The Republic of Cameroon and Eritrea stand as the only two African countries that have not recognised Palestine as a state.
According to data released by the World Population Review on May 22, 140 out of the 193 United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) member countries have recognised the existence of a Palestinian state. In Africa, Cameroon and Eritrea remain the exceptions.
The push to establish a Palestinian state comes amid the ongoing war in Gaza, which has resulted in the deaths of 36,050 Palestinians, including women and children, and has injured over 81,026 in Gaza alone. In the occupied West Bank, Israeli forces have killed 519 Palestinians and injured more than four others.
While the conflict between Palestine and Israel has been longstanding, the latest outbreak, which began in November 2023, is described as the most severe the region has ever witnessed. Israel asserts that its objective is to eradicate Hamas, but in doing so, it has exacerbated what is being called the world’s most catastrophic humanitarian crisis.
In response to the escalating violence, several countries believe that recognising Palestine as a state could be a step towards resolving the conflict. Some European nations, including Ireland, Spain, and Poland, have recognised Palestine. In Latin America, Panama remains the only country not to do so.
However, the campaign for recognition faces resistance from several countries, including Britain, the USA, and Canada, which have yet to endorse the state of Palestine.
The state of Palestine was proclaimed in 1988 by the Palestinian Liberation Movement, encompassing the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank. Despite meeting the criteria outlined in the Montevideo Convention for statehood—having a defined territory, population, government, and the capacity to engage in international relations—Palestine continues to seek full recognition. The Palestinian Authority, with its president based in Ramallah, claims Jerusalem as its capital.
The reluctance of Cameroon to recognize Palestine has been attributed by some to its close military and diplomatic ties with Israel. The elite Rapid Intervention Battalion (BIR) of Cameroon has received training from Israel, and the Israeli Embassy is located in Yaoundé. Cameroon was also quick to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital following the controversial move by former US President Donald Trump to relocate the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
