South Africa on Monday expressed its opposition to air strikes being conducted in Syria.
“The South African government has noted with grave concern the airstrikes conducted by the United Kingdom, United States and French military in the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic,” said the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco).
The US, UK and France launched 105 missiles at three sites in Syria at the weekend.
Dirco said since the onset of the Syrian crisis, South Africa has consistently called for a peaceful resolution of the conflict.
“The alleged use of chemical weapons in Syria cannot be a justification for military airstrikes in a territory of a sovereign state without the authorisation of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). In the same vein, South Africa condemns the use of chemical weapons by any party in the Syrian territory.”
South Africa said it remains steadfast in its principled position that the issue should be resolved in the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and the UNSC.
“We urge all members of the UNSC to shoulder their UN Charter mandate for the maintenance of international peace and security and double all efforts towards a peaceful non-military solution that respects and guarantees the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Syria,” said Dirco.
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