Alwaght-Voices reverberated across Africa in solidarity for Palestine on the annual International Al-Quds Day.
According to a report by Anadolu News Agency, with one-third of the world’s Muslim population in Africa, hundreds of thousands on the continent added their voices to global efforts towards Palestine’s liberation.
“Africa does not localize an important demonstration of such nature, but we share in it, as the pain is one all of Africa can identify with,” Achmad Cassiem, a former South African political prisoner said.
Nearly a million people took part in long processions across major northern Nigerian cities as the country's Shia led Al-Quds Day in support of Palestinian freedom, shadowed by riot police deployed to prevent violence.
Despite the heavy security presence, fears of previous years’ tragedies did not slow the pace of the marchers. It was only two years ago that soldiers attacked the Al-Quds rally, resulting in 32 civilian deaths.
In Ghana, Palestinian and Iranian ambassadors called for Palestine’s freedom to be achieved within a year. Organizers and speakers at the annual event conveyed solidarity messages in the capital city of Accra.
"We must vow here that when we return next year, we will be celebrating victory," said Edmund Delle, national chairman of the Convention People's Party. "If one country is not free, then we're all not free. I declare a total fight for the liberation of Palestine.”
Kwesi Pratt Jnr, a member of the Socialists Forum of Ghana, expressed disappointment that Ghanaians treated former Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman like a VIP during his last visit to the country.
The Zionist movement, he said, is very much present in Ghana's schools and churches, adding that they have "managed to distort the Palestinian struggle."
Muslims in Mauritania also came out in large numbers in the Capital, Nouakchott to express solidarity with Palestinians and condemn Israeli atrocities and occupation of Palestinian territories especially Al Quds (Jerusalem).
In Cape Town South Africa, the crowd cheered as the Israeli flag flickered in flames in front of Cape Town’s parliament, while Johannesburg’s streets were covered in pickets and slogan chants calling for Palestine’s liberation.
“Across racial and religious divides we will never forget the cause for freedom and never support anyone who considers Israel a friend,” Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions representative Braam Hanekom told Cape Town’s gathered masses.
South Africa holds deep connections with Palestine as the late Nelson Mandela was well known for his stance, having famously said, “We know too well that our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians.”
Meanwhile in Kenya, Muslims marked International Al-Quds Day in Kenya’s major towns of Nairobi, Mombasa, Nakuru, and Kisumu. In the capital Nairobi, over 100 Muslims gathered at a Nairobi Mosque to observe the annual event was organized by the Iranian Embassy in conjunction with the local Mahdi Muslim Community. In neighboring Tanzania’s commercial capital Dar es-salaam, Muslims held peaceful demonstration in major streets of the city with speeches being delivered by prominent Islamic scholars.
