Gabon President Omar Bongo said Thursday that his country will not follow Ivory Coast and Cameroon in renewing its diplomatic ties with Israel. Bongo, who was once close to Israel, said he will restore relations with Israel “only within the process which will be defined by the OAU (Organization for African Unity).”
Most African states, including Gabon, severed their relations with Israel at the time of the 1973 Yom Kippur War in response to an Egyptian-sponsored resolution approved by the OAU.
Zaire, Ivory Coast and Cameroon have since restored these ties. Unconfirmed reports mentioned Nigeria, Togo, the Central African Republic and Gabon as countries about to follow suit.
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