South Africa has criticised Israel's recognition of Somaliland, calling it a violation of Somalia's sovereignty and aligning with the African Union's rejection. The Department of International Relations and Cooperation urged global rejection to support a united Somalia amid Horn of Africa tensions.
South Africa's government issued a strong statement against Israel's December 26 recognition of Somaliland—the first in over three decades—describing it as an infringement on Somalia's territorial integrity. This follows the African Union's firm rejection days earlier, which reaffirmed the intangibility of colonial borders.
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) expressed deep concern, invoking the African Union's principle of uti possidetis. "We distinguish unequivocally between decolonisation and secession. The former restores sovereignty; the latter dismantles it," DIRCO stated, warning that the move endorses fragmentation and risks broader instability.
Pretoria called on global actors to oppose external interference and support a stable, unified Somalia, consistent with the AU's position against unilateral recognitions. Israel's motivations remain undisclosed, but the decision has sparked widespread diplomatic pushback.