Israel granted official observer status at the African Union

Israeli ambassador presents credentials to African Union Commission chairman at bloc’s headquarters in Addis Ababa.

After nearly 20 years of diplomatic efforts, Israel has attained observer status at the African Union (AU). Making the move official, Israeli Ambassador to Ethiopia, Burundi and Chad Aleli Admasu on Thursday presented his credentials to Moussa Faki Mahamat, chairman of the African Union Commission, at the bloc’s headquarters in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa. “This is a day of celebration for Israel-Africa relations,” Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid said in a statement that noted that Israel currently has relations with 46 African countries.