The safety of one of the world’s most important shipping corridors, and the lives of the civilians and seafarers who depend on it, are once again under strain. South Africa has voiced serious concern over the renewed escalation of attacks in the Red Sea region, particularly in and around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, including attacks on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, amid the protracted conflict in Yemen.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) said government was worried about actions threatening the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Saudi Arabia and neighbouring States. The department condemned any attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure, in accordance with established principles of international law, and conveyed condolences for the loss of lives and serious injuries caused in these attacks.
For ordinary people, the stakes extend well beyond the battlefield. The government reaffirmed the importance of protecting international shipping routes and ensuring the safety of seafarers in the Red Sea and the straits of Bab el-Mandeb and Hormuz. “South Africa further reaffirms the importance of safeguarding the navigational rights, the freedom of vessels and the safety of seafarers of all States in the Red Sea and the Straits of Bab el-Mandeb and Hormuz, in accordance with international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) of 10 December 1982,” the ministry said.
Freedom of navigation matters because so much of daily economic life depends on it. Government emphasised that sustainable peace in Yemen and stability in the Red Sea region are essential for regional prosperity, international trade and the advancement of Africa’s development agenda.
Meanwhile, the department also turned to the human and spiritual dimension of the violence, expressing concern over attacks on places of worship and sites of religious significance, including areas associated with the holy cities of Mecca and Medina. Such sites, government said, hold profound significance for millions of Muslims worldwide and must be protected in accordance with international humanitarian law.
At the heart of Pretoria’s message is a call to end the suffering of Yemenis through politics rather than force. South Africa urged all parties to exercise maximum restraint and refrain from actions that could further escalate regional instability. It called for an inclusive political process to bring the conflict in Yemen to an end, stressing that a lasting solution must be achieved through negotiations under the auspices of the United Nations.
“South Africa concurs with the Special Envoy of the United Nations Secretary-General for Yemen that the suffering of the Yemeni people can only be addressed sustainably through negotiations between the parties and an inclusive political process under UN auspices. South Africa calls for the launch of an inclusive political process to comprehensively end the conflict,” the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation said.
DIRCO Minister Ronald Lamola reiterated South Africa’s commitment to the peaceful resolution of conflicts through inclusive dialogue, diplomacy and respect for international law. The government has renewed its call for restraint, diplomacy and constructive engagement by all parties in support of a peaceful and lasting resolution to the conflict.
SAnews.gov.za reported the statement on Friday, October 16, 2026. Whether the parties heed the call for negotiations under UN auspices will determine whether the Red Sea becomes safer for the civilians, seafarers and traders who rely on it every day.