As the Israeli aggression against Gaza continues, and in the light of the positions taken by some African states towards Israel, ranging from withdrawing their ambassador, such as in the case of Chad, to filing a case against Israel at the International Criminal Court (ICC) for violating the Genocide Convention, as in the case of South Africa, many questions have been raised about Israel’s efforts to strengthen its relations with the African continent.

Israel’s war on Gaza has cast a shadow over its interests and presence in Africa and could have repercussions on the future relations between the two sides.

Before the 7 October attacks, Israel placed the African continent among its diplomatic and political priorities. It successfully strengthened its presence in Africa through the use of diplomatic tools and its expertise in energy, technology, and agriculture, which resulted in the signing of a number of agreements with states on the continent.

Israel also succeeded in obtaining the status of Observer at the African Union (AU) in July 2021, with this being opposed by only 15 African countries. Despite the freezing of the AU decision since, it has not been overturned.

Israel has succeeded in increasing its influence within Africa by strengthening its bilateral relations with various countries. It has diplomatic relations with nearly 46 countries in the continent, as well as some 12 embassies, most notably in Rwanda, Kenya, Nigeria, Cameroon, Angola, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, Chad, and South Africa, though the latter recently announced the suspension of its relations with Israel and the closure of the Israeli Embassy.

The African continent has about 30 consulates and embassies in Tel Aviv.

Africa was also not spared from the so-called “Abraham Accords” designed to normalise relations between Israel and other countries. Israel attempted to normalise its relations with Sudan, with talks between the two countries ending with the signing and implementation of a normalisation agreement in 2020.

Israel’s former Intelligence minister and current Foreign Minister Eli Cohen visited Sudan in early February 2023 and met with President of the Sovereign Council and Commander of the Sudanese Armed Forces Abdel-Fattah Al-Burhan. This was in line with the outcomes agreed in October 2020 during former US president Donald Trump’s tenure.

Israel has sought to strengthen its military presence in Africa to counter various security threats, and this has become a prominent feature of its relations with countries such as Ethiopia the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, South Africa and Uganda. The military presence has focused on providing expertise through a group of retired military personnel of the Israeli army and through Israeli security companies operating on the continent, as well as through the Israeli army’s assistance in military training and using some trained African units to fight with it.

According to a report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), 40 per cent of Israeli arms exports went to African countries in 2014. In 2015-2016, it was reported that Israel had exported $275 million worth of arms to countries on the continent. In 2021, Africa accounted for three per cent of Israel’s defence exports as it makes efforts to seek new markets for its weapons and strengthen its partnerships.

However, despite Israel’s attempts at building such relations, the African countries feel a deep connection to the Palestinian cause.

Israel’s war on the Gaza Strip after the 7 October attacks has led to strong popular support for the Palestinian cause on the African continent, and many states have condemned Israel’s crimes against the population of the Strip. They stress the need to ensure humanitarian access and to reach a ceasefire in the war.

Africa’s support for Palestine can be traced back to a number of factors, among them, first, the rejection of the occupation by the African states. The African continent suffered from colonisation by the European countries, and Africa’s support for Palestine stems from the similarity of the Palestinian people’s struggle against occupation to the struggle of the African peoples against Western colonialism.

 Israel’s practices against the population of the Gaza Strip since 7 October last year have brought back to mind the violations that Western colonialism perpetuated against the African peoples.

Second, there is the African rejection of the Western presence on the continent. The events of 7 October coincided with Africa’s rejection of the Western presence on the African continent, particularly with regard to the French presence in the Sahel region. France’s support for Israel may have prompted a number of African states to take an anti-Israeli stance and denounce its crimes against the Palestinian people.

Third, there is the use of the Palestinian issue as a means of highlighting the continent’s role. In this regard, the position adopted by many African countries regarding the Israeli war on Gaza is not only about the rights of the Palestinian people, but it is also aimed at strengthening the African role on the global scene and its image as a supporter of rights and freedoms, particularly through the role played by South Africa.

Fourth, calls against Israel’s expansion on the African continent are growing. Israel’s violations and crimes against the population of Gaza and the rise in the number of casualties have led to the African countries rejecting Israel as a partner and ally in the region.

Some African states have taken strong positions in support of the Palestinian cause, especially in international forums. The African states voted in favour of the UN General Assembly Resolution for a ceasefire, with Liberia being the only African country to vote against before changing its vote in its favour. Five African states abstained, being Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Togo, South Sudan, and Malawi.

South Africa has filed a case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for genocide against the Palestinians in Gaza. This is arguably aimed not only at affecting the ceasefire, prosecuting Israeli officials and imposing sanctions on Israel, but also at undermining the support that Israel receives from its Western allies, particularly Washington.

There is also the question of the consequences of the Gaza war for Israel’s future on the African continent.

These could negatively affect the future of Israel’s relations with certain countries on the continent, especially as Africa as a whole has rejected Israeli practices in Gaza and invited Chairperson of the African Union Commission Muhammad Mussi Faki to set up an international front to stop the war. It is expected that hatred of Israel in Africa will grow as acts of violence against civilians in Gaza continue, affecting Israel’s interests in the continent.

A decline in Israel’s presence in the African continent may enhance the Russian and Chinese presence, especially in view of the positions of both states towards the war in Gaza. They hold Israel responsible for the attacks on 7 October.

While the continent’s positions vary with regard to the Gaza war, the African voice has been prominent in supporting the Palestinian cause, especially given the role played by South Africa in filing a lawsuit at the ICJ against Israel.

The writer is a researcher in African affairs.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 29 August, 2024 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly