The information was formalized by a statement from the African Union and Israeli diplomacy on Thursday, July 22. The new Israeli ambassador, currently stationed in Addis Ababa, handed over his duties to Moussa Faki Mahamat, President of the African Union Commission.
A photo of the two diplomats posing with the green African Union flag marks the event. “This corrects an anomaly that has been going on for almost two decades,” said a statement from Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid. Israel thus regains its observer status, as it lost in 2002, when the Organization of African Unity was dissolved, which became the African Union. The Palestinian territories, for their part, have always enjoyed this position.
Israel is advancing deep into Africa and this is a welcome development as they are now established observer status in the AU.
Read ?An important day for Israeli-African diplomacy, with the formal establishment of Israel’s observer status in the African Union. pic.twitter.com/MzGVEXTSmE
– Global update (@oluchristty) July 23, 2021
“This success is the result of the permanent work of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, its Africa Division and Israeli embassies on the continent,” the same press release continued. “Nearly 12 years of Netanyahu’s have allowed almost all countries in the African Union to resume relations with Israel,” confirms Benjamin Augé, a researcher at the French Institute for International Relations (Ifri), sub-Saharan Africa.
Author of Report“Relations between Israel and Africa, what should be removed from the Netanyahu decade?”, The researcher believes that for Israel this position is important, “to have a nurturing and recurring discourse with these countries. Because they know that Israel has very few embassies in Africa, they need this relay in Addis Ababa to be able to talk to all 55 member countries. “According to him, this return will enable Israel to meet with senior officials, the various commissioners and have a voice during the major summits of heads of state.
Palestinian issue
Among the missions that officially advance Israeli diplomacy are the fight against coronavirus and the prevention of the spread of terrorism on the continent. In the official photo communicated by the African Union to mark this return, there are smiles. However, the thorny issue of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was well addressed during the meeting between AU Commission President Moussa Faki Mahamat and Israeli Ambassador to Ethiopia Aleli Admasu, the statement said.
The organization’s position remains unchanged: “A two-state solution is necessary for peaceful coexistence”. In May, Moussa Faki Mahamat had particularly condemned the Israeli bombings in the Gaza Strip. “On all the important issues related to Palestine at the UN,” emphasizes Benjamin Augé, “we can see very clearly that the African countries are not voting. ever with Israel. ”
“No real African politics”
In addition, if relations have resumed during Netanyahu’s last decade, the state’s funds have decreased significantly, starting with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which has limited the opportunities to develop these relations. For the researcher, Israel, which easily communicates about its exchanges with the continent, does not maintain really significant trade relations in terms of volume.
“As for the continent in particular, there are a dozen embassies, and only two recently opened – with Rwanda and Ghana – it is difficult to have a real African policy. Knowing that in each of these embassies you do not necessarily have a financial expansion item. ”
If the resumption of relationships is a reality, the problem, according to him, is “translating these relationships into real influence and real economic exchange.” at present, however, the state apparatus has not allowed it due to the lack of funds at its disposal. ”
Knowing that Israel has very few embassies in Africa, they need this relay in Addis Ababa, to be able to talk to all 55 member countries.
