​Kenyans 4 Palestine (K4P) object to AU Observer Status being granted to the State of
Israel. Kenyans 4 Palestine (K4P) calls on the government of Kenya and other African Union member
states to publicly oppose and condemn Israel being granted “observer status” in the African
Union (AU).

This very controversial decision which was announced on July 22 by the Chairperson of the
African Union Commission, H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat, is unilateral and was taken by the
African Union Commission without prior consultation with other member states, including the
government of Kenya. It undermines the AU’s anti-colonial values/foundations and is dangerous
for unity at the AU (which is already fragile).

The governments of Algeria, Djibouti, Egypt, Libya, Mauritania, Mauritius, Namibia, Nigeria,
South Africa, Tunisia together with the SADC 16 Member states have already publicly stated
their opposition to this unilateral decision. Kenya must also unequivocally reject this
undemocratic decision to accept Israel’s claim to accreditation so that the matter can be placed
on the agenda of the next session of the AU Executive Council ahead of any full, formal, and
final confirmation of the status.

The AU has consistently stood in solidarity with Palestine through various declarations adopted
at ordinary sessions of its Assembly. Any endorsement of Israel as an observer state will do
injustice to the long-standing, principled position of solidarity with the Palestinian people
expressed by the African Union, individual African states, and the African people.

We demand to know on what grounds Israel is being given observer status at the AU at this
moment in time. If anything, Israel has only accelerated its illegal military occupation and
colonization of Palestinian territory since it was last refused this status by the AU in 2002. The
Israeli government today faces increasing global criticism, including even within the USA, its
key ally for its viciously racist and oppressive rule. Why then would the AU want to foster ties
with this increasingly isolated apartheid state?

If Israel continues to pursue its occupation, colonization and apartheid against the Palestinian
people, it deserves no special observer status, or any other status, in the African Union.