In a diplomatic encounter framed by mutual respect and a deepening of long-standing ties, President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State Visit to Switzerland has been heralded as a historic and symbolic milestone in relations between the two nations. The visit, the first by a South African head of state in an official capacity, marks a maturation of bilateral cooperation that has evolved over decades, shaped by complex histories, shared aspirations, and shifting global contexts.
Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter welcomed President Ramaphosa in Bern, underscoring the visit’s significance in the trajectory of Swiss–South African relations. While former President Nelson Mandela visited Switzerland in 1997, this occasion represents the first formal State Visit, elevating the status and depth of the partnership. President Keller-Sutter emphasised the visit as a reaffirmation of the enduring relationship between the countries, rooted in values of peace, democracy, sustainable development, and mutual trust.
Switzerland and South Africa’s diplomatic engagements have become increasingly frequent, reflecting a commitment to strategic dialogue amid global realignments. In 2025 alone, Presidents Ramaphosa and Keller-Sutter have met on four occasions—spanning Davos, Pretoria, New York, and now Bern—demonstrating a consistency of diplomatic will.
Despite the 8,000-kilometre geographical distance separating Pretoria from the Alpine capital, the Swiss President remarked that the relationship has proven resilient and vibrant, shaped more by shared values than by geography. She noted that while every long-standing relationship endures its challenges, the South Africa–Switzerland partnership has moved beyond past difficulties to one grounded in constructive cooperation.
Central to the visit was the strengthening of economic ties. Switzerland currently recognises South Africa as its most significant trading partner on the African continent, with bilateral trade exceeding US$4 billion. More than 100 Swiss companies operate in South Africa, generating employment for over 50,000 people. South Africa also remains the largest recipient of Swiss foreign direct investment (FDI) in Africa, a testament to the strategic economic weight the country holds in Swiss international trade relations.
President Keller-Sutter also highlighted ongoing negotiations to modernise the existing free-trade agreement between the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), of which Switzerland is a member. These updates aim to reflect contemporary trade dynamics and global challenges. She reaffirmed Switzerland’s early steps in economic diplomacy with South Africa, citing the 1997 removal of import duties on many South African industrial and agricultural products as an enduring commitment to equitable trade.
A notable outcome of the visit was the signing of five bilateral agreements, spanning trade facilitation, diplomatic engagement, vocational training, and cultural exchange. These accords aim to institutionalise cooperation, fostering sustainable economic opportunities and enhancing knowledge exchange.
The visit was not solely confined to economic and political engagements. President Keller-Sutter acknowledged South Africa’s unique experience in transitional justice and mediation—rooted in its post-apartheid democratic transition—as vital to global peacebuilding efforts. She welcomed a declaration of intent to strengthen cooperation in conflict mediation and democratic promotion. In a world increasingly fragmented by political polarisation and violence, South Africa’s lessons in reconciliation, constitutionalism, and dialogue were presented as globally relevant.
This positioning of South Africa as a moral and strategic actor in global diplomacy reflects a broader trend towards recalibrating African states’ international roles beyond traditional aid or recipient frameworks. It affirms a vision of African agency in shaping multilateralism and mediating international tensions.
The State Visit also spotlighted collaboration in scientific innovation. Both nations are partners in the Square Kilometre Array Observatory, a globally significant radio astronomy project headquartered in South Africa. This scientific initiative demonstrates how international cooperation in knowledge production can transcend borders, linking African scientific infrastructure to global networks of research and innovation. President Keller-Sutter identified this collaboration as emblematic of what the Global South and Global North can achieve when united by shared intellectual pursuits.
President Ramaphosa’s presence in Bern thus reflects more than ceremonial diplomacy; it represents a shift towards substantive cooperation grounded in dignity, mutual benefit, and strategic alignment. The commitments signed during the visit—and the nuanced positioning of both countries as co-creators in global peace and knowledge systems—signal a transition away from linear donor–recipient narratives towards a multipolar, interdependent world.
For South Africa, this visit underscores the country’s evolving role on the global stage: a nation informed by its history, yet unbound by it, engaging with the world on equal terms. For Switzerland, it is a reaffirmation of its long-standing policy of neutral diplomacy, now enriched by increasingly diverse partnerships with emerging global actors across the African continent.
As both nations continue to navigate the complexities of a changing world, their relationship stands as a model for respectful, forward-looking cooperation—anchored in historical consciousness, shared values, and a common commitment to building a more inclusive and peaceful global order.
