He was referring to decades of arms sales from Israel and more recently to cooperation in fighting Al Qaida and Isis affiliates in Africa. Both Chad and Mali are facing radical Muslim insurgents in their countries. On Monday, 10 Chadian United Nations peacekeepers were killed in northern Mali in an al Qaida attack protesting Mr Netanyahu’s visit.
Government sources in Bamako, Mali’s capital, did not deny the talks on renewing ties. Mr Netanyahu met Mali’s president Ibrahim Keita at a summit in 2017 and visits are being planned in both capitals.
Mr Netanyahu, who has put an emphasis in recent years in broadening Israel’s engagement with African countries, has limited his globetrotting in recent months due to the election campaign and his new responsibilities as defence minister. He cancelled his planned participation at the Davos World Economic Forum in Switzerland this, but aides are anxious to schedule at least one more trip to Africa before the election on April 9.
