Iran Blames Israeli Influence for Africa’s Silence on US-Israel War

Iran’s ambassador to South Africa, Mansour Shakib Mehr, told Middle East Eye that Israel is leveraging its African partnerships to shape political responses as it seeks “the whitewashing of its 70-year-long crimes” and attempts “to reverse the roles of oppressor and victim.”

Since the conflict escalated in late February 2026, most African states and the African Union (AU) have limited their responses to calls for de-escalation. AU Commission chair Mahmoud Ali Youssouf warned of a “serious intensification of hostilities,” while later “strongly condemned” Iranian strikes on Gulf states including Bahrain, Qatar and the UAE.

These claims align with broader scrutiny of Israel’s engagement on the continent. An Al Jazeera investigation in February reported that Israel funded trips for journalists from countries including South Africa, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda and Morocco, producing coverage that critics said lacked Palestinian perspectives.

The program also exposed that more than 20 Ethiopian journalists traveled to Israel on fully funded visits organized by Israel’s Foreign Ministry. The trips involved reporters & media personalities from 10 Ethiopian media organizations, with their subsequent reporting largely reflecting official Israeli narratives, while Palestinian perspectives were absent.

Analysts however point to structural constraints. Raouf Farrah said new agreements with the United States in sectors such as digital infrastructure and health data systems deepen reliance of African countries on the U.S, increasing the cost of political divergence.

“This has encouraged restraint,” he said, noting governments are adopting “strategic ambiguity” to avoid economic or diplomatic repercussions. Under U.S. President Donald Trump, Washington is seen as “transactional” and unpredictable, reinforcing caution.

Institutional limitations further constrain the AU. Governance expert Tendai Mbanje said dependence on Western donors reduces its room for maneuver, while internal divisions prevent consensus.

“Some, like South Africa, have condemned Israeli actions, while others benefit from US or Israeli cooperation and prefer silence,” he said. This divergence has made neutrality the default position across the AU’s 55 member states.

Israel has expanded its presence across Africa over the past two decades, including opening an embassy in Zambia in August and pursuing African Union observer status in 2023, a bid blocked by South Africa and Algeria. Countries such as Morocco, Rwanda and Cameroon have maintained closer ties.

Iran has also urged broader blocs to respond. Mehr criticized Brics, now comprising 11 members, for failing to adopt a stronger stance, warning that inaction over what he described as violations of international law could set a precedent.