Breadcrumb
In August 1975, at the height of the struggle for freedom from colonisation across the continent, Africaâs then continental body, the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), declared: â...the racist regime in occupied Palestine and the racist regime in Zimbabwe and South Africa have a common imperialist origin⊠having the same racist structure and being organically linked in their policy aimed at repression of the dignity and integrity of the human being...â
Almost half a century ago, Africaâs leaders had already identified Israel as an Ìę- a label now by some of the worldâs leading human rights organisations. Crucially, however, African leaders had already begun boycotting the Israeli regime.
Now, however, some of the continentâs leaders have Israel, despite the intensification of Israelâs occupation of Palestine and its continuation of apartheid policies against the Palestinian people. Earlier this year, the OAUâs successor, the African Union (AU), even tried to Israel by granting it observer status, in a move that was widely by activists.
"But amidst deepening ties, African civil society is pushing back against Israelâs back-channel diplomacy on the continent, and breathing new life into the continentâs solidarity with Palestine"
Israeli companies with expertise in intelligence, surveillance, cyber security and arms have eagerly assisted some of the continentâs most repressive leaders to cling to power.Ìę Over the last decade, Israelâs military exports to Africa have more than . Helping dictators stay in power has proven an way for Israel to make African friends.
But amidst , African civil society is pushing back against Israelâs back-channel diplomacy on the continent, and breathing new life into the continentâs with Palestine.
A historic gathering
Between 10 and 12 March, activists from 21 African countries met in the Senegalese capital, Dakar, to strategize and build a coordinated, continent-wide Palestine solidarity .
The event was hosted by Plateforme de SolidarietĂ© SĂ©nĂ©gal-Palestine (Senegalese Palestine Solidarity Platform) and the Senegalese branch of Amnesty International under the theme âFrom Africa to Palestine: United against Apartheidâ, marking the first in-person conference hosted by the.
The gathering was a historic one.ÌęÌęÌę
Delegates represented political organisations, , student networks, religious groups and various other civil society formations from Botswana, Cameroon, Cote dâIvoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Malawi, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Tunisia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
âThis was the first time that activists held a gathering like this in Africa. The wide representation of groups from across the continent is unprecedented in terms of Palestine solidarity,â said PAPSN spokesperson, Roshan Dadoo.
While many countries in Africa have Palestinian solidarity organisations, the lack of a pan-African solidarity network has weakened their effectiveness, something that PAPSN is looking to change by collaboration and organising efforts.Ìę
Exposing Israel, deepening BDS in Africa
During the two-day strategy meeting, delegates resolved to build an effective Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign against Israel.
African civil society has been somewhat lacking in broadening and deepening the against Israel. This is mainly due to Israelâs penetration on the continent through its provision of military and surveillance technology to African governments, along with agricultural and water projects.
Various Christian communities and church structures on the continent - influenced by American evangelicals - have also provided a for Israelâs crime of apartheid.
Although delegates that °źÂț”ș spoke to were unable to specify details, they have that they are working on a multi-pronged campaign to isolate Israel in Africa.
"PAPSNâs ultimate aim is to get African governments, Regional Economic Communities, and the African Union to break all ties with Israel, following in the footsteps of the fight to take down the apartheid regime of South Africa"
This includes exposing how Israel democracy and human rights in Africa by arming autocratic regimes on the continent; as well as the âgreenwashingâ of Israeli apartheid policies through the sale of irrigation, water and agricultural technology to Africa.
PAPSNâs ultimate aim is to get African governments, Regional Economic Communities, and the African Union to break all ties with Israel, following in the footsteps of the fight to take down the apartheid regime of South Africa. The network also intends lobbying African countries to push for the reactivation of the United Nationsâ anti-apartheid mechanisms, and for these to be used against Israel.
The latter is a particularly significant objective in the light of UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT), Michael Lynk, recently that Israelâs policies amounts to apartheid. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch reached similar conclusions. Amnestyâs deputy director for the Middle East and North Africa, Saleh Hijazi, was also in Dakar for the conference.
âFrom Africa to Palestine, United Against Apartheid.â
â BDS movement (@BDSmovement)
For the first time ever, activists from over 20 African states will gather in Dakar for the Pan-African Anti-Apartheid Conference organised by .
Unbreakable bonds between Africa and Palestine
Delegates acknowledge that they face a mammoth task in isolating Israel, but are motivated to support Palestine by a shared history of colonialism and occupation.ÌęÌęÌę
For Senegalese activist Dialo Diop, Palestine is both a professional and personal issue. Diop has been a member of Amnesty Internationalâs medical group for decades and understands - from an institutional perspective - the need to of Palestine.
Personally, he heads up the political prisoners campaigns at the Senegalese Palestine Solidarity Platform, and considers it an âhistorical and ethical obligationâ as an African to fight against Israeli apartheid.
Itâs a sentiment shared by Ester Meameno Shitana, who represented the Namibia National Students Organisation (NANSO) in Dakar. âNANSO is a student organisation that was birthed in response to a repressive apartheid regime, so we can never stand by and watch or support an Israeli apartheid regime,â explainedÌęShitana.
Reverend Kolade Fadahunsi of Kairos Nigeria saw the Dakar conference âas an opportunity for us to come together as a network and a strong force to address the issue of seeking justice for the Palestinians.â
"Delegates acknowledge that they face a mammoth task in isolating Israel, but are motivated to support Palestine by a shared history of colonialism and occupation"
Fadahunsi believes that African Christians must renounce - in the strongest terms possible â any attempts to defend the Israeli occupation and oppression of the Palestinian people using the Bible.
Mafa Kwanisai Mafa, chairman of the Zimbabwe Palestine Solidarity Council (ZPSC), says that it is unconscionable that the African Union â which has always supported self-determination and a decolonial agenda - now welcomes Israel. Revoking Israelâs observer status at the AU is a priority for ZPSC.
Honouring Africa's history
Honouring Africaâs long-standing legacy of supporting the Palestinian cause was a major theme at a public event on 12 March. The event was opened by Palestinian ambassador to Senegal Safwat Ibraghith and speakers included Algerian freedom fighter and former foreign minister , and Moroccan human rights activist, Khadija Ryadi.
Also present was Emma Nyerere - whose grandfather, Tanzanian liberation icon, Julius Nyerere, was among the first world leaders to recognise the PLO in 1973. Representing the Pan-African Womenâs Organisation, Nyerere she was proud that PAPSN was continuing Africaâs support of Palestine.
âThis [gathering] sends a strong message to the people of occupied Palestine that you are not alone and that the people of Africa stand with you in your struggle just as you stood by us during our struggles for liberation across the continent,â Zwelivelile Mandela, grandson of Nelson Mandela.
Itâs a message that has reached Palestinians.
Speaking from the besieged Gaza Strip, Aya Al-Ghazzawi of the One Democratic State Campaign, said she was âdeeply overwhelmed and proudâ of the solidarity shown at PAPSNâs conference. âIt gives us stamina to keep resisting apartheid and settler-colonialism.â
âEven when undemocratic, corrupt governments betray principles and sell out, this gathering shows that the bond between peoples in a common struggle against military occupation, neo-colonialism and apartheid cannot be broken,â said Mahmoud Nawajaa, general coordinator of the Palestinian BDS National Committee (BNC).
Even as the governments of several African countries with proud anti-colonial legacies and histories of recognising and fighting injustice have normalised relations with Israel, in Dakar, civil society and activists sent a clear message that Africaâs peoples remain firmly committed to the Palestinian peopleâs fight against Israeli apartheid.
Suraya Dadoo is a writer based in Johannesburg, South Africa.Ìę
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