As Africa re-emerges as a battleground for global influence, Israel has entrenched itself through covert alliances, military assistance, and economic leverage, aiming to reshape African loyalties and secure strategic depth.

Diplomatic Revival with Strategic Aims

Following decades of limited influence post-1973, Israel now maintains formal relations with 44 African countries and embassies in at least 11. From Ghana to Kenya and South Africa, Israel's re-engagement exploits crises and political vacuums to rebuild its network. Tel Aviv has also revived relations with Muslim-majority states such as Chad and Sudan in efforts to erode continental support for Palestine.

Notably, its bid for African Union observer status has been consistently blocked by Algeria and South Africa, reflecting the continent’s enduring resistance to normalization.

Intelligence and Surveillance Networks

Israel’s African strategy heavily emphasizes surveillance and counterinsurgency cooperation. Through programs like MASHAV and institutions like the Galilee Institute, it trains African elites while embedding intelligence frameworks. Firms like NSO Group have exported spyware tools such as Pegasus to governments accused of tracking dissidents.

These operations have reportedly intensified after Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, with some Israeli-backed centers monitoring Palestinian diaspora and Axis of Resistance groups across Africa.

Military Partnerships and Economic Control

Israel’s involvement ranges from arming separatist factions in South Sudan to security collaboration in Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Angola. Economically, its reach includes dominance in East African agriculture and infrastructure, as well as West African irrigation and mining. This extends to securing maritime access points such as the Bab al-Mandab Strait and Red Sea trade routes.

Beyond economic gain, these footholds allow Tel Aviv to monitor militant activity and facilitate Jewish migration from Africa to Israel.

Africa’s New Great Game

Africa’s Horn remains a geopolitical flashpoint, where Israel competes with Russia, China, Türkiye, Iran, and Gulf states. Russia advances military and energy projects in Sudan and Eritrea; China pursues massive trade and infrastructure deals; Türkiye combines military training with soft power in Somalia and beyond. Gulf nations like the UAE coordinate with Israel to counter Iranian influence and secure ports and farmland.

Despite this crowded field, Israel’s presence is fragile—contingent on regime stability and normalization politics. As states recalibrate in a shifting world order, Africa’s alignment remains contested.