Israel’s dirty new game in Africa

Chadian President Idriss Deby’s meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the first such visit by a leader of the central African country, which severed bilateral ties with Tel Aviv in 1972, will be a turning point for the continent. We can say that Israel’s return to Africa has begun. This move by Chad will be an example for other African nations. It is clear that fragile Africa-Israel ties will become more visible.

Chad and Israel have been mending ties backstage for a while. In fact, it can be said that these relations were rekindled in the early 2000s. Israel and Chad were the biggest backers of the rebel forces in Darfur region who were engaging in secessionist activities against Sudan. In one way, Chad and Israel acted as allies against Sudan in the Darfur civil war. Their ties were developing quietly and deeply in a way that did not bother other African nations.

Deby’s visit should not be perceived merely as the renewal of bilateral ties. It should be interpreted as Africa’s return to Israel. For some time, Israel has succeeded in making its more covert ties public. Tel Aviv has been engaging in similar dialogue with Sudan, and even if the administration denies it, claims have emerged alleging that low-level ties have been restored.

Israeli news sites claim that Israeli diplomats and Sudanese officials discussed the rekindling of ties and that Israel pledged support to Sudan in the fields of agriculture, medicine and economy. Another source claims that Sudanese intelligentsia and Israeli foreign ministry officials met in a Middle Eastern country a year ago and agreed to normalize ties.

Deby’s visit was not a decision he reached on his own. A force wants both Chad and Sudan to mend their ties with Israel. This mediator state must be a force to legitimize Israel in the region. When Saudi Arabia’s relations with Sudan are taken into consideration, it appears likely that this mediator could be Riyadh. Now a second move is imminent. Nigeria, Mali and Mauritania will begin to unveil their hidden ties with Sudan and publicly engage in dialogue.

It was no coincidence that Chad was chosen. Geo-strategically, Chad is Central Africa’s most important country. Chad is a connection point to the Central African Republic, Nigeria, Niger and Sudan. While Chad is in one way forced to mend ties with Israel, Tel Aviv will be become active in the region’s problems. The greatest gains of the visit are financial aid, investments, and arms support against Boko Haram. The threat posed by Boko Haram will ensure the countries in the region approach Israel and seek Tel Aviv’s support in matters such as intelligence. Countries in the region also seek to benefit from Israel’s experience in agriculture and irrigation. Chad will become an example for these works.

Terror is the Achilles heel of Central African nations. Because countries like Niger, Chad, Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Mali, Nigeria, and the Central African Republic are not sufficiently active against terrorism, Israel can use its counterterrorism trump card. What kind of an impact Israel’s terror crimes against Palestinians will have on Africa is being ignored.

One of Israel’s most pressing aims in Africa is to reduce the support of Palestine. Israel wants to destroy Africa’s support of Palestine. Tel Aviv plans to end the spirit of resistance by isolating Palestine in Africa. The greatest support of Palestinian resistance was always from Africa. Sometimes, Africa was punished for this, as in the case of Uganda’s Idi Amin.

Israel also aims to boost the number of its embassies in Africa from 10 to 25, with plans to open embassies in Guinea, Chad and Niger soon. Israel has representative institutions in Senegal and Nigeria already, and seeks to expand these across Africa.

Israel’s best trump card in Africa is its intelligence and security network. This is why Israel seeks to engage in countries riddled with problems in order to initiate dependency. Israel’s intelligence support to Ghana, Kenya, Uganda and Ethiopia was known. Tel Aviv seeks to expand this network.

Israel hopes to benefit from Africa’s resources. Israeli firms have an impact on energy resources and agriculture in South Africa, Zambia, and the Ivory Coast. Israeli companies expend great efforts and capital in the areas of sustainable energy and modern agriculture in many African countries. It is known that blue economy, which ranges from fishing to port management, will play a role in the future of Africa.

Starting from Chad, Israel's grip on Central Africa will lead to a new wave of terrorism over the continent. Israel will attempt to intervene in regional clashes because it is a state based on terror. Just as it played an important role in the division of Sudan by supporting the rebels, Israel will open the door to similar splits.

It is a grave mistake for Israel to position itself in the region. It is a whole other disaster that it is doing so via Muslim countries. These countries, especially Sudan, should not be tricked by the dollars Israel has promised. If Israel settles in the region again, another betrayal will occur and it will cost Sudan, Mali and Niger a great deal.

Africa does not need to cooperate with Israel. There is the possibility that arms support promised by Israel could become arms as tools of division. No Muslim nation should contribute to Saudi Arabia’s plot to legitimize Israel and instead focus on strengthening ties with true allies like Turkey