Yossi Melman on Lieberman in Africa

Ha'aretz' Yossi Melman has an interesting piece today on Avigdor Lieberman's tour of five African nations, suggesting that despite a lot of publicity about development and health and water issues, defense sales may be a major theme. He notes:

On a level that is even more secretive, there is the hope of developing intelligence ties and cooperation in the effort against international jihadist elements, and especially countering the activities of Iran in some of these African countries. This only becomes obvious when the composition of the delegation is analyzed carefully: in addition to the Foreign Ministry officials accompanying Lieberman, there is a delegation from the Defense Ministry's foreign assistance department, Sibat, and also a group of representatives of the intelligence community, including a Mossad official from the Tevel wing, which is responsible for the organization's foreign ties. Similarly, along with representatives from civilian industrial and development firms, there are agents from the country's defense firms.

The Foreign Ministry and the Israel Export Institute believe that there is at least another $1 billion worth of business potential in Africa, in addition to the $3 billion that Israeli firms already export in goods and services to the continent. Lieberman began his trip in Ethiopia, where he met with the country's prime minister and its foreign minister, putting the emphasis on the civilian assistance that Israel provides. The assistance comes in the form of biotechnology and agriculture, advanced water-purification technologies, and medical assistance in combating AIDS. The Foreign Ministry funding these projects out of its own budget, at the cost of several hundred thousand dollars a year.

But Ethiopia is also a key strategic state for Israel, with a long tradition of friendship and cooperation between the countries in military and intelligence matters. Ethiopia's importance lies in its being situated on the Horn of Africa,near a number of Arab states, and overlooking the sea routes to Eilat and the Suez Canal. Moreover, in recent years Iran has been increasingly active in the area, as have been Al-Qaida agents, particularly in nearby Somalia. Naturally these are issues that were discussed during Lieberman's meetings, even though they were not mentioned in the media briefings.

Besides Ethiopia, Lieberman visited Kenya, Nigeria, and is headed to Ghana and Uganda. No Israeli Foreign Minister has been to any country south of the Sahara except Ethiopia since 1991.

Israel is believed to have had longstanding covert links with Ethiopia (and, it is said, Ethiopia's rival Eritrea), but Lieberman attempts to be exploring new relationships with the sub-Saharan region. The defense link is particularly important: Israel is a major arms exporter, though this is not generally publicized; it has sold arms to a number of African coutnries in the past, and appears to be seeking to revive that market.