Israel’s ambassador to Ethiopia, Avraham Nigusse, was ejected from an African Union (AU) event commemorating the 1994 Rwandan genocide this week, sparking outrage from Israel. The incident occurred at the request of AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Youssouf, whom the ambassador accused of introducing anti-Israel political elements to the event. Nigusse claimed he was invited by Rwanda, stating that Youssouf’s actions reflect a misunderstanding of the histories of Jewish and Rwandan peoples. Meanwhile, a diplomat at the AU stated that the ambassador was removed because Israel had lost its observer status at the organization. Israel had regained observer status at the AU in 2021 after two decades of suspension. However, it was suspended once again in 2023, pending a review by a committee of African heads of state.
