African States Weigh In as 11 Countries Recognise Palestine at UNGA

At UNGA 80, 11 countries including the UK and Italy formally recognised Palestine (image source)

Eleven countries, including the United Kingdom and Italy, are set to formally recognise the State of Palestine during the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York this week. The move, hailed as a breakthrough in a decades-old diplomatic stalemate, has drawn mixed reactions across Africa as leaders weigh solidarity with Palestine against calls for continental consensus.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced in a video address that Britain would “formally recognise the State of Palestine” to preserve the two-state framework amid escalating humanitarian crises in Gaza. Italy’s government quickly followed, citing “Palestinian aspirations for sovereign statehood.” France, Belgium, Portugal, Andorra, Malta, and Luxembourg also confirmed recognition at the UNGA summit co-hosted by Saudi Arabia and France, bringing the total to 11 European states making the pledge on UNGA’s opening day.

“Recognition by Western allies breaks the ice after decades of inaction,” noted Middle East analyst Richard Gowan of the International Crisis Group.

African Positions

African Union members remain divided. South Africa, Namibia, and Mozambique endorsed recognition, citing international law and long-standing UN resolutions backing Palestinian statehood. Nigeria described the move as “a milestone for African solidarity” but urged a measured AU consensus to maintain unity.

Zimbabwe reaffirmed its historical support for Palestinian self-determination but stopped short of formal recognition, with a Foreign Affairs spokesperson stating that Harare “supports the two-state solution and will back any genuine effort to resume meaningful negotiations,” while awaiting AU consultations.

Global Context

The recognition campaign comes days after a UNGA resolution secured overwhelming backing, with 143 votes in favour of Palestinian statehood and calls for a ceasefire. The United States and Israel opposed the motion, while both countries also barred President Mahmoud Abbas from entering, prompting a rare UNGA ruling to permit his video address.

Brazil meanwhile announced its intervention in South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). By invoking Article 63 of the ICJ Statute, Brazil formally aligned itself with South Africa, ensuring future court interpretations of the 1948 Genocide Convention apply to Brasilia as well.

Historical Backdrop

The two-state vision—dating back to UN Resolution 181 of 1947 and later the Oslo Accords of 1993—has faltered amid Israeli settlement expansion and repeated cycles of conflict. Palestine, which has non-member observer status at the UN since 2012, would gain treaty rights, full UN agency membership, and ambassadorial exchanges under formal recognition.

Zimbabwe endorsed the 2012 UNGA vote that upgraded Palestine’s status and has since maintained limited bilateral ties through its Harare mission to the Palestinian Authority, including student exchanges and humanitarian contributions. Officials say Harare’s final stance will depend on the African Union’s consensus position expected by 24 September.

What’s Next

With Western states joining the recognition wave, Zimbabwe faces a delicate balance between affirming solidarity, preserving AU unity, and navigating its wider diplomatic interests. The ICJ case and UNGA debates underscore how Palestine’s quest for statehood now intertwines with global legal and political battles.