Muslim-majority African nations are ending decades-long breaks in diplomatic relations with Israel, strengthening their ties with the Jewish state.
Last week Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu flew to Chad to officially relaunch ties between the two nations. Just days later, Mali announced its prime minister would visit Israel in the coming weeks.
These two nations represent the latest examples of Muslim-majority African countries changing course on nearly four decades of strained or non-existent relations with Israel.
Prompted by a desire to benefit from Israel’s robust tech, agricultural, and security sectors, African countries are increasingly placing their own self-interests ahead of outdated ideological obligations foisted on them by the Arab world.