The Al-Aqsa Flood operation and the subsequent Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip were a remarkable turning point that moved the stagnation that surrounded the Palestinian issue in recent years to return it to the forefront of the global scene, with sweeping sympathy that was historically unprecedented and unlimited spatially, extending across the five continents.
Africa had its share of this momentum, as the continent witnessed widespread interaction with the events of the Al-Aqsa Flood and the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip, at the official, popular and institutional levels.
While this interaction as a whole reflected strong support for the Palestinian cause and criticism of Israeli violations, on the other hand, it revealed the extent of the complexity of Israeli relations with Africa, especially with Tel Aviv developing its strategy to expand its influence in the African continent in recent years.
Supportive position
These events came to shed light on the African position in its various manifestations regarding the Palestinian issue. We can talk about a number of African blocs whose reactions varied between supporting Palestinian demands and siding with Israel, while another group committed itself to neutrality.
A number of African countries have shown their support for the Palestinian position and denounced the crimes committed by the Israeli war machine, in a traditional position that sees the issue as a reflection of the bitter experience that the continent went through with colonial powers.
Within this framework, Senegal organized the Fourth Conference of West African States to support the Palestinian cause in mid-July 2024, and the country’s President Basserou Diomay Fay announced at the Organization of the Islamic Conference summit in May that Dakar’s support for Palestine cannot be undone.
This Senegalese position represents a shift from the language of neutrality that the country initially adopted by condemning the attacks of October 7 and calling for the revival of talks between the two parties, a development attributed to the rise of the “Patriots for Action, Ethics and Fraternity” (Pasteif) party to power in the March elections. March based on a program based on rejection of Western hegemony and subordination.
The party’s position on Palestine was in harmony with the large popular base that voted for it, which many observers consider an indication of the discrepancy between the positions of governments and the conscience of many African peoples who support the struggle of the Palestinian people, especially in countries with a Muslim majority.
For its part, Chad condemned “the killing of innocent civilians in Gaza” and summoned the Chadian Chargé d’Affairs in Tel Aviv “for consultations.”
South Africa is the most prominent African voice on the African continent, as the Pretoria authorities held the Israeli occupation responsible for all the illegal escalation that occurred, as well as the desecration of Al-Aqsa Mosque and holy Christian sites. It also summoned its ambassador and diplomatic mission to Israel, accusing it of committing genocide crimes. .
In a historic precedent, South Africa submitted an official request to the International Court of Justice on December 29, accusing Israel of committing acts of genocide in the Gaza Strip after the fall of thousands of Palestinian martyrs and the forced displacement of the people of the Strip from their homes and regions, and many countries announced their intention to join Pretoria in its lawsuit. , including in Africa, Libya and Egypt.
Between bias and neutrality
In contrast to this group, another bloc emerged that showed explicit support for the Israeli occupation, such as Ghana, Cameroon, Togo, Zambia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and others.
This indicates the transformations that the continent is witnessing as a result of a number of variables related to the Oslo Accords and the subsequent Arab normalization with Israel, and the great activity of Tel Aviv to strengthen its influence within the African continent, which led to about 30 African countries opening embassies or consulates with Israel.
Networks of interests have also emerged between the two parties, covering areas such as security, defense technology, weapons, and agriculture, which some African countries are in dire need of as they suffer from drought, floods, and malnutrition.
In addition to the above, there are historical allies of Israel in Africa, such as Cameroonian President Paul Biya, who declared his explicit support for Tel Aviv, and Yaoundé was one of the first sub-Saharan African capitals to resume relations with Israel in 1986.
Israel played a vital role in strengthening Paul Biya’s rule since 1982, as it was responsible for his personal security and leadership of the elite Cameroonian unit known as the “Rapid Intervention Battalion.”
Regarding the two previous groups, other African countries adhered to a neutral position in their political discourse, such as Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, and Guinea Bissau. For example, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni declared his regret at the outbreak of “renewed violence,” calling for the adoption of a two-state solution and condemning the targeting of civilians by all parties.
There are multiple motives behind this position, as its proponents seek a kind of balance that does not lead to damage to their relations with Tel Aviv on the one hand, and in a way that does not lead to estrangement from traditional African values in the face of colonialism on the other hand.
Peoples with Palestine
As the brutal war on Gaza continued, many African peoples won for their values and heritage in the fight against colonialism, as some countries on the continent witnessed large demonstrations in solidarity with the Palestinian people and denouncing Israel.
Dozens of massive marches were launched in many countries of the continent, huge protests took place in the cities of Cape Town and Johannesburg in South Africa, and thousands of demonstrators gathered to demand an end to the Israeli attacks on Gaza and to consider what is happening as “genocide.”
The protests included raising Palestinian flags and chanting slogans against the Israeli occupation. Protests were also organized in front of the US Consulate in Johannesburg. Criticism was directed at the role of the United States in supporting Israel. It was noteworthy that demonstrations took place in a number of countries with close relations with Israel, such as Nigeria and Kenya.
In Kenya, popular protests played a vital role in pushing the country’s president, William Ruto, to retreat from his initial pro-Tel Aviv position to demand a two-state solution, as he first called on the international community to take action against what he called “the perpetrators, organisers, financiers and supporters of terrorist acts.”
Under pressure from the Kenyan street, Ruto adopted a less harsh tone, clarifying his country’s demand for a ceasefire and commitment to the two-state solution.
African civil society also had its say in this context, as a group of its institutions contributed to organizing demonstrations in South Africa, such as the “Palestine Solidarity Campaign” and the “Confederation of Trade Unions,” which issued calls for the government to impose sanctions on Israel and adopt an “apartheid” law. To cut ties with Israel.
This movement was not limited to South Africa, where thousands of Senegalese came out in solidarity with the people of Gaza. It represented a response from more than 50 organizations in the country to the call of the “National Alliance to Support Palestine,” which declared its blessing for “Operation Al-Aqsa Flood,” and demanded that the International Criminal Court open an investigation into the crimes. The war committed by the occupation in the Gaza Strip.
The Association of Imams and Preachers in Senegal also sent a letter of protest to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, through the United Nations coordinator in Dakar, in which it expressed its rejection of “the crimes committed by the Israeli occupation army against the Palestinian people.”
Institutional interaction
At the continental level, the African Union reacted early to the developments of events in Gaza, as a statement was issued by the Chairman of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, on October 7 urging an end to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian factions in Gaza, explaining that Israel’s denial of the establishment of a Palestinian state is… The main and permanent cause of tension, calling on both parties to return to peace talks.
The statement, signed by 55 member states of the Union, also affirmed that “the international community, and the major world powers in particular, must shoulder their responsibilities to impose peace and guarantee the rights of the two peoples.”
This position was repeated on October 26, when Faki expressed his full support for the “principled position” of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Israeli military operations in Gaza in the Security Council.
The Chair of the African Union Commission tweeted on the X website that Guterres’ position “is in line with international law, the position of the African Union and relevant UN resolutions.”
The Secretary-General of the United Nations condemned the attacks of October 7, but made clear in his speech before the Security Council that they “did not occur in a vacuum,” and that the Palestinian people have been suffering from a stifling occupation for 56 years.
Expulsion of Israel
Echoes of this decisive African position were repeated at the 37th African Summit last February, which was held in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, where the file of the Israeli war on Gaza occupied the forefront of attention, which was embodied in many steps, as Israel was prevented from attending the opening sessions of the summit, and a delegation was expelled. An Israeli tried to participate in the Ministerial Council meetings paving the way for the summit.
In his speech, Musa Faki described what Gaza was being exposed to as genocide, considering the International Court of Justice’s decision regarding Israeli crimes “a victory for all countries that support the Palestinian cause.”
The summit’s final statement also called for an independent international investigation into Israel’s use of internationally banned weapons in its war in Gaza, and its violation of international humanitarian law by targeting hospitals, medical centers and media institutions, and demanded the lifting of the unjust siege imposed on the Gaza Strip.
In this context, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) had a clear position at the conclusion of its 44th summit last August, as the final statement indicated concern about the continuing attack on civilians in Palestine, which resulted in the loss of lives, the destruction of property, and the deterioration of humanitarian conditions. .
The summit called for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages, and the start of talks to reach a permanent solution to the conflict.
Despite the differences shown by African governments in their reactions to the Israeli aggression on Gaza, public opinion in most countries on the continent, represented by the protesting streets and the African Union, was strongly inclined towards supporting the rights and hopes of the Palestinian people to obtain their legitimate rights.
