Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman left the country Tuesday for a ten-day mission to Africa.

According the Foreign Ministry, Liberman’s trip will be in part to promote economic cooperation—he is traveling with representatives of “some 50 companies.” Liberman’s itinerary will include Rwanda, the Ivory Coast, Ghana, Ethiopia and Kenya.

In Kenya, FM Liberman will inaugurate a direct airline route between Tel Aviv and Nairobi, will award prizes to children who participated in a drawing competition of pictures of the Holy Land marking 50 years of Israel-Kenya relations and will inaugurate a children’s cancer ward that was refurbished by the Israeli embassy in Kenya. …

Prior to the visit, FM Liberman stated: “The relationship with African countries is of prime strategic importance for the State of Israel, from the security, diplomatic and economic standpoints as well as on many other levels. At the beginning of the term of the previous government, in 2009, I visited Africa – the first time in many years that an Israeli foreign minister visited the region – and since then we have seen the positive outcome that has resulted in the strengthening of cooperation in fields that are important to both Israel and the African countries. I will continue to strengthen these ties and extend them to other countries and issues.

Another goal of Liberman is to have Israel re-admitted as an observer to the African Union, formerly known as the Organization of African Unity. According to Agence France-Presse:

“Israel wants to take back its place in Africa,” Foreign Ministry Spokesman Yigal Palmor told AFP, Israel was an observer member of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) until 2002, when the institution was dissolved and replaced by the African Union (AU).

“Our position within the OAU had been challenged by Muammar Gaddafi (former Libyan leader), who used intimidation to ensure Israel was not included as an observer at AU summits,” Palmor said.

Israel has been improving its ties globally. Earlier this year, Israel was accepted as an observer to the Pacific Alliance, a group of South and Central American countries. Ties with Asia—especially with China and India—are deepening too. Israel has also signed a few significant deals with the European Union, most recently to be a partner in the EU’s Horizon 2020 research initiative.

Armin Rosen wrote Desperate For Allies and Secret Assets, Iran Penetrates Africa, which appeared in the August 2013 issue of The Tower Magazine.

[Photo: NTV Kenya / YouTube ]