posts-DFA
Department of Treasury. 2023. National Government Debt Recorded at P13.86 Trillion as of end-March 2023. Press Release. https://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=AwrPqEWUhBNmR2QVD0azRwx.;_ylu=Y29sbwNzZzMEcG9zAzEEdnRpZAMEc2VjA3Ny/RV=2/RE=1712583957/RO=10/RU=https%3a%2f%2fwww.treasury.gov.ph%2fwp-content%2fuploads%2f2023%2f05%2fNG-Debt-Press-Release-March-2023-GM-IC2_SBED.pdf/RK=2/RS=RUSt13V3p3Y2BCyAB8NfFXeupR8-
Diaz, M. 2017. ASEAN and the African Union: Time for a Stronger Cooperation? CIRSS Commentaries. Vol. IV, No. 24. Foreign Service Institute. Department of Foreign Affairs. pp.1-2. https://serp-p.pids.gov.ph/stats/publication-survey/create?publication_id=6434E-Supreme
Court E-Library. 2019. Bilateral Agreements. Supreme Court of the Philippines https://elibrary.judiciary.gov.ph/thebookshelf/35
Khan, M. and Khan, A. (2007). The Harris-Todaro Hypothesis. Pakistan Institute of Development Economics. PIDE Working Papers. Volume No. 16. pp. 1-2
Lim, R. 2014. Finding the Philippines’ Place in the New Scramble for Africa. Center For International Relations and Strategic Studies, Foreign Service Institute, Department of Foreign Affairs. VOL. I, NO. 11. pp. 1-2. https://www.fsi.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/2014-1115-Vol-1-No-11-Finding-the-Philippines-Place-in-the-New-Scramble-for-Africa-Lim.pdf?__cf_chl_tk=vllQvzqGgYN6JmCH0gNO4bS37jrEb_WxxI5inJl.XZI-1721808183-0.0.1.1-5417
J. Eduardo Malaya (2010), Conflict and Cooperation in the Crafting and Conduct of Foreign Policy, Philippine Law Journal, Vol. 84. No. 2, 558- 578
Malaya, J.E. and Dampil-Mandigma, C.G. 2020. Philippine Treaties in Force 2020. UP Law Center and Foreign Service Institute. 1-186
Malaya, J.E. and Mendoza-Oblena, M.A. 2010. Philippine Treaty Law and Practice. Integrated Bar of the Philippines Journal. Vol. 34. No. 1, 1-17
Mohamed, A. 2002. The Diplomacy of Micro-states. Clingendael Discussion Papers in Diplomacy, No. 78. https://www.peacepalacelibrary.nl/ebooks/files/Clingendael_20020100_cli_paper_dip_issue78.pdf.
Parungao, A. (2024). Ateneo tops in Times Higher Education ranking for PH universities in 2024. Inquirer. https://globalnation.inquirer.net/234076/ateneo-tops-in-times-higher-education-ranking-for-ph-universities-in-2024#ixzz8guFf5g4T
Philippine Foreign Service Act of 1991 (Republic Act No. 7157)