TENSIONS between Israel and the African Union (AU) flared this week after Israel’s ambassador to Ethiopia, Avraham Nigusse, was removed from a high-profile AU event commemorating the 1994 Rwanda genocide. Israel has condemned the ejection as politically motivated and unjustified.
According to The Associated Press, the ambassador was escorted out of the event at the request of African Union Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Youssouf. Israeli officials described the incident as ‘outrageous,’ pointing to a growing rift between Israel and the continental body.
Nigusse, speaking via social media, claimed that the move was a ‘distortion of history’, and criticised the AU leadership for introducing ‘anti-Israel political elements’ into what was meant to be a solemn commemoration.
‘This reveals a fundamental misunderstanding of the histories of both the Rwandan and Jewish peoples,’ Nigusse wrote, adding that he had been formally invited to the event by Rwandan authorities.
Dispute over observer status
A diplomat within the AU told AP the ambassador was ejected because Israel no longer holds official observer status at the African Union. The diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity, explained that Nigusse’s presence was unauthorised under current AU rules.
Israel was granted observer status in 2021, two decades after it had been revoked due to the conflict with the Palestinians. However, that status was suspended again in 2023 and remains under review by a panel of African heads of state. No final decision has been issued.
In a similar incident last year, a senior Israeli diplomat was also removed from the AU’s annual summit for lacking proper accreditation.
Chairperson Mahmoud Youssouf, a former foreign minister of Djibouti, assumed leadership of the AU Commission in February. His office has not responded to requests for comment on the latest incident.
Political context deepens divide
The African Union has traditionally maintained close ties with the Palestinian cause, regularly inviting Palestinian leaders to speak at its major gatherings. This alignment continues to cause friction with Israel, especially as the Gaza conflict escalates.
Israel’s military campaign in Gaza resumed last month after a brief ceasefire collapsed. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, more than 50,000 Palestinians have been killed since Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. Israel insists its actions are a response to terrorism and denies allegations of targeting civilians.
The diplomatic fallout comes as South Africa, a key AU member, pursues a genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Israel has strongly rejected the charges, calling them politically motivated and without merit.
The incident in Addis Ababa underscores the fragile nature of Israel’s efforts to build diplomatic bridges across Africa, many of which have been strained by the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
