04 Apr 2024 | 10:24 AM UTC
Africa: Al-Quds Day gatherings likely across Africa on April 5
Activists likely to stage gatherings across Africa to mark Al-Quds Day on April 5. Avoid all protests.
Pro-Palestinian supporters will likely gather in several countries across Africa to protest during Quds Day, falling on April 5, the last Friday of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Larger rallies than usual are expected due to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. Likely gathering locations in capitals and other urban centers include government buildings, Israeli representations, and Western embassies, particularly in Muslim-majority countries of western, central, and eastern Africa. In South Africa, such gatherings are likely across the country, including Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Pretoria, among others.
Increased security and localized traffic disruptions are likely near all related protests that may occur. Clashes between police and protesters cannot be ruled out, particularly if demonstrators are overly disruptive or if they ignore police orders to disperse.
Avoid all protests. Plan for localized road travel delays in city centers on April 5. If crowds form or clashes occur nearby, leave the area immediately. Do not drive through roadblocks; wait for officials to clear the way. Heed instructions from authorities. Refrain from discussing topics in public related to the situation in Israel and the Palestinian Territories.
The 1979 Iranian Revolution leader and founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, established Al-Quds Day in 1979 to express support for the Palestinian cause and denounce Israeli actions.
