Marked by calamities that emphasize stereotyped views about itself, Africa presents itself to the 21st century with a growing pessimistic expectation regarding its future and potential in the international arena. In response to this challenge, among others, Thabo Mbeki, president of South Africa in the period, popularizes the concept of African Renaissance, whose proposal offers solutions, in the political and economic sphere, to face adversity. In addition to political and economic guidance, the African Renaissance, understood as part of Pretoria’s strategy for Africa, also has a remarkable role in structuring the African Union, created in 2002 as a deepening of the Organization of African Unity. Thus, this paper seeks to analyze the South African role in changing the political and economic dynamics observed in Africa at the beginning of the 21st century
