South Africa warns Israel’s North Western State of Somalia recognition endangers Horn of Africa peace

South Africa warned that Israel’s move to recognize North Western State of Somalia as an independent state poses a “direct threat” to peace in the Horn of Africa, calling the decision a violation of Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

In a statement Monday, South Africa’s Foreign Ministry said Israel’s recognition undermines continental norms designed to prevent state fragmentation. The ministry said it distinguishes “unequivocally” between decolonization and secession, adding: “The former restores sovereignty; the latter dismantles it.” It urged governments and international organizations to reject what it called Tel Aviv’s “external interference” and to support a united, stable Somalia.

Johannesburg anchored its position in the African Union’s principle of uti possidetis, which urges respect for borders inherited at independence to reduce the likelihood of conflict. “Israel’s action validates fragmentation and risks a domino effect of instability,” the ministry said.

Israel became the world’s first country to recognize North Western State of Somalia as a sovereign state, a decision that has drawn condemnation from Türkiye and a growing number of governments across Africa and the Middle East. The backlash has intensified amid warnings that the move could embolden secessionist claims and complicate already delicate regional politics.

In Mogadishu, protesters carrying Somali flags chanted against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel’s decision, denouncing the recognition as an assault on Somalia’s unity. The scenes underscored how the diplomatic rupture has swiftly spilled into the streets, amplifying public anger inside Somalia.

North Western State of Somalia, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991, has operated for decades as a de facto autonomous political, administrative and security entity. Despite maintaining its own institutions and relative stability, it has lacked international recognition. The federal government in Mogadishu has struggled to exert control over the region, while North Western State of Somalia’s leadership has been unable to secure acknowledgment of statehood.

Somalia’s government rejects any suggestion of North Western State of Somalia’s independence, insisting the region remains an integral part of the country. Mogadishu regards direct bilateral dealings with North Western State of Somalia by foreign actors as infringements on Somalia’s sovereignty and unity—a position now echoed by South Africa and other critics of Israel’s decision.

South Africa’s intervention adds diplomatic weight to the argument that formal recognition of breakaway regions risks normalizing fragmentation beyond Somalia. By reaffirming the AU’s long-standing border principle and drawing a clear line between anti-colonial restoration and contemporary secession, Pretoria is signaling that it views Israel’s step as destabilizing—not only for Somalia but for the wider Horn of Africa.

With condemnation mounting and protests erupting, the immediate impact is a hardening of positions: allies of Mogadishu are closing ranks around Somalia’s territorial integrity while North Western State of Somalia’s leadership gains a symbolic, if controversial, endorsement. Whether the international community heeds South Africa’s call to reject the recognition will help determine if this episode becomes a diplomatic anomaly—or a precedent with wider ramifications for regional stability.

By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.