Israel's ambassador to Ethiopia was ejected from an African Union event at the request of AU Chairperson Mahmoud Youssouf. The removal came as Israel's observer status was suspended again, following a history of tensions over its Palestinian conflict. Israel has denied accusations of genocide in Gaza, as the AU maintains strong ties to the Palestinians.

Israel’s ambassador to Ethiopia was ejected from an African Union (AU) event this week, an action that he has described as outrageous. The incident occurred during the annual event commemorating the 1994 Rwanda genocide. An Israeli official informed The Associated Press that the removal was at the request of AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Youssouf. The official requested anonymity, as they were not authorized to speak with the press.

Ambassador Avraham Nigusse expressed his outrage on social media, accusing the AU Commission Chairperson of introducing anti-Israel political elements into the event. He argued that this move revealed a fundamental misunderstanding of both the Rwandan and Jewish peoples' histories, emphasizing that Rwanda had invited him to attend.

The spokesperson for Youssouf, who is a former foreign minister of Djibouti, did not respond to requests for comment. Youssouf began his four-year term as AU Chairperson in February.

A diplomat at the AU explained that Israel’s ambassador was removed because Israel no longer held observer status at the continental body, which is based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The diplomat also spoke on the condition of anonymity. Israel had regained its observer status at the AU in 2021, two decades after it was revoked due to its ongoing conflict with the Palestinians. This move was part of Israel's broader effort to strengthen ties with African nations. However, in 2023, the observer status was once again suspended pending a review by a committee of African heads of state, which has yet to deliver a verdict. A senior Israeli diplomat was also evicted from the AU’s annual summit in 2023 due to improper accreditation.

The AU, a pan-African body, has strong ties to the Palestinian cause, frequently inviting Palestinian leaders to address its major gatherings. The diplomatic tension comes at a time when Israel has faced growing criticism over its military operations in Gaza. Since the conflict with Hamas began in October 2023, more than 50,000 Palestinians have reportedly been killed. South Africa, a leading member of the AU, has filed a case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, accusing the country of genocide during its operations in Gaza. Israel has strongly denied these allegations, calling them outrageous.