South Africa and China Took the Side of Somalia’s Unity

The reaffirmation by South Africa and China of their commitment to Somalia’s territorial integrity reflects the emergence of a broader international line in response to Israel’s decision to recognize Somaliland. This is not about isolated diplomatic signals, but about an attempt to set clear limits on what is acceptable regarding sovereignty and unilateral recognition.

South Africa expressed concern over Israel’s position and called on the international community to reject such actions. In a statement by the South African Ministry of Foreign Affairs, support was emphasized for the African Union’s principle of , under which inherited borders are considered inviolable. This principle is viewed as a key mechanism for preventing conflicts on the continent, where border revisions have historically led to destabilization.

China’s position complements the African approach with a broader concept of sovereignty. Beijing reaffirmed its support for Somalia’s territorial integrity and stated directly that Somaliland is an inseparable part of the country. The Chinese side stressed that the question of the region’s status is exclusively an internal matter for Somalia and should be resolved by the Somali people themselves within the framework of the national constitution.

The context of these statements is important for understanding the situation. Israel’s recognition of Somaliland represents a rare case of a unilateral step taken without international consensus. The reaction of South Africa and China indicates that a significant number of states view such decisions as a threat to regional stability and a challenge to existing international arrangements.

For the Horn of Africa, this means increased diplomatic pressure in favor of preserving the status quo. Support for Somalia from major external actors reduces the likelihood that recognition of Somaliland will spread widely and turn into a chain reaction of similar moves.

At the same time, it remains an open question how consolidated this line will become. It is not yet clear whether the statements by South Africa and China will lead to concrete decisions within international institutions or remain at the level of political principle-setting. However, even now they form a counterweight to attempts to legitimize border changes without the consent of Somalia’s central government.