Editing Mercenary (section)

===South Africa===
In 1998, South Africa passed the Foreign Military Assistance Act that banned citizens and residents from any involvement in foreign wars, except for humanitarian operations, unless a government committee approved deployment. In 2005, the legislation was reviewed by the government because:

* South African citizens were working as security guards in [[Iraq]] during the [[History of Iraq (2003–2011)|American occupation of Iraq]]; 
* consequences of the mercenary soldier sponsorship case against [[Mark Thatcher]] for the "possible funding and logistical assistance in relation to an alleged attempted coup in [[Equatorial Guinea]]" organized by [[Simon Mann]].<ref>[[Reuters]] [http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L1143048.htm South Africa to review mercenary law, targets Iraq] February 2005</ref>

As of 2010, South Africa forbids citizens from fighting in foreign wars unless they are under the direct control of their own national armed forces.<ref>{{cite web|work=Independent Online|url=http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=vn20060910084637879C193049 |title=South Africa |location=South Africa |access-date=26 May 2010}}</ref>