Today, a year ago, history was made as the Prime Minister of Israel, Benyamin Netanyahu attended the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) annual summit of Heads of State in the Liberian capital, Monrovia. It was the first time that a non-African leader spoke at the Summit.
This historic visit was initiated by the Embassy of Israel in Nigeria, marking the first time an Israeli Prime Minister visited West Africa since the late Prime Minister Golda Meir visited the region in the 1960s.
At the Summit Prime Minister Netanyahu stressed the common history and goals Israel share with African nations:
Africa and Israel share a natural affinity. We have, in many ways, similar histories. Your nations toiled under foreign rule. You experienced horrific wars and slaughters. And you’re still fighting to get out of the past into the future, valiantly, in efforts that I deeply admire. With determination and conviction, you won your independence. You healed the wounds of the past to chart a future of hope for your people.
This is very much our history. Our people too were denied independence for far too long. Our people too suffered the indignity of bondage, slavery and dispossession. Our people too experienced unimaginable horrors of mass death and genocide.
But we never ever gave in. We fought for our independence and won. We established a thriving democracy in the heart of the Middle East. We developed one of the world’s most dynamic economies. We became a world leader in agriculture, water, cyber technology, technology of communications, security and much more.
Today we seek to share our experience with the governments and peoples of Africa. ECOWAS’ mission is to increase peace and prosperity by harnessing Africa’s vast resources."
We, as an Embassy look forward to emulating these strong messages of hope articulated in this historic summit and continue enhancing collaboration between Israel, ECOWAS and all the member states.