Mauritius, SADC say no to Israel’s ‘observer status’

Mauritius has strongly objected to the “unilateral decision” by the Chair of the African Union Commission to grant Israel observer status at the continental organisation.

Israel’s observer status provides Tel Aviv with the opportunity to access and influence African policymakers for support, even as it continues to oppress Palestinians and forcibly occupy their territory.

The AU has historically stood with the people of Palestine and supported a two-state solution in the Middle East.

Foreign Affairs minister Alan Ganoo said the island joined other members of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) to formalize a collective position on the matter after member states Botswana, Namibia and South Africa had individually condemned AU Commission Chairperson Mr Moussa Faki Mahamat’s unilateral decision on Israel on July 22.

The summit “expressed concern and objected to the unilateral decision taken by the African Union Commission to grant the State of Israel Observer Status to the African Union”.