Recent Appearances...

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Recent Appearances...

Africa North

The Russian Armed Forces freed Chadian soldiers captured by Islamic militants

2024-05-29

Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Regnum] The Russian military has freed Chadian soldiers captured by Islamic militants. The Russian Ministry of Defense reported this on May 28.

“In Central Africa, Russian military personnel conducted a joint operation with colleagues from the Republic of Chad to free Chadian military personnel from captivity by militants of illegal armed groups,” the statement says.

The department clarified that nine months ago, Islamic militants captured 21 members of the Chadian armed forces. This happened while clearing mines at the airport in the Tibesti region.

…a central Sahara mountain range in northern Chad and southern Libya.

It is noted that the terrorists kept prisoners in their camp in inhumane conditions and subjected them to torture.

The Ministry of Defense added that all prisoners were taken to a temporary base, where Russian doctors provided them with the necessary assistance and carried out operations to remove fragments. After that, under the control of Russian military personnel, they were evacuated to their homeland.

The Minister of Defense of Chad thanked Russia for the operation carried out to free the military personnel. He noted that Russia has always been a reliable partner of African countries, unlike France, Britain and the United States, which received only benefits from Africans.

As Regnum reported, the results of the presidential elections were announced in Chad. The winner was determined in the first round of voting. He became the current transitional president, Mahamat Idriss Deby, who received 61.03% of the votes.

In April, the Chadian government sent a letter to the United States of America regulating the presence of American military personnel in the country. The letter did not contain a direct demand for US troops to leave Chad, but the authorities of the African country demanded that the US military leave the base in N'Djamena.

In January 2024, Russian President Vladimir Putin, at a meeting with the transitional president of the African republic, Mahamat Idriss Déby in Moscow, said that Russia was closely monitoring what was happening in Chad.

Link

Africa Subsaharan

Chad: Idriss D by sworn in as president following disputed elections

2024-05-24

[AFRICANEWS] Chad's president-elect, Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, was sworn in on Thursday at a ceremony in the capital, N’Djamena, attended by several leaders from the region.

Deby’s inauguration came a week after the constitutional council confirmed he had won the disputed 6 May election outright, with 61 per cent of the vote.

He seized power three years ago after the death of his father, Idriss Déby, who had ruled Chad with an iron fist for three decades.

A career soldier, Deby junior had promised to hold elections within 18 months, but his government postponed the poll and allowed him to run for president

Opposition leader, Succes Masra, a staunch opponent of the junta won a 18,5 per cent share of the vote.

He unsuccessfully challenged the results of the election, which international NGOs described as neither credible nor free.

Link

Africa North

Chad goes to polls to vote for a new president

2024-05-06

[AFRICANEWS] Candidates in Chad delivered their final campaigning messages on Saturday ahead of the country’s first presidential vote since the death of long time ruler Idriss Deby.

Success Masra, currently prime minister of the interim government, is one the main challengers.

Speaking to supporters in the capital, N'Djamena, the former African Development Bank executive promised young people a better future and the creation of more jobs.

A "minimum package of dignity" in his programme includes an ambitious five-year plan to create 200,000 jobs, divided equally between the private and public sectors.

Masra’s grassroots campaign has also promised to deal with other urgent issues like access to electricity, water, and security for all.

“We would like to live in a country at peace and reconciled, so the victory on the horizon is not that of one side against another, but that of all the people of Chad. The victory of the hope of peace, the victory of an enthusiastic future over a difficult past,” he said.

Chad's interim president the favourite as the country goes to the polls

[Africanews] As Chad goes to the polls on Monday, it is widely believed that incumbent President General Mahamat Idriss Deby will win easily.

He seized power three years ago after his father, Idriss Déby Itno, was killed, apparently on the battlefield fighting rebels trying to overthrow his government.

Deby senior had ruled Chad with an iron fist for three decades.

A career soldier, the new president promised to hold elections within 18 months, but his government postponed the poll and allowed him to run for president.

It has said the election will return the country to constitutional rule, but opposition groups say they have no doubt the poll will be rigged.

Deby is backed by the ruling Patriotic Salvation Movement (MPS) party.

Link

Africa North

Some US troops set to depart Chad, at least temporarily

2024-04-26

[AOL] The United States is planning to temporarily withdraw some of its troops from Chad, U.S. officials said on Thursday, a move that comes just days after Washington was forced to agree to remove its troops from neighboring Niger.

Earlier this month Chad's air force chief ordered the U.S. to halt activities at an air base near the capital N'Djamena, according to a letter sent to the transitional government and seen by Reuters.

Pentagon spokesperson Major General Patrick Ryder said a portion of the U.S. troops in Chad would reposition out of the country.

He said it was a "temporary step" as part of an ongoing review of security cooperation with Chad, which would resume after the country's May 6 presidential election.

A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said a few dozen special forces troops who are in Chad as planners and advisers will move to Germany for now.

Interim President Mahamat Idriss Deby is running for election next month, making Chad the first of West and Central Africa's junta-ruled countries to organise a vote. Opposition groups have flagged concerns about its credibility.
Read the rest at the link

Link

Africa North

Chadian Troops Reportedly Kill Several Boko Haram Terrorists During Fresh Clash

2024-02-23

[PUBLISH.TWITTER]

Chadian Troops Reportedly Kill Several Boko Haram Terrorists During Fresh Clash | Sahara Reporters https://t.co/sCf0aJJAPk pic.twitter.com/9HiUrdXk4M
— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) February 22, 2024

Scores of Boko Haram

... not to be confused with Procol Harum, Harum Scarum, possibly to be confused with Helter Skelter. The Nigerian version of al-Qaeda and the Taliban rolled together and flavored with a smigeon of distinctly Subsaharan ignorance and brutality...
fighters have reportedly been killed by Chadian troops during a fresh clash somewhere between Marte and Lokobadu area in Chad.

Zagazola Makama, a counterinsurgency expert and security analyst in the Lake Chad region disclosed this in a post on his X handle on Thursday.

In his post, Zagazola said that the gunnies earlier attacked some local fishermen and seized their boats in the axis of Marte and this was what led to the shootout between them and the Chadian security forces.

He wrote, "The Chadian troops have reportedly clashed with the Boko Haram Buduma gunnies loyal to Abu Ali, during a fighting patrol with several gunnies killed.

"The gunnies had earlier seized boats from fishermen in the axis of Marte and headed toward Lokobadu, but the Chadian troops intercepted them and neutralised several of them, seized logistics, weapons and bombs.

"Those who escaped the onslaught were trailed and neutralised along the southern rim of Lake Chad, near the Chad-Cameroon
...a long, narrow country that fills the space between Nigeria and Chad on the northeast, CAR to the southeast. Prior to incursions by Boko Haram nothing ever happened there...
-Nigeria border by the Chadian Airforce."

The Boko Haram fighters, backed by the deadlier Islamic State

...formerly ISIS or ISIL, depending on your preference. Before that they were al-Qaeda in Iraq, as shaped by Abu Musab Zarqawi. They're really very devout, committing every atrocity they can find in the Koran and inventing a few more. They fling Allah around with every other sentence, but to hear western pols talk they're not really Moslems....
West Africa terrorists, appear to be gaining more strongholds from across the Lake Chad region into Nigeria, especially after the death of Chad President Idriss Deby.

In a similar incident, SaharaReporters reported how the Chadian troops killed over 22 Boko Haram fighters who crossed from Nigeria into Chad in May 2021.

A source in the Nigerian Army explained that the gunnies had crossed via Borno into Chad to attack but were repelled by the Chadian troops.

He told SaharaReporters that scores of the bad boyz were potted, but only about 22 of them were captured.

"Boko Haram gunnies crossed from Nigeria border into Chad yesterday evening for an attack, but the Chadian troops killed scores of them. The visible bodies are 22, but tens of bodies were laid on the outskirts of the village," the source had said

Link

Africa North

Chad's Deby appoints opposition leader, Masra, as new PM

2024-01-02

[AFRICANEWS] Chadian politician Succès Masra was named the first Prime minister under the nation's newly adopted 5th Republic Constitution.

The announcement was read on national television on January 1st by minister Mahamat Ahmad Alhabo.

"Through decree 012024 signed on January 1st, 204 by general Mahamat Idriss "Little" Deby Itno, transitional president, president of the Republic [of Chad], head of state, president of the Cabinet, Dr. Succès Masra is named Prime minister, head of the transitional government."

The "Les Transformateurs" party leader has yet to react to his nomination.

It comes after Saleh Kebzabo's government resigned on December 30.

One day prior, on December 29, military ruler Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno promulgated a new Constitution which was passed in a referendum on December 17.

Longtime opposition leader Succès Masra returned to Chad on November 3rd.

He had left the Sahelian nation along with other opposition leaders after demonstrations held last year to protest military rule were ~~violent~~ mostly peacefully repressed.

Officially about 50 people were killed in protests last year. The opposition and independent observers said at least 300 had been killed on October 20 after Transitional president Mahamat Deby went back on his word to hold elections.

Masra returned home after reaching an agreement with the military regime. The rest of Chad's opposition, many of whose leaders remain in exile, denounced the deal which allegedly includes an amnesty for those responsible for killing demonstrators last year.

Link

Africa Subsaharan

Opposition leader in Chad delays return from exile

2023-10-17

[AFRICANEWS] The leader of Chad's opposition party, les Transformateurs (the Transformers), is postponing his return from exile to next month.

Succès Masra had been due to return to the country on October 20 but says he is now delaying on the advice of the president of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Masra fled Chad a year ago following a deadly crackdown on protesters opposed to election delays by the ruling military junta.

He vowed last month to return home by 20 October, the anniversary of the protests.

On Sunday, however, he issued a statement saying Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi, the current chairperson of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) bloc, advised him to delay his return until early November.

He did not say the date he now plans to return on.

His postponement comes after Chad's junta reportedly ordered airlines not to fly the opposition leader home and to provide the names of all passengers travelling to the capital N'Djamena.

In July, the junta issued an arrest warrant for Masra, accusing him of inciting hatred and rebellion.

The ruling junta, led by Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, has been in power since 2021.

Link

Africa North

Africa's coup epidemic: Has democracy failed the continent?

2023-09-22

[Aljazeera] In August, when a group of Gabonese military officers deposed President Ali Bongo, whose family had ruled the country for nearly six decades, many ordinary citizens came out on the streets to celebrate.

When Bongo put out a call for the international community to "make noise" against the coup, it quickly turned into a meme mocking him, with dancers and content creators ridiculing his desire to stay in power.

Neither the military putsch in Gabon nor the street response to it are unique. Since 2020, there have been nine coups in West Africa, Central Africa and the Sahel region.

Mali opened the floodgates three years ago when the army staged a mutiny and subsequently undertook a coup led by Colonel Assimi Goita — who then followed up with another coup against an interim administration in May 2021.

Four months later, in September, Guinea followed with a military coup against President Alpha Conde. Sudan’s civilian-military transitional government was overthrown in October 2021. Earlier that year, in April, Chad’s army seized power after President Idriss Deby was killed on the battlefield while visiting troops fighting rebels in the north.

Burkina Faso joined this pattern of collapsing governments, with two military coups in 2022. Then, on July 26, 2023, the presidential guard in uranium-rich Niger overthrew democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum, before the Gabon coup a few weeks later. Since the beginning of last year, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, and Sao Tome and Principe have all witnessed failed coup attempts.
Tribal slaughter, it's what they do. It's what they've always done.

Link

Africa North

Fight for Niger. A big war could start in Africa as early as Sunday

2023-08-03

Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
By Viktor Vasiliev

[REGNUM] The armed coup in Niger, which on July 27 became a successful informational support for the Russia-Africa summit and gave rise to a significant number of memes, is far from over. The situation is developing rapidly, and the coming to power of the military on the Black Continent, which is quite familiar for the last two years, in this particular case, can turn into a major interregional conflict.

On August 1, the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (not to be confused with Niger), Christopher Musa, on the air of French Radio International (RFI) said that if the Economic Community of West Africa (ECOWAS) orders an invasion of Niger, the country's armed forces will carry it out.

And, perhaps, this is the most serious fact in favor of an armed invasion of Niger by ECOWAS. The armed forces of Nigeria have about 215 thousand people and impressive military equipment, this is the fourth most powerful military power on the continent.

The reorientation in solving the military-political problem in West Africa from Chad to Nigeria and the very fact of the firm intention of the Nigerian authorities to play a leading role in suppressing the rebellion speaks of one thing - the United States is behind the ongoing confrontation .

Paris does not and has never had any significant influence on Nigeria, and the latter has always preferred to bypass the conflicts of the Francophone part of Africa. Here we see a completely different situation.

An emergency conference - a meeting of ECOWAS leaders took place precisely in the capital of Nigeria, Abuja, and a communiqué, distinguished by unprecedented firmness, was adopted there demanding the restoration of the status quo:

"In the event that the requirements of the conference are not met within one week, take all necessary measures to ensure constitutional order in the Republic of Niger."

The demands were made on July 30, and if the putschists do not release and return to power Mohamed Bazum , then this Sunday an armed intervention may begin, threatening to develop into a major inter-regional conflict.

The meeting in Abuja on July 30 was attended by the heads of seven African states - Benin, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Senegal, Togo and the host country itself, Nigeria. Obviously, it is these countries that will become participants in the military intervention in Niger in order to restore the overthrown government.

However, the legitimacy of such a move is questionable.

First, it is clear that both society and the political opposition within Niger fully supported the putschists. And this is the main asset of Abdurakhman Chiani, who came to power.

The overthrown President Bazum was not popular among the population and came to power through rather difficult elections (two rounds took place) with direct support from France and the United States.

Another factor is the origin of the deposed leader. Bazum is not an ethnic Niger and belongs to an Arab tribe living in southern Libya, born outside of Niger itself. This circumstance was the subject of Bazum's main criticism during the elections at the turn of 2020-2021 and during his reign.

In addition, the reforms and practices implemented by the new president did not suit both the former elites and the military.

Thus, the president of Niger, Bazum, did not enjoy either support or popularity, and this is confirmed by the very ideal format of the putsch - without a single shot or any bloodshed, in an atmosphere of absolute calm and routine.

Secondly, the new authorities have significant public support from their immediate neighbors.

Moreover, the rather tense political crisis between the authorities of Mali and President Bazum in the last couple of years allows us to speak, if not about a conspiracy version, then about the obvious fact of the presence of ties and preliminary agreements between the Niger putschists and the military junta of Mali.

Public support for the new authorities was also expressed by Burkina Faso. Moreover, the leaders of these two countries issued a statement in which they expressed their readiness to provide armed support to the new authorities of Niger, led by Chiani, in the event of armed aggression by third forces.

Moreover, the African media report that the leadership of Burkina Faso, represented by the head of the Transitional Council, Captain Ibrahim Traore , and the leadership of Mali, represented by the head of the Transitional Council, Colonel Assimi Goyot allegedly agreed during their meeting in St. in the event of any violation of its territorial integrity.

Support for the National Council for the Defense of the Fatherland (an organization of putschists) and the people of Niger was expressed by Guinea, where almost two years ago there was also a military coup.

The Guinean authorities opposed the intervention of ECOWAS, in a press release issued on July 31, they " pay tribute to the courageous people of Niger for their high sense of patriotism and salute the republican spirit and maturity " of the coup soldiers.

Thus, the leader of Guinea, Mamady Dumbua, spoke out against all sanctions, which he considers " illegal and inhuman ", and against armed intervention by ECOWAS.

The new authorities were also supported by famous Sudanese hackers (hackers from the Anonymous Sudan group became famous for attacks on Israeli companies, as well as hacking and stealing data from Microsoft).

In general, public opinion on the African continent is completely on the side of the putschists, who in many ways express pan-African sentiments in their political rhetoric.

It is also curious that the Economic Community of West African Countries, which was actually conceived and created by France, is increasingly turning from an economic organization into a military-political one, and among its goals the fight against coups is now a priority. This, in particular, was announced during the appointment of a new chairman of the organization of the President of Guinea-Bissau Umar Sissoko.

According to some African media, on Wednesday, August 2, a meeting of the chiefs of military staffs of the ECOWAS countries is to be held in the Nigerian capital: an emergency meeting during which a military strategy will be developed in case troops enter Niger.

Interesting in the context of the above is an attempt to involve the President of Chad , Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno , in the negotiations and mediation, who himself actually came to power with the help of a military putsch.

His visit to the capital of Niger, Niamey, is considered unsuccessful, since the aggressiveness of the coup's rhetoric towards France and the previous authorities only increased.

At the same time, it can be assumed that Chad will refrain from direct participation in the intervention. At least due to the fact that Mahamat Debi, when he was a brigadier general in the army of Chad, probably had and maintains today personal friendly relations with many of the military of Niger, who came to power.

A possible line of confrontation could also involve Algeria, north of the Niger, which traditionally has a dislike for France.

The media are already reporting on the transition to increased combat readiness of the armed forces of Algeria in the regions bordering Niger. The unscheduled visit to Moscow of the Chief of Staff of the National People's Army of Algeria, Said Shangrih, is also indicative.

Of course, one cannot lose sight of the fact that Algeria remains Russia's traditional partner on the continent and our key ally. There are Russian military instructors in Mali and Burkina Faso. In the current emergency situation, the new authorities can objectively count only on Russia's support, both indirect and direct.

If the military who carried out the coup is kept in power in Niger with Russian assistance, it will be possible to plan the construction of a gas pipeline, the pipes for which will be supplied by Russian companies. In turn, Algeria will allow Gazprom to become a co-investor in large gas projects, and the Wagner Group will ensure the security of gas transit through the territory of Niger.

We are not talking about the fact that Russian companies will be able to apply for concessions for the extraction of uranium and gold in Niger. As you can see, the game is worth the candle. If successful, all so far rather local and episodic Russian successes in Africa will get a second wind and line up in a single successful strategy.

Link

Africa Subsaharan

Niger junta says France planning strikes to free Bazoum; ‘Nuh uh,’ sez France

2023-08-01

[GoobjoogNews] The Niger military junta that seized power last week and ousted democratically elected president Mohammed Bazoum said on Monday the toppled government had authorised La Belle France to carry out strikes at the presidency to try to free Bazoum.

The military junta, which has confined Bazoum to the presidential palace since Wednesday, has previously warned against foreign attempts to extract him, saying it would result in bloodshed and chaos.

The military’s comments were made by army Colonel Amadou Abdramane, one of the coup plotters, on state television
... and if you can't believe state television who can you believe?
. He said that the authorisation was signed by Niger Foreign Affairs Minister Hassoumi Massoudou, acting as prime minister.

Massoudou could not be reached for comment. La Belle France has condemned the coup and urged that Bazoum be reinstated but has not announced any intention to intervene militarily. Gay Paree did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Monday.

The coup in Niger followed military takeovers in neighbouring Mali and Burkina Faso
...The country in west Africa that they put where Upper Volta used to be. Its capital is Oogadooga, or something like that. Its president is currently Blaise Compaoré, who took office in 1987 and will leave office feet first, one way or the other...
over the last two years, all of which have come amid a wave of anti-French sentiment.

La Belle France has had troops in the region for a decade helping to fight an Islamist insurgency, but some locals say they want the former colonial ruler to stop intervening in their affairs.

Niger has been a key ally in Western campaigns against gunnies linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State

...formerly ISIS or ISIL, depending on your preference. Before that they were al-Qaeda in Iraq, as shaped by Abu Musab Zarqawi. They're really very devout, committing every atrocity they can find in the Koran and inventing a few more. They fling Allah around with every other sentence, but to hear western pols talk they're not really Moslems....
in the Sahel, and there are concerns the coup could open the door to greater Russian influence in the region, and also allow the insurgency to spread.

Supporters of the junta burned French flags and attacked the French embassy in Niger’s capital Niamey on Sunday, drawing tear gas from police. The junta accused La Belle France in another statement of shooting at protesters, injuring six.

French president Emmanuel Macron said any attacks on French interests in Niger would be met with a "swift and uncompromising response."

West African regional bloc ECOWAS has imposed sanctions and said it could authorize the use of force if Niger’s coup leaders fail to reinstate ousted president Bazoum within a week.

Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Deby flew to Niger over the weekend to help mediate the crisis, and posted pictures on social media showing him meeting with Bazoum and separately with coup leader Abdourahamane Tiani, whom the junta has declared head of state.

Deby said they had discussions to explore ways "to find a peaceful solution."

Deby seized power in 2021 after the death of his father Idriss Deby, the long-ruling former president, but he has remained a close ally of La Belle France.

Link

Africa Subsaharan

Chadian opponent arrested for supporting tribesmen fighting in Sudan

2023-06-14

[SUDANTRIBUNE] Security authorities in N’Djamena, on Sunday, arrested an opposition member who voiced support for Chadian Arab rustics fighting alongside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan.

The arrest followed a video posted on June 7 by Hissein Alamine Tchaw-tchaw, a Chadian dissident and leader of the rebel Movement for the Fight of the Oppressed in Chad (MFOC), showing his participation in the attack on the Yarmouk munitions factory in Khartoum.

The video generated controversy in both Sudan and Chad, as the MFOC is an gang aiming to overthrow the government of President Mohammed Idriss Deby.

Commenting on the controversy, Chad’s former ambassador to Egypt, Allamine Adoudou, a declared government opponent, stated that Tchaw-tchaw’s participation was expected and influenced by his blood ties with RSF commanders.

He further emphasized that the current political border between the two countries is artificial, imposed by colonizers, and fails to consider the significant ethnic and tribal overlap.

"There is a large number of Sudanese known as ToraBora, estimated at 15,000, who are now part of the Chadian army; they know, and we know they are of Sudanese origin," Adoudou added in an audio recording obtained by Sudan Tribune, referring to the Zaghawa ethic of President Deby.

Several news sites in Chad, including Alwihdainfo and Lendjampost, reported that the Internal Security Service arrested Adoudou at about 05.00 pm local time after releasing an audio recording in WhatsApp groups defending taking side with Tchaw-tchaw.

The former ambassador, a professor at the University of N’Djamena, was arrested several times, most recently after participating in demonstrations denouncing the French presence in Chad.

Sudanese army commanders accused the RSF of recruiting mercenaries from Chad, Mali and Niger Arab tribes. On June 9, Lt Gen Shams al-Din Kabbashi, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, said that the Sudanese army is fighting foreign mercenaries.

Link

Israel-Palestine-Jordan

First Arab-Africa-Israel security conference to be held in Jerusalem

2023-02-22

A topic considered important enough in Somalia for their local news site to publish. Truly we live in an age of miracles.

[ShabelleMedia] Representatives of 14 African and Arab countries will convene in Jerusalem next month for the first ever Arab-Africa-Israel conference on Middle East security.

The event comes during a diplomatic tug of war in Africa between supporters and opponents of Israel, which saw a public row when a senior Israeli diplomat was ejected from the African Union
...a union consisting of 53 African states, most run by dictators of one flavor or another. The only all-African state not in the AU is Morocco. Established in 2002, the AU is the successor to the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), which was even less successful...
’s annual summit in Æthiopia last weekend.

Next month’s three-day conference, entitled "Trusted Regional Partnerships at a Time of Shifting Alliances," which is being organized by the Jerusalem-based research institute the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, will include participants from countries without diplomatic relations with Israel.

The conference will focus on security, stability and cooperation, with roundtable discussions on the landmark 2020 Abraham Accords, anti-radicalism and counterinsurgency, as well as food and water security. It will also include two days of visits to cutting-edge Israeli tech companies.

It will include participants from Bahrain, Saudi Arabia
...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual hajj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. Fifteen of the nineteen WTC hijackers were Saudis, and most major jihadi commanders were Saudis, to include Osama bin Laden. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman quietly folded that tent in 2016, doing terrible things to the guys running it, and has since been dragging the kingdom into the current century...
, the UAE, Æthiopia, Uganda, Djibouti, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Somaliland, South Sudan and South Africa.

"The first ever Arab-Africa Israel policy summit in Jerusalem is particularly important at a moment in the Middle East and Africa when Iran
Iran

...Formerly a fairly civilized nation ruled by a Shah, it became a victim of Islamic revolution in 1979...
and its

Hezbollah terror proxy are subverting states across the region and Africa as well," said Dan Diker, president of the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs in a statement Monday.

"Israel is being sought after by its Arab and African neighbors near and far to collaborate on key issues such as food and water security at a time of regional instability," he added.

The participants expected at the conference will include policymakers from leading think tanks across Africa and the Gulf as well as their diplomatic representatives in Israel.

Invitations have also been sent to representatives from Sierra Leone, Chad, Egypt, Mauritania, Morocco and Rwanda.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made enhancing Israel’s relations with Africa a major foreign policy goal.

Earlier this month, he joined Chad’s President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno at the opening of the African country’s embassy in Israel. On the same day, Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen met with the leader of Sudan’s transitional government in Khartoum.

Separately, the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs hosted a panel of South African and African-American religious leaders last week on confronting antisemitism and the apartheid libel against Israel.

"Instead of attacking the Jews as individuals or as small communities, the assault is against the collective identity of the Jewish people and especially the State of Israel," Minister for Diaspora Affairs Amichai Chikli said at the event. "This apartheid narrative is one big lie, and just like the Soviet Union, it will collapse. It won’t stand the test of time."

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