A senior Israeli diplomat has been removed from the African Union’s annual summit in Ethiopia as a dispute over Israel’s accreditation to the bloc escalated. Ebba Kalondo, the spokesperson for the African Union’s chairman, said the diplomat was removed because she was not the duly accredited Israeli ambassador to Ethiopia – the official who was expected. Vincent Magwenya, spokesman for South African President Cyril Ramaphosa present at the summit, demanded that Israel “substantiate their claim” after the latter accused arch-foe Iran of orchestrating the move with help from Algeria and South Africa. South Africa rejected the claim, saying Israel’s application for observer status at the AU has not been decided upon by the bloc. It had taken 20 years of diplomatic efforts for Israel to win observer status.

Source: Ethiopian News March 09, 2023 14:58 UTC