U.S. Military Aid to Africa Linked โto Proliferationโฃ of Israeli Weapons โTechnology, Rights Groups Warn
WASHINGTONโ D.C. – โA growing networkโ of U.S. military assistance to โAfrican nationsโ is inadvertently fueling โคthe export and deployment of Israeli weapons and โsurveillance technologies,some โof which have been tested during conflict in Gaza and โฃareโ implicated โin human rights abuses,according toโข a report and analysis of recent statements by international rights organizations and UNโ officials. The findings raise concerns โabout the indirect contribution of U.S. aid to a system where weapons are refined in active conflict zones and then soldโฃ globally, including to regimes with questionable human rights records.
Israel has become a significant arms exporter,โค with technologies refined โduring military operations in Gaza now reaching over 130 countries, including several in Africa. This export activity occurs despite Israel’sโ status as a signatoryโฃ to the Arms Trade Treaty and โคaccusationsโ of non-compliance with its principles,specifically regarding preventing โคtheโ use of weapons in war crimes or human rights violations,as โคhighlighted by amnesty International.
“Israel hasโข used the genocide as an opportunityโ to testโ new weapons โฆ to exterminate theโ population without restraint,” stated Francesca Albanese, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on โthe situationโข of humanโ rights in the Palestinianโ territory,โ in a July address to the Human Rights Council. She further noted a 213% surge in the Tel Aviv stock exchange since October 2023, with gainsโ totaling $225.7 billion, including $67.8 billion in the pastโ month alone.
The connection to U.S. involvement stems from the ample militaryโ aid Washington provides to African countries. This aid frequentlyโ enough creates a demand for interoperability and training, opening doors โfor Israeli defense companies to offer complementary technologies and services.
Examples of these โขtechnologies in use โขon the continent include Pegasus spyware,developed by the Israeli cyberintelligence firm NSO Group. Authorities in Rwanda and Uganda have reportedly deployedโข Pegasus to surveil the smartphones of domestic dissidents,journalists,and activists. โข “Pegasus [was] used against journalists, activists, andโ even critics abroad,” said Kwata, an advocate for stronger oversight of arms deals.
Pegasus hasโฃ also been used against Palestinian activists, according to Amnesty International, and isโ marketed as “spyware diplomacy” under Israel’s Defense Export Control Law.
The proliferationโ of these technologies is prompting โcalls for greater scrutiny of arms deals and aโ more strategic approach to โฃsecurity on the African continent.”African nations have options. They can pause โฆ arms deals until there are credible assurances of compliance โwith international โคlaw,” Kwata urged, advocating for increased oversight and a move towards “strategic autonomy.” “We build a moreโฃ strategic autonomy, and we show that Africa can take a principled stand.”
Kwata emphasized that the continent’sโ future security may depend on leadership choices and a reduced reliance onโ imported arms, warning of the risk of being drawn into conflicts originatingโ elsewhere.
