Israel’s Endgame in Africa: Diplomatic Changes and Strategic Moves
Israel has strengthened its relations and diplomacy in all of Africa—from North Africa to Sub-Saharan Africa region. This deepening of relations and diplomacy on the continent entails changes to Zionist diplomacy to include countries like Zambia and South Sudan. This is no longer merely symbolic. Zionist diplomacy is constructing and building inter-relational polities in the hope of gaining and obtaining political value and determining political value especially with African countries that have been historically politically hostile to the Zionist state. In the context of growing global polarization with Africa’s relations with the world, the signal from Israel indicates a long-term diplomatic strategy.
Israel Reestablishes Relations in Africa
In August 2025, Israel commemorated the reopening of its embassy in Lusaka, Zambia, which had remained closed for 52 years. To this day, for Israel’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Gideon Saar, reopening a physical embassy means something more, for, to him, “Israel is Returning to Africa” reflects a larger ambition which is, without a doubt, part of Israel’s diplomatic endgame in Africa. By reestablishing relations with Zambia, Israel’s endgame focuses on strengthening and expanding diplomatic relations across the continent. This is a carefully crafted signal for Africa. It indicates to the continent Israel does not intend to be politically and geopolitically sidelined.
Israel’s diplomatic work in Zambia appears to be a key part of a larger strategy to re-position power relations in the region, specifically in contrast to South Africa, which has historically been the most vocal opponent of Israeli policy. According to University of the Witwatersrand researcher, Faith Mabera, Israel’s newly warm relations with Zambia could be part of an endgame to undermine South Africa’s diplomatic dominance in the Southern African Development Community (SADC). This, somewhat straightforward “divide and rule” strategy certainly appears to be part of Israel’s endgame on the continent, which is to alter, and more importantly, weaken, the geopolitical social contracts in the region that have been unfriendly to Israel.
Israel’s Zambia-Nigeria-South Sudan Strategy in Africa
While reopening the embassy in Zambia is a sign of Israel’s diplomatic return, it is reopening embassies as part a wider and more coordinated strategy across the continent. Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel’s pre-Lusaka visit to Nigeria and South Sudan were part of a series of diplomatic missions built around deepening those nations’ ties to Israel.
Since Nigeria started to openly support Palestinian rights, the country keenly defended Nigeria’s stance on the Palestinian issue. Unsurprisingly, Nigeria’s refusal to highlight the meeting suggests the diplomatic weakness required for Israel to balance their need for international support, Nigeria’s African partners relative to support Israel’s stance on Palestine, and the need to secure support from Nigeria.
Haskel’s visit to South Sudan (one of his strongest allies in Africa) highlights the importance of Israel’s longstanding relationship with South Sudan. South Sudan is seen as the first country to receive Israel’s military and humanitarian aid. However, humanitarian aid may not be the only objective in South Sudan. Peace negotiations with Israeli and South Sudanese officials regarding the kidnappings of Palestinians Refugees from Gaza to South Sudan has raised questions concerning what Israel’s actual ambitions are in this humanitarian crisis. This may also be the first time Israel incurs the wrath of international laws, and may be the first country to shape Africa’s refugee laws and policies.
The Endgame: Israel’s Strategic Partnerships in Africa
Palestine’s geopolitical importance to Africa is undoubted, yet Israel’s renewed enthusiasm to the continent is predicated upon its strategic significance. To most countries in Africa, Israel’s offer is very appealing as it gives development aid, technology, and military support (which many sub-Saharan countries may find appealing as they are battling with civil conflicts). Israel’s ultimate aim is not economic, but rather the restoration of political ties.
The first normalization of relations to come out of the 2020 Abraham Accord deal (UAE, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco) shows that Israel’s advance to Africa is also to form strategic partnerships in the Middle East and beyond. For Israel, these agreements with Sudan and Morocco in particular, highlight a new phase of diplomacy, where the Middle East is Africa’s new power balance.
Israel’s expanding relations with Somaliland and Zambia counter more traditional African diplomacy, particularly the vocal opposition from South Africa and Algeria who hold Israel’s policies regarding Palestine in strong disapproval. These relationships with Zambia and Somaliland, for Israel, serve a greater purpose, believed to be countering Africa’s growing support for Palestine.
While Israel has been making positive steps with diplomacy, it is endgame is to far from guaranteed. Palestine has extended it hand and offered aid to several African nations over the years. This has had a lasting impact on conflicts the South African and Algerian leadership and it has been voiced. These specific nations continue to leverage their power to gather continental African nations to the aid of Palestine to the African Union and the the UN. Israel’s observer status to the AU (gained 2021) has had South African and many other nations of the AU keeping a close eye on the developments of Israel.
Israel’s endgame with Africa will depend on how well they adapt to the political powers and argumentative divides between African nations. In the case of negotiating more diplomatic relations with countries as Zambia and South Sudan, it is obvious they will also have a number of non diplomatic nations. These nations continue to deep-rooted political standing and economic policies which they believe should be a part and the polar opposite to Western nations ideals of case of human rights.
Conclusion: Israel’s Endgame – A Balancing Act in Diplomacy
Israel’s growing ties with African nations demonstrates a calculus of political influence, economic interests, military alliances, and a desire for broader African and international legitimacy. However, many of Israel’s ongoing diplomatic challenges, including forging a cohesive Palestinian policy and tackling tensions with South Africa, suggest that Israel may not yet be prepared to execute a diplomatic master plan for Africa. For Israel, the objective must be the subtle use of all these diplomatic “instruments” to reconfigure Africa to Israel’s geo-political benefit.
Can Israel really determine the future of Africa-Israel relations? Only time will tell. Still, for Israel, reconciling with the continent is of particular value—not only for its foreign policy goals but due to the changes taking place in Africa’s own geopolitical landscape.
Georgie doesn’t go far from the canción.
However, many uncertainties await. For example, newly enhanced diplomatic ties with Zambia, South Sudan, and Somaliland offer new strategic opportunities, but they also open Israel to potential backlash from countries with strong pro-Palestinian sympathies and policies. Added to this potential for conflict is the African Union, which has its own history of diplomacy and ties to many of the countries involved.
Israel’s increasing activities in Africa will eventually prompt concerns from other nations across the globe. Rivals like Iran, Turkey, and even Russia, may increase their political influence in Africa to counter Israel. Geopolitical tensions may rise, leaving Africa in the middle of a geopolitical rivalry as countries engage in political ‘chess’ of stunted diplomacy.
Israel’s ‘soft power’ strategies, including water technology, innovative agriculture, and cyber security may also face increased scrutiny. While some African countries may see the value in partnerships, the lasting political and economic impacts of such partnerships may cloud the climate of trust built around such partnerships.
In the light of the above, ‘Israel’s Endgame’ (or its ultimate strategy for Africa) may face a greater challenge than political alignments. Such a strategy may also require ‘hard diplomacy’ (or aggressive foreign policies) to be coupled with ‘ethical’ diplomacy. Many African countries, particularly those with a history of apartheid, colonial rule, and occupation, may resent such imposition of strategy and influence. The unresolved ethical issues Israel seems to be ignoring may particularly include the Palestine question. Without addressing such issues, Israel may find its influence eroding from African governments and from ‘bottom-up’ agencies like civil societies.
Basically, Israel is in a tricky situation. On one side is the chance to become a more powerful player in Africa. On the other side is the chance to turn old tensions back on; not just from old enemies, but from the changing politics in Africa too. It has yet to be seen whether Israel can keep the balance, but one thing is for sure, Africa will be a key aspect in Israel’s foreign policy goals.
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Reference Website : https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/9/30/what-is-israels-endgame-in-africa
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