South Africa on Monday reaffirmed its support for Somalia’s territorial integrity, voicing strong opposition to Israel’s recent recognition of Somaliland as an independent state.
In a statement from the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, the South African government described the recognition as a violation of Somalia’s sovereignty and a direct threat to peace in the Horn of Africa.
“We uphold the African Union’s principle of uti possidetis, the sanctity of inherited borders as the continent’s essential safeguard against conflict,” the statement said. “We distinguish unequivocally between decolonization and secession. The former restores sovereignty; the latter dismantles it. Israel’s action validates fragmentation and risks a domino effect of instability.”
South Africa called on the international community to reject external interference in Somalia’s affairs and to support a united and stable Somalia, emphasizing the importance of respecting existing borders to maintain regional peace.
The statement aligns with the African Union’s longstanding position of non-recognition of Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991 following years of civil war. Despite Somaliland maintaining relative stability and self-governance, it has not been formally recognized by any African Union member state, and South Africa reiterated that unilateral recognition undermines continental principles.
By reaffirming support for Somalia, South Africa signals its commitment to regional stability and to the African Union’s broader framework for conflict prevention through the protection of established national borders.
