Global protests target Israeli diplomatic presence in Africa
An organisation, the Coalition for the Elimination of Imperialism in Africa (CEIA), a Pan-African alliance of organisations across multiple continents, has announced an international weekend of action against Israeli presence
An organisation, the Coalition for the Elimination of Imperialism in Africa (CEIA), a Pan-African alliance of organisations across multiple continents, has announced an international weekend of action against Israeli presence in Africa.
The group held coordinated demonstrations and advocacy events between April 24 and 26 in cities across Africa, Europe, North America, South America and the Caribbean.
They said the campaign was aimed at drawing attention to what it described as Israel’s expanding political, economic and diplomatic influence on the African continent, while urging African governments, including Nigeria, to reassess their relations with the Middle Eastern state.
According to CEIA, the action involved at least 25 participating organisations, with physical gatherings scheduled in Abuja and Lagos in Nigeria, Bamako, Mopti and Bandiagara in Mali, Kasoa in Ghana, Niamey in Niger, as well as events in the United States, Canada, Italy, Curaçao, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago.
Speaking during the Lagos event, socialist and Pan-Africanist activist, Sango Omojola, said the coalition decided to organise the international mobilisation because of what it considers growing Israeli influence in Africa and the ongoing war in Gaza, which has attracted widespread global criticism.
Omojola said the organisers wanted Africans and Nigerians in particular to better understand the implications of those ties and the need for governments on the continent to rethink their diplomatic engagement with Israel.
“Today we are holding an international day of action against the Israeli state’s presence in Africa. What this means is that we are drawing attention to the government of Israel, which is currently being accused globally of carrying out genocide in Palestine, while at the same time aggressively building relationships across Africa for its own strategic and economic benefit,” he said.
“We believe Africans need to become more aware of what is taking place and why it matters to our future. We are asking governments, especially in Africa, to reconsider and where necessary cut relationships with Israel, because many people across the world now see its conduct in Palestine as deeply unjust and contrary to international humanitarian principles.
“There is a historical precedent for this.
During the struggle against apartheid in South Africa, many African countries stood firmly on the side of justice and broke ties with the apartheid regime. Nigeria also played a leading role in opposing oppression at that time. In the same spirit, African countries must once again examine where they stand when faced with what many describe as colonial-style domination and dispossession.”
He added that the issue, according to the coalition, goes beyond developments in the Middle East and extends to the nature of Israel’s engagement with African nations.
“This is not only about what Israel is doing in Palestine. It is also about the kind of relationships being developed in Africa and whether those relationships truly benefit African people. Our view is that many of these arrangements are not designed for mutual progress but for strategic advantage.
“That is why actions are taking place in different countries today. The message from all these cities is that African governments should not continue business as usual without serious scrutiny of the political, economic and security consequences of such ties,” he said.
Explaining why the coalition chose this period for the campaign, Omojola said recent developments had heightened concern among activists and Pan-African groups.
“What has prompted this action now is that Israeli involvement in Africa has intensified in recent years. Historically, there has always been an interest in Africa, but what we are seeing now is a renewed push for influence in several sectors across the continent.
“In places like the Democratic Republic of Congo, there are concerns about foreign participation in mineral extraction under exploitative conditions. Across Africa, there are also questions about external actors benefiting from instability while local populations continue to suffer poverty and conflict.
“In Nigeria, we have also seen debates around security partnerships, surveillance technology, and broader economic interests. These are issues Nigerians need to discuss openly, because decisions affecting our sovereignty should never be hidden from public scrutiny,” he said.
He further argued that public opinion in Nigeria had often been shaped by religious narratives rather than national interest considerations.
“One of the reasons this conversation is important in Nigeria is because support for Israel is sometimes framed through the lens of religion, particularly Christian Zionism. But foreign policy should not be based on propaganda or emotional narratives. It should be based on justice, truth and the interests of Nigerian people.
“This issue has created unnecessary divisions among Nigerians, while more urgent domestic problems such as insecurity, terrorism, unemployment and economic hardship remain unresolved. Nigerians should not be distracted from the real challenges affecting their daily lives,” he said.
Omojola also called for solidarity with civilians affected by conflict, irrespective of religion or nationality.
The point is not whether someone is Christian or Muslim or from one region or another. The point is whether injustice is taking place and whether innocent people are suffering. Many Palestinian Christians and Muslims alike have died in this conflict.
“So our appeal is simple: Nigerians should look at this issue through the lens of justice and national interest. We believe our own interests as Nigerians are being threatened by relationships that do not prioritise our people, and that is why awareness and public engagement are necessary at this time,” he added.
