The Al-Aqsa Flood operation and the subsequent Israeli aggression against Gaza have marked a significant turning point that has invigorated the stagnation surrounding the Palestinian cause in recent years, bringing it back to the forefront of the global scene. This resurgence is accompanied by unprecedented and widespread empathy across all five continents.
Africa, too, experienced a share of this momentum, witnessing broad interaction with the events of the Al-Aqsa Flood and the Israeli aggression against Gaza at official, popular, and institutional levels.
While this interaction largely reflected strong support for the Palestinian cause and criticism of Israeli violations, it also revealed the complexity of Israeli relations with Africa, particularly as Tel Aviv has developed its strategy to expand its influence on the continent in recent years.
A Supportive Position
These events shed light on the African stance towards the Palestinian issue, revealing various African blocs with different reactions ranging from support for Palestinian demands to alignment with Israel, while another group maintained neutrality.
Several African countries have shown their support for the Palestinian position and condemned the crimes committed by the Israeli war machine, reflecting a traditional view that sees the Palestinian cause as a reflection of the bitter experiences the continent has faced with colonial powers.
In this context, Senegal organized the fourth conference of West African countries to support the Palestinian cause in mid-July 2024, while the country’s President, Basiru Diumaye Fay, publicly stated at the Organization of Islamic Cooperation summit in May that Dakar’s support for Palestine is non-negotiable.
This Senegalese position marks a shift from the initial neutral language the country adopted by condemning the attacks of October 7 and calling for the revival of talks between the parties, a development attributed to the rise of the “Patriots for Work, Morality, and Brotherhood” (Pastef) to power in the March elections, which is based on a program rejecting Western hegemony and dependency.
The party’s stance on Palestine resonates with the large grassroots support that voted for it, which many observers see as an indicator of the disparity between government positions and the conscience of many African peoples supportive of the Palestinian struggle, especially in predominantly Muslim countries.
Chad condemned the “killing of innocent civilians in Gaza,” summoning its chargé d’affaires in Tel Aviv for “consultation.”
South Africa has emerged as the most prominent African voice on the continent, holding the Israeli occupation accountable for all acts of unlawful escalation, in addition to the desecration of Al-Aqsa Mosque and Christian holy sites. It also summoned its ambassador and diplomatic mission in Israel, accusing it of committing acts of genocide.
In a historic precedent, South Africa formally submitted a request to the International Court of Justice on December 29, accusing Israel of committing acts of genocide in Gaza following the fall of thousands of Palestinian martyrs and the forced displacement of residents. Many countries have announced their intention to join Pretoria in this lawsuit, including Libya and Egypt.
Between Bias and Neutrality
In contrast to this group, another bloc has emerged showing overt support for the Israeli occupation, including Ghana, Cameroon, Togo, Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and others.
This indicates shifts occurring on the continent due to various factors related to the Oslo Accords and subsequent Arab normalization with Israel, alongside Tel Aviv’s significant activity to enhance its influence within the continent. Approximately 30 African countries have opened embassies or consulates in Israel.
Moreover, networks of interests have developed between the two sides in areas such as security, defense technology, and agriculture—fields that some African nations desperately need given their struggles with drought, floods, and malnutrition.
In addition, historical allies of Israel in Africa include Cameroon’s President Paul Biya, who has openly expressed support for Tel Aviv, and Yaoundé was among the first sub-Saharan capitals to re-establish relations with Israel in 1986.
Israel has played a vital role in bolstering Biya’s rule, which has been in place since 1982, providing personal security and leading the elite Cameroonian unit known as the “Rapid Intervention Brigade.”
In contrast, other African countries like Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, and Guinea-Bissau have maintained a neutral stance in their political discourse. For instance, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni expressed regret over the outbreak of “renewed violence,” calling for a two-state solution while condemning civilian targeting by all parties.
Various motivations lie behind this neutral stance, aiming for a balance that neither damages relations with Tel Aviv nor contradicts traditional African values against colonialism.
People Stand with Palestine
Amid the ongoing brutal war on Gaza, many African people have aligned with their values and heritage in the fight against colonialism, as witnessed by large demonstrations in several countries in solidarity with the Palestinian people.
Mass rallies erupted in several countries on the continent, with massive protests taking place in Cape Town and Johannesburg in South Africa. Thousands of demonstrators gathered to call for an end to Israeli attacks on Gaza, deeming the situation as “genocide.”
The protests featured the raising of Palestinian flags and chanting slogans against the Israeli occupation. Demonstrations were also organized outside the U.S. consulate in Johannesburg, where there were criticisms directed at the role of the United States in supporting Israel. Notably, protests also occurred in several countries with close ties to Israel, such as Nigeria and Kenya.
In Kenya, popular protests played a crucial role in pushing President William Ruto to retract his initial pro-Israeli stance and call for a two-state solution, initially urging the international community to take action against those he labeled “perpetrators and organizers of terrorism and their financiers.”
Under pressure from Kenyan streets, Ruto adopted a softer tone, clarifying his country’s demand for a ceasefire and commitment to a two-state solution.
Additionally, the African civil society expressed its voice in this context, with various organizations in South Africa organizing demonstrations like the “Solidarity for Palestine Campaign” and the “Confederation of Trade Unions,” which called on the government to impose sanctions on Israel and adopt “apartheid” legislation to sever relations with Israel.
This activism was not limited to South Africa; thousands of Senegalese demonstrated in support of Gaza, representing a response from over 50 organizations across the country to the “National Coalition for Palestine,” which endorsed the “Al-Aqsa Flood” operation and urged the International Criminal Court to investigate war crimes committed by the occupation in Gaza.
The “Imams and Preachers Association of Senegal” also sent a letter of protest to United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres through the organization’s coordinator in Dakar, expressing their rejection of “the crimes committed by the Israeli occupation army against the Palestinian people.”
Institutional Interaction
At the continental level, the African Union responded early to developments in Gaza, with a statement from the AU Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat on October 7 urging an end to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian factions in Gaza. He clarified that Israel’s denial of the establishment of a Palestinian state is the main and enduring cause of tension, calling on both parties to return to peace talks.
The statement, signed by 55 member states of the Union, asserted that “the international community, particularly major powers, must assume their responsibilities to enforce peace and ensure the rights of both peoples.”
This position was reiterated on October 26 when Faki expressed his full support for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ “principled position” regarding Israeli military operations in Gaza during a Security Council session.
Faki tweeted that Guterres’ position “aligns with international law and the position of the African Union and relevant UN resolutions.”
The UN Secretary-General condemned the attacks of October 7 but clarified in his speech before the Security Council that these acts “did not happen in a vacuum,” stressing that the Palestinian people have been suffering under a suffocating occupation for 56 years.
Expelling Israel
The echoes of this decisive African position were reiterated at the 37th African Summit held in February in Addis Ababa, where the issue of the Israeli war on Gaza dominated discussions. Israel was barred from attending the summit’s opening sessions, and an Israeli delegation attempting to participate in the ministerial council meetings was expelled.
In his address, Moussa Faki described the situation in Gaza as genocide, considering the International Court of Justice’s decision regarding Israeli crimes as a “victory for all countries supporting the Palestinian cause.”
The summit’s final statement called for an independent international investigation into Israel’s use of internationally prohibited weapons in the war against Gaza and its violations of international humanitarian law by targeting hospitals, medical facilities, and media institutions, and demanded the lifting of the unjust blockade imposed on the territory.
In this context, the “Southern African Development Community (SADC)” bloc had a clear position at the conclusion of its 44th summit in August, with the final statement expressing concern over the ongoing assault on civilians in Palestine, resulting in loss of life, property destruction, and deterioration of humanitarian conditions.
The summit called for an immediate ceasefire and the release of all hostages, as well as the initiation of talks to achieve a lasting resolution to the conflict.
Despite the varying reactions of African governments to the Israeli aggression against Gaza, public opinion in most countries on the continent, as represented by the protesting streets and the African Union, leaned strongly towards supporting the rights and aspirations of the Palestinian people to obtain their legitimate rights.
