AU expels Israeli envoy to Ethiopia from Rwanda genocide commemorations

Israel’s ambassador to Ethiopia Avraham Neguise was expelled on Monday from a conference on the Rwandan genocide organized by the African Union in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.

A statement from the Israeli foreign ministry said that Neguise was thrown out after member states refused to participate alongside him in the conference .

The ministry also condemned statements made by Mahmoud Youssouf, the newly-elected chairperson of the African Union Commission, during the event.

Observer member

“It is outrageous that at an event commemorating the victims of the genocide in Rwanda, to which the Israeli ambassador in Addis Ababa was invited, [Youssouf] chose to introduce anti-Israel political elements,” it said.

In July 2021, Israel said that it had rejoined the African Union as an observer member.