Growing opposition to Israel being granted observer status in African Union

There is growing opposition amongst member countries in the African Union (AU) after Israel was admitted as an observer.

Africa's top three economies and most influential countries Nigeria, Egypt, and South Africa have strongly come out against Israel's admittance in the body even as observers.

In a strongly-worded statement, South Africa said that it's "appalled at the unjust and unwarranted decision of the AU Commission to grant Israel observer status in the African Union."

So far, 17 African countries have expressed their opposition to the move, including countries like Zimbabwe, Algeria and Liberia.

According to local Algerian media, the country's Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra said he would "not stand idly by in front of this step taken by Israel and the African Union without consulting the member states."

Algeria is now in the process of rallying other African states in a bid to build a coalition and change the constitution of the African Union so that non-African countries can not hold any status.

For Israel, being admitted to the 55-member bloc is a significant political victory given that it's been trying to enter since 2002.

Tel-Aviv enjoyed observer status in the predecessor Organization of African Unity until 2002 until that organization dissolved itself, becoming the African Union.

Foreign Minister Yair Lapid celebrated the victory as an important step in strengthening the country's international position.

Most African states now have diplomatic ties with Israel - but that wasn't always the case. After the Yom Kippur War in 1973, African states, except four, cut their diplomatic ties - only gradually restoring them over two decades.

Over the last two decades, Israel has made Africa a priority country for its business interests and in a bid to garner lobbying power in international organizations.

Israel's security and intelligence agencies are strong drivers of the country's foreign policy. So it's telling that countries who don't recognize Israel are now a marginal handful.

As different African countries have faced their own crises, new governments in financial or political difficulty - or both - have reached out to Israel in a bid for lobbying power in Washington.

Sudan and Morocco, who both recognized Israel during the administration of the former US President Donald Trump, won concessions from Washington in exchange for recognizing Israel.

Sudan was rewarded with an easing of sanctions as the former President Omar al Bashir was toppled. Whereas for Morocco, Washington recognized Western Sahara as sovereign territory of Rabat.

Israel's shift towards Africa is strategic but also plays to the country's strengths.

According to the Israeli political analyst Pinhas Anbari "When Europe openly expressed its support for the establishment of a Palestinian state and its opposition to Israeli policy vis-à-vis the Palestinians, Israel made a strategic decision to focus on Africa."

The late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi was also a major stumbling block for Israeli influence in Africa. As a major aid donor to many African countries and contributor to the African Union, he held significant sway over different African capitals and their ability to succumb under Israeli influence.

Although Libya today doesn't support Israel's observer membership to the African Union - internal civil strife has resulted in its influence declining significantly.

Even against this backdrop, "Israel's real political influence in Africa is weak and will stay so", said a recent report looking at the country's influence in Africa.

The Israeli occupation, colonization, and apartheid policies towards Palestinians resonate with many African states with a history of European colonization and are unwilling to reward Israeli actions with support on the international stage.