1. Sanctions as Leverage:
For countries like Sudan, which had been on the U.S. State Sponsors of Terrorism list for years, the sanctions had devastated their economy. Being on this list meant limited access to international aid, foreign investment, and development opportunities. The Trump administration offered a lifeline in the form of sanctions relief, but it came with conditions, most notably normalizing relations with Israel.
Sudan’s transitional government, eager to access international financial systems and secure much-needed economic aid, was placed in a position where agreeing to normalize ties with Israel became one of the few ways to secure sanctions relief.
2. Normalization with Israel:
As part of the Abraham Accords, countries like Sudan, Morocco, and the UAE entered into normalization agreements with Israel, often in exchange for economic benefits or U.S. diplomatic support. For Morocco, the U.S. recognized its sovereignty over Western Sahara in exchange for normalizing relations with Israel. These agreements were seen by some African leaders as necessary to secure political and economic gains, despite potential domestic opposition or the broader regional implications.
3. The Lack of Alternatives:
For some African nations, the choice was stark. Without agreeing to normalize relations with Israel, they faced ongoing economic isolation due to U.S. sanctions. In many cases, these countries were already struggling with weak economies, internal conflicts, or political instability, and sanctions exacerbated their difficulties. Under these conditions, normalizing relations with Israel became a pragmatic choice, even if it was not always popular domestically.
While this dynamic made it appear that African countries were left with only two options (either remain sanctioned or align with Israel), it also reflected the broader geopolitics of the Trump administration, which was heavily focused on re-aligning Middle Eastern alliances in favor of Israel and reducing Iran’s influence across the region, including in Africa.
In Summary,
While African countries had agency in navigating these complex diplomatic choices, many did feel the pressure of either continuing under heavy sanctions or pursuing closer relations with Israel to access economic benefits and sanctions relief. This binary dynamic was largely shaped by the Abraham Accords and Trump's broader foreign policy strategy, where normalization with Israel became a critical lever for nations seeking U.S. favor or economic relief.
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