Israel’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, Avraham Nigusse, was ejected from an African Union (AU) event this week, sparking outrage from the diplomat.
The incident took place during an annual gathering in honor of the 1994 Rwanda genocide.
An Israeli official revealed that the ejection occurred at the request of AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Youssouf.
The official, speaking anonymously, noted that the chairperson introduced anti-Israel political elements into the proceedings.
Nigusse, invited by Rwanda, condemned the action, emphasizing that it misrepresented the histories of both the Rwandan and Jewish peoples.
Youssouf, who began his four-year term as AU chairperson in February, did not respond to requests for comment.
A diplomat at the AU clarified that the ambassador’s removal was due to Israel’s observer status at the continental body being suspended in 2023.
The status, reinstated in 2021 after two decades, remains under review by a committee of African heads of state, with no final decision yet.
Israel’s diplomatic relations with the AU have been strained due to the body’s strong ties to Palestinians.
Last month, Israel resumed military action in Gaza, igniting further tensions.
South Africa, a key AU member, has lodged a case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, accusing the country of genocide during its military operations.
Israel has vehemently denied these allegations.
