Israeli Ambassador Expelled from AU Genocide Conference Amid Gaza War Backlash
African Union member states reject Israeli presence at Rwanda genocide memorial in Addis Ababa, citing ongoing Israeli actions in Gaza.
Watan-The Israeli Foreign Ministry confirmed on Monday that its ambassador to Ethiopia, Avi-Negoce (Abraham Negus), was expelled from a conference on genocide in Rwanda, organized by the African Union in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, after participating countries objected to his presence due to the ongoing genocide in Gaza.
The Israeli news site Times of Israel quoted the Foreign Ministry as confirming “the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador to Ethiopia from the African Union conference held today in Addis Ababa to commemorate the Rwandan genocide, after member states refused to participate in his presence.”
This incident coincided with Israel intensifying its genocidal campaign in Gaza since March 18, launching widespread, deadly airstrikes that have mostly targeted civilians in their homes and tents sheltering displaced people.
Ceasefire Collapses as Netanyahu Rejects Next Phase Amid Gaza Genocide Accusations
Earlier, in March, the first phase of a ceasefire and prisoner exchange deal between Hamas and Israel, which began on January 19, 2025 with Egyptian-Qatari mediation and U.S. support, had come to an end.
While Hamas committed to the terms of the first phase, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is wanted by international justice, refused to proceed with the second phase—responding instead to the demands of extremists in his ruling coalition, according to Israeli media.
Since October 7, 2023, Israel—under unwavering U.S. support—has been committing genocide in Gaza, resulting in over 166,000 Palestinians killed or wounded, most of them women and children, and more than 14,000 missing.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry condemned remarks by Moussa Faki Mahamat, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, from Djibouti.
It said: “It is disgraceful that (Mahamat), at an event commemorating the victims of the Tutsi genocide in Rwanda—an event to which the Israeli ambassador in Addis Ababa was invited—chose to insert anti-Israel political elements.”
The ministry added: “This unacceptable behavior primarily disrespects the memory of the victims and reveals a fundamental misunderstanding of the histories of both the Rwandan and Jewish peoples.”
Israel’s Strained Ties with African Union Resurface After Diplomatic Expulsion
The Foreign Ministry said it would “take the necessary diplomatic steps with the concerned parties to clarify the seriousness of this incident,” without providing further details.
The website noted that Negus, a former Likud party member, has served as Israel’s ambassador to Ethiopia since August 2024. In July 2021, the Israeli Foreign Ministry announced that Israel had rejoined the African Union as an observer state.
At the time, the ministry said in a statement: “For the first time since 2002, Israel’s ambassador to Ethiopia, Admasu Alali, presented his credentials as an observer member to the African Union,” without providing further contextThe African Union is described as “the largest and most important organization on the African continent, comprising 55 states.”
However, in February 2023, the Israeli Foreign Ministry stated that an Israeli diplomat was expelled from the 36th AU Summit of Heads of State, held in Addis Ababa, according to an official statement. The ministry said in a statement reported by Israel’s national broadcaster that Sharon Bar-Li, Deputy Director for African Affairs, was removed from the summit hall where the African Union was meeting.
