AMBASSADOR PEKKA METSO SA-FINLAND RELATIONS

Relations between Finland and South Africa date back to 1925 when Finland had established Honorary Consulates in four South African cities, namely Cape Town, Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth and East London. A Consulate, Finland’s first diplomatic Mission in Africa, was established in 1937 in Pretoria. During World War II the Union of South Africa declared War on Finland, after the latter sided with Germany, and formal relations were only re-established again on 15 May 1949. A South African Legation was opened in Finland in 1967.