Angola counters anti-Israel lobby with high-level delegation

South Africa and Angola may share a close relationship, but they differ sharply in their approach to Israel. Though South Africa sends high-level delegations to the Middle East who don’t set foot in the Jewish state, Angola sent a high-level delegation to Israel in February.

The delegation was led by the country’s minister of higher education, science, technology, and innovation, Dr Maria do Rosario Braganca, and senior staff from her ministry. Israel has traditionally had strong relations with the influential African nation. Angola and Israel established diplomatic relations in 1993. Then in 1995, Israel opened an embassy in Luanda and in 2000, Angola opened an embassy in Tel Aviv.

“Israel has had a long and strong relationship with Angola,” says Dr Glen Segell, visiting professor and research fellow at the University of the Free State (UFS), and a research fellow at the Ezri Center for Iran & Gulf States Research at the University of Haifa. “Both sides prefer to avoid media coverage, and simply want to get down to work. Since the visit of the Angolan president to Jerusalem in 2012, the focus of collaboration has shifted from education to further sustainable development. Agriculture and technology are also part of the deal, including solar energy.”

“This is my first visit to Israel as minister of higher education, science, technology, and innovation,” said Braganca during the visit. “I would like to learn from Israel how to advance our systems in Angola. In particular, Israel has been developing education systems from pre-school to higher education in order to fulfil the goal of having more than 50% of its population achieve a university degree. We can use this knowledge in our country. It’s also important for us to see how the theme of innovation is being developed so well in Israel. We hope to enjoy the fruits of the future co-operation between Angola and Israel, particularly in the field of higher education.”

Her delegation was accompanied by Focus Education, the education arm of the Mitrelli Group, which specialises in long-term educational projects in collaboration with governments, academic institutions, and private partners.

According to media reports, the Angolan minister’s ambition is to promote the higher education system in Angola and position the ministry as one of the main pillars of digital transformation in the Angolan education system.

“We’re lucky to have a company like Mitrelli to introduce us to new ways to promote innovation and technology in our work in Angola,” said Braganca.

As part of her visit, which marked 10 years of large-scale infrastructure and development projects across Africa by the Mitrelli Group, the minister and her delegation held meetings with the Council of Higher Education in Israel, the foreign affairs ministry, Hebrew University, Afeka College, the Technion, and the Gordon College of Education. In addition, the delegation toured the Carasso Science Park. It was working to create new ties with Israeli education leaders and engage with them on how to educate for innovation and create ecosystems to produce high-tech growth.

Says Haim Taib, the founder and president of the Mitrelli Group, “The visit aimed to give the delegation an opportunity to get acquainted with the Israeli academic system and its comprehensive approach towards higher education in order to strengthen connections and advance mutual interests between the two countries.”

During the visit, the Angolan minister expressed her interest in the Israeli higher education system, and in particular in technology, innovation, and scientific research. She also expressed the ambition of strengthening the Angolan higher education system through a five-year plan she is leading. This programme aims to give public institutions of higher education and scientific research and development improved infrastructure, construction, rehabilitation, and equipment, including for the use of information and communication technologies.

Could Angola’s approach to Israel influence that of South Africa? “South Africa has a strong relationship with Angola dating back to the liberation struggle,” says local political analyst Steven Gruzd. “They are the two strongest economies and players in the Southern African Development Community [SADC]. But I don’t think Angola would have the slightest influence over South Africa on the Middle East. Those positions seem set in stone. Israel, once again under Benjamin Netanyahu, will steadily engage African states to enhance bilateral ties.”

In regard to South Africa’s view of Angola’s close relationship with Israel, “Any malign words or acts against Angola by South Africa would be a case of ‘cutting off one’s nose to spite one’s face’,” says Segell. “Angola isn’t a weak African state that can be coerced or insulted. Angola plays a significant role in the SADC and is a major trading partner with South Africa. Yet more importantly, Angola draws inspiration from Israel as it diversifies its economy. South Africa can expect Angola to be silent in the United Nations and the African Union (AU) on Israel.”

Hussein Solomon, senior professor in the department of political studies and governance at UFS, says, “While South Africa and Algeria push to ensure that Israel is excluded from the AU, on the ground, things are happening. At a bilateral level, Israel is making inroads. For example, in spite of the South African government’s position, a partnership between the UFS and Israel will bring relief to the water crisis in the Maluti-a-Phofung municipality.

“My sense is that more and more African governments at a bilateral level are strengthening and deepening ties with Israel,” he says. “This is purely for pragmatic reasons and what we stand to benefit. The Angolan delegation trying to learn from Israel fits into that pattern. What’s happening now, also in South Africa, is that in spite of the position of the South African government, ties with Israel are expanding on a number of fronts.”

South African Zionist Federation (SAZF) National Chairperson Rowan Polovin says, “The SAZF welcomes the visit of several high-level Angolan politicians to Israel last week. Israel has traditionally had strong relations with the majority of states in Africa, with the aim of remaining a valuable partner for their development and economic growth.

“Minister Braganca’s ambition is to use her relationship with Israel to help boost the higher education system in Angola. The SAZF is reaffirmed by her statements, and encourages all African states to visit Israel to achieve similar goals in education, technology, and innovation.”