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Israel-Africa relations

Israeli cardiac surgeons from Wolfson Medical Center in Holon and Save a Child's Heart (SACH) and Zambian surgeons perform open-heart surgery on a child in an operating room at National Heart Hospital in Lusaka, Zambia, on July 14, 2026. (Courtesy/Save a Child's Heart)
August 1, 2026, 9:15 am
In Zambia, Israeli team helps train country’s first generation of pediatric cardiac surgeons
Save a Child’s Heart program mentors hospital staff with 6-year fellowship, recently donated crucial new equipment; group has helped 8,500 kids and trained 160 doctors worldwide
By Diana Bletter
Edna Adan Ismail is interviewed in Hargeisa, Somaliland on Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022. (AP/Brian Inganga)
March 2, 2026, 10:43 pm
Nurse to nation-builder, Somaliland’s honorary ‘first lady’ hails ‘natural’ ties with Israel
Edna Adan Ismail, 88, says she was working on forging diplomatic relations with Jerusalem as foreign minister two decades ago, recognizing countries’ shared interests
By Diana Bletter
President Isaac Herzog (left) meets with Ethiopian President Taye Atske Selassie in Addis Ababa on February 25, 2026. (Haim Zach/GPO)
February 25, 2026, 7:40 pm
Visiting Ethiopia, Herzog touts Israel’s ‘strong’ relationships across Africa
Amid push from Jerusalem to build ties on continent, president meets top officials, Jewish leaders in Addis Ababa; Israel accepts appointment of Somaliland’s first ambassador
By Lazar Berman
A woman and child relax next to a mural of Somaliland's flag, in Hargeisa, Somaliland, a semi-autonomous breakaway region of Somalia, on February 9, 2022. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)
January 1, 2026, 6:01 am
Somaliland’s little-known Jewish past spans Yemenite traders and contested legends
Though no Jews live there today, the African territory has a history of Jewish merchants, and a tribal clan with a crypto-Jew origin story from centuries before Israel’s recent recognition
By Zev Stub
Somaliland's President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi (left) speaks to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a photo released on December 26, 2025, by the Israel Government Press Office; Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (right) signs Israel's declaration to recognize the Republic of Somaliland as an independent state, December 26, 2025. (Amos Ben Gershom/GPO)
December 26, 2025, 6:54 pm
Israel becomes first country to recognize breakaway Somaliland as independent state
President says his country wants to join Abraham Accords; move sparks anger among regional powers who say it undermines sovereignty and territorial integrity of Somalia
By Lazar Berman, ToI Staff and Agencies
Dr. Lise Mumporeze, a Rwanda genocide survivor, stands in the backyard of the Save a Child's Heart Legacy Heritage Children's Home in Holon on the last day of her training program in Israel before she returns to Rwanda to become the first pediatric intensive care specialist in the country on November 3, 2025. (Diana Bletter/Times of Israel)
November 19, 2025, 10:50 am
Come war, peace or pandemic, African doctors train in Israel to save lives back home
Some 165 medical professionals have received fellowships through Save a Child’s Heart; the nonprofit has helped over 8,000 kids from around the world since 1995
By Diana Bletter
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar meets with Zambian Foreign Minister Mulambo Haimbe at the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem, on June 6, 2025. (GPO/Oren Hakun)
August 19, 2025, 10:28 am
Foreign minister departs for Zambia to inaugurate new embassy
Sa’ar announced plans to open embassy in Lusaka in January as part of his ministry’s goal of expanding relations with African nations; will stop in Addis Ababa en route
By Nava Freiberg
Dressed for the part: Wearing an African shirt, Ambassador Gideon Behar enjoys homegrown produce in his garden. (Courtesy)
August 18, 2025, 8:02 am
Off to Africa, outgoing climate change envoy aims to spread gospel of Israel’s green tech
Taking his environmental message with him as he becomes Ambassador to Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi and the Seychelles, Gideon Behar believes Israeli innovation can change the world
By Sue Surkes
Liberian President George Weah meets Foreign Minister Eli Cohen in Jerusalem, July 4, 2023. (Miri Shimonovich/GPO)
July 5, 2023, 11:25 am
Visiting Jerusalem, Liberian president vows to open embassy in Israel
Weah meets with Netanyahu, Herzog and Cohen as countries pledge to deepen cooperation; Liberian leader puts note in Western Wall, prays for soccer star son’s success
By ToI Staff
Security guards ask an Israeli observer delegation headed by Sharon Bar-Li (center) to leave the African Union summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on February 18, 2023. (Screen capture/Twitter; used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)
February 19, 2023, 6:01 pm
With its envoy booted, Israel avoids African Union summit closing ceremony
Sharon Bar-li was escorted out of regional assembly on Saturday, apparently at behest of South Africa and Algeria, as Israel’s status continues to split 55-member bloc
By Lazar Berman
Security guards ask an Israeli observer delegation headed by Sharon Bar-Li (center) to leave the African Union summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on February 18, 2023. (Screen capture/Twitter; used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)
February 19, 2023, 3:41 pm
South Africa governing party hails ouster of Israeli envoy from African Union summit
Sharon Bar-li was escorted out of regional assembly, apparently at behest of South Africa and Algeria, in move one official says was coordinated by Iran
By AFP
Security guards ask an Israeli observer delegation headed by Sharon Bar-Li (center) to leave the African Union summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on February 18, 2023. (Screen capture/Twitter; used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)
February 18, 2023, 12:52 pm
Israeli observer delegation kicked out of African Union summit in Addis Ababa
Foreign Ministry blames South Africa and Algeria for severe diplomatic breach; Israel gained official observer status in 2021
By ToI Staff
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) and Chad's President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno hold up pieces of ribbon after a ceremony opening the embassy of Chad in Israel on February 2, 2023 (Haim Zach / GPO)
February 2, 2023, 2:15 pm
Netanyahu joins Chad’s president to open new embassy in Israel
Both leaders hail ‘historic’ moment, pay tribute to Mahamat Idriss, Deby Itno’s slain father, who was instrumental in restoring long-severed ties in 2019
By Lazar Berman and ToI Staff
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, right, welcomes Chad's President Mahamat Deby in Jerusalem, February 1, 2023 ((Kobi Gideon/GPO)
February 1, 2023, 6:35 pm
Chad’s president meets with Netanyahu and Mossad chief ahead of embassy opening
Mahamat Deby’s father decided in 2019 to restore relations with Israel for the first time since 1972, as Israel works to expand ties in Africa
By Lazar Berman
Rescuers walk in the rubble of a building following Israeli airstrikes in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, on August 7, 2022, amid fighting between the Israel Defense Forces and Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror group. (Said Khatib/AFP)
August 7, 2022, 5:13 pm
Head of African Union accuses Israel of targeting civilians in Gaza airstrikes
Commission that leads continental alliance ‘strongly condemns’ Israel for allegedly violating international law, reiterates support for Palestinians
By AFP and ToI Staff
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