Africa-Press – Lesotho. The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Relations Hon. ‘Matšepo Ramakoae delivered a statement on African Union (AU) granting observer status to Israel on Wednesday.
The decision was reportedly announced by the African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat on July 22nd. “This action implies a change of
position by our continental body on Palestinian issues and it can be construed as Africa’s withdrawal of support to the continued suffering of the people of
Palestine, whose land have been occupied by Israel since 1967. Worse still, this happens amid recent May 2021 bombardment of Palestinians in the Gaza strip
by Israeli forces,” she indicated. Ramakoae, therefore, noted that the Government of the Kingdom of Lesotho instructed its envoy in Addis Ababa to issue a statement to put the position of Lesotho in this regard.
She said this statement reiterates that position. “It will be recalled that Israel’s application for observer status to the AU was discussed by the AU in 2013 and
2015/2016 and the application was not approved. Lesotho notes that the criteria for accreditation of non-African states and regional integration and international
organizations is clear that the aims and purposes of non-African states and organizations wishing to be accredited to the AU shall be in conformity with the spirit,
objectives and principles of the constitutive act of the AU,” Ramakoae said. She enlightened that in this context, aside from the obvious political consideration that informed Israel’s
application not being approved, there are also legal considerations that Israel’s conduct is not in line with, the values enshrined in the constitutive
act. “Lesotho recalls that the AU has consistently reiterated its support to the Palestinian people to secure an independent and sovereign state status with East Jerusalem as its Capital.
Lesotho has on several occasions called upon Israel to respect its international law obligations on the Palestinian issue and asserted the right of the Palestinian people to full statehood in line with several United Nations
(UN) resolutions,”
“The Kingdom of Lesotho rightfully expected that the chairperson of the AUC would have solicited views of member
states of the AU about the resubmission of the Israel request for accreditation. Notwithstanding the powers of the Chairperson of the AUC that arise from Part II of the criteria for granting observer status and for a
system of accreditation within the AU, this issue is sensitive and consultation with member states should have been undertaken before a decision was made,” she
highlighted. Ramakoae added that the Government of the Kingdom of Lesotho, therefore requests the Chairperson of the AUC to rescind this decision in line with the advice of the Legal Counsel in both 2013
and 2015/2016 on the same issue. She said Lesotho further notes that there are no new facts now which would justify the review of earlier decisions on the
matter. “The Government of the Kingdom of Lesotho therefore registers its objection to the decision to grant the State of Israel an Observer Status to the AU and requests that the matter be rescinded forthwith or placed in the agenda of the Executive Council in October 2021 during the Mid – Year Coordination Meeting,” she said.
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