Israel’s Relations with Angola: From Portuguese Colony to the Present

Abstract

Angola, which achieved its independence in 1975 following an armed struggle of thirteen years and the military overthrow of a dictatorship in Portugal a year earlier, is one of eleven countries in sub-Saharan Africa hosting an Israeli embassy. It is also one of fifteen countries in sub-Saharan Africa that has an embassy in Israel. It is obvious that Israel and Angola acknowledge the importance of their relationship and understand well each country’s respective influence in their own regions. While formal diplomatic ties only began in the early stages of the post-Cold War, Angola and Israel – or more exactly the Jewish people – have had a much longer connection. Before the Balfour Declaration, some seeking a place of refuge for the Jewish people considered Angola. During the era of decolonisation in Africa, which began in the late 1950s, while Israel eagerly pursued relations with the newly independent states, diplomatic activity continued with Portugal; its actions were also connected with the Cold War politics of the United States. Initially, Israel supported forces in Angola opposed to the ultimate victor in the civil war which followed the war for independence. Yet, in the post-Cold War environment, with the cooperation of Israeli businesspeople and intelligence assistance, Angola and Israel engaged in developing mutually beneficial relations, though in the case of defence-related connections somewhat secretive ones. In recent years, with South Africa’s promotion of the Boycott, Sanctions and Divestment (BDS) movement, and being the country most critical of Israel’s policies outside the Arab and Muslim worlds, Israel’s ties with Angola have taken on greater importance for the Jewish state’s relations with other countries in Southern Africa.