South Africa, with the largest and most advanced economy in Africa, will continue to play an important role in world affairs, and started another two-year stint on the UN Security Council in 2011, just two years after finishing an earlier term. Although Mr Zuma is less active on the world stage than his predecessor, Thabo Mbeki, he is becoming a well-travelled leader. The country will remain deeply engaged with Africa, particularly Southern Africa and, above all, Zimbabwe, where the socio-political crisis has produced a flood of refugees to South Africa. An enforced power-sharing agreement appears to be holding between Zimbabwe's president, Robert Mugabe, and his main rival, Morgan Tsvangirai, the leader of the main faction of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change, although significant tensions persist, owing partly to Mr Mugabe's intransigence. An enduring settlement in Zimbabwe would give a substantial boost both to Mr Zuma's credibility and to regional integration. South Africa will seek to build closer "south-south" ties (especially with China, India and Brazil) and maintain close relations with the EU and the US. Gaining a permanent African seat on the Security Council is a key aim.