But South Africa’s aspiration to play a dynamic role beyond its borders is proving increasingly difficult, primarily because the regional environment – indeed, the continental environment – is not hospitable, defying the best efforts of Mbeki’s government to produce meaningful and sustained political and economic change. The persistence of civil wars, periodic failure of ceasefires and mediation efforts, and protagonists that are sometimes warlords and rapacious militias – rather than states capable of making rational decisions – all add to the difficulty of conflict resolution by diplomatic means and traditional peacekeeping.