Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, spearheading an intense Israeli diplomatic initiative in Africa, is expected to travel to West Africa by the end of the year to take part in a summit of the 15-member Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to be held in Abuja, Nigeria.

Netanyahu returned from a four-day, four-country visit to east Africa earlier this month,where he met at a summit in Uganda with leaders from seven East African countries.

On Thursday he met in his office with Marcel Alain de Souza, the president of ECOWAS. The two men signed a joint declaration of intent for greater cooperation between Israel and the organization, which represents countries that have a combined population of some 320 million people.

The declaration states that both parties “positively view the participation of the prime minister of the State of Israel in the ECOWAS summit in the near future.”

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas recently addressed the African Union summit in Rwanda, a privilege not given Netanyahu because, unlike the PA, Israel does not have observer status in that organization. During Netanyahu's recent trip to Africa, the leaders of Kenya and Ethiopia publicly pledged to rectify that situation.

Among the 15 countries in ECOWAS are two with whom Israel does not have diplomatic relations: Niger and Mali. Earlier this month Israel re-established diplomatic ties with Guinea, which is another ECOWAS state.

Foreign Ministry director-general Dore Gold said that this group “is one of the most important sub-regional organizations in Africa, and it brings the Prime Minister's [Africa] initiative, that started with east African countries like Kenya and Ethiopia, to the western part of the continent.”

Gold said that while de Soussa, from Benin, does not take action without consulting the other states, he does not know whether he specifically called the leaders of Niger and Mali before embarking on his visit to Israel and signing the letter of intent for increased cooperation.

The two men discussed deepening their cooperation particularly in the field of agriculture, desertification, water, education and health.

Security issues were also raised, and in the declaration of intent Israel stated that “it stands with the people of the ECOWAS countries in their ongoing battle against militant terrorism that is plaguing Africa.”

The Islamic State affiliated Boko Haram is very active in West Africa, particularly Nigeria.

This was the first ever meeting between an Israeli prime minister and the president of ECOWAS, even though Israel has had a relationship with that organization for the last decade.

In addition to Guinea, Mali, Niger and Nigeria, ECOWAS is also made up of the following states: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Coite d'Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo.

http://m.jpost.com/Israel-News/Politics-And-Diplomacy/Netanyahu-likely-to-attend-summit-in-Nigeria-by-end-of-year-462688#article=7783RDIwMEFFNzY0M0RDNTQ4M0I1NDU2OTZDRkY2OUFCODM=

How this one wan take help our economy??

axishale:

How this one wan take help our economy??

Isreal has much more to give your country than all the arab and persian nations that your president likes to visit.
Isreal is the technological, military, agricultural and economic power of the middle-east. They are also responsible for the training of your DSS and the supply of their tavors rifle.
I hope buhari would not let his religious bias prevent him from working with isreal. He is that dumb.

To the gut above me bubu is too dumb for that.

Make he come!

He has a stray family here!

.

CSTR12:
Isreal has much more to give your country than all the arab and persian nations that your president likes to visit.
Isreal is the technological, military, agricultural and economic power of the middle-east. They are also responsible for the training of your DSS and the supply of their tavors rifle.
I hope buhari would not let his religious bias prevent him from working with isreal. He is that dumb.

Israel bro.

To the Jews.... Ur prime minister is on his way...

CSTR12:
Isreal has much more to give your country than all the arab and persian nations that your president likes to visit.
Isreal is the technological, military, agricultural and economic power of the middle-east. They are also responsible for the training of your DSS and the supply of their tavors rifle.
I hope buhari would not let his religious bias prevent him from working with isreal. He is that dumb.

Joke of the century.

Nigeria's security personel, DSS included, get their training from various nation:-) --

Good one, welcome to West Africa Bebi, we love Yah! only sympathizer of terrorism will not like this good news

.Natayanhu
the slayer of the islamist!

Isreal is one nation I respect so much and she command respect in international affairs. They have alot to offer, drones and military hardware

blackjack21:


Joke of the century.

How?
Which nation in the middles-east is in the class of israel?They have produced more nobel prize winners than all the muslim nations on earth combined, and the united states.

M

So.... How is this a news? Is he equal to Obama?

Dem don come oo

At last his relatives in Nigeria that are from Uganda, can finally reunite with their long lost Uncle.

More sales of Israeli Flag is expected. Business people cash in on it.

At summits like this and with the countries involved, you would never know the REAL purpose of the meeting. 9 times out of 10, it is not about what the cameras show us.


*** meanwhile, which kind pot Museveni wear for head so?

As per Agriculture, Israel has so much to offer Nigeria.

He is coming to take his lost people back to the promised land

Buhari the Islamist won't welcome him.

superstar1:
At last his relatives in Nigeria that are from Uganda, can finally reunite with their long lost Uncle.

More sales of Israeli Flag is expected. Business people cash in on it.

No shame at all in it.
I'd rather pledge allegiance to israel than saudi arabia and iran that 60% of your population including your president worship.

Bibi



The last of his calibre..... Real leaders

CSTR12:
Isreal has much more to give your country than all the arab and persian nations that your president likes to visit.
Isreal is the technological, military, agricultural and economic power of the middle-east. They are also responsible for the training of your DSS and the supply of their tavors rifle.
I hope buhari would not let his religious bias prevent him from working with isreal. He is that dumb.

Very vague claims. Israel remains a rogue nation built on the blood of innocent Palestinians. All this bla bla about tech, military and economic power is crap propaganda.

Netanyahu welcome to Nigeria though.

RobinHez:
To the Jews.... Ur prime minister is on his way...

If Kalu catch you

He is always welcome to Naija

olapluto:

Very vague claims. Israel remains a rogue nation built on the blood of innocent Palestinians. All this bla bla about tech, military and economic power is crap propaganda.

Netanyahu welcome to Nigeria though.

Vague claims?lol.
Your DSS goes on regular pilgrimage to isreal for training. That is public record.
And where do you think the tavor that your DSS proudly parades comes from? Isreal.
As for the rest of your palestinian bullshitt. Well, i have come to realize how futile it is to argue it.

Boko Haram sympathizers will not like this news.

We won't hear that Buhari want to christainised Nigeria from the Igbos Now.

b

CSTR12:
Isreal has much more to give your country than all the arab and persian nations that your president likes to visit.
Isreal is the technological, military, agricultural and economic power of the middle-east. They are also responsible for the training of your DSS and the supply of their tavors rifle.
I hope buhari would not let his religious bias prevent him from working with isreal. He is that dumb.

well said man.

axishale:

How this one wan take help our economy??

You need an education.