DRC President Felix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo met with Isaac Herzog Israel's President in Jerusalem
Democratic Republic of Congo President Felix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo declared on wednesday that he wanted to build closer ties with Israel in the fields of security, agriculture, infrastructure, and digital technology. "DRC wants to develop the best possible relations with Israel" said the congolese President.
"I was happy to hear last year about your decision to appoint an ambassador in Israel and to open an economic section in Jerusalem" said Herzog. "There is tremendous potential for collaboration between Israel and you and your country, and we shall do everything to bring a blessing for all of us."
Tshisekedi promised at the 2020 AIPAC conference to appoint an ambassador to Israel after a two-decade gap, and to open a commercial section in Jerusalem.
Herzog thanked his counterpart for standing by Israel at the UN, and for supporting Israel joining the African Union as an observer state.
Tshisekedi assumed the chairmanship of the African Union in February.
Possibly alluding to allegations that Tshisekedi’s 2018 election victory was rigged, Herzog declared, “The State of Israel supports unconditionally your firm leadership.”
During brief remarks before their working meeting, Herzog noted, “My father was the sixth president of the State of Israel, whose first state visit was to your country in 1984, and now the first president to make a state visit of my presidency is you.”
Herzog also promised to do everything he could to ensure that Israel reopens its embassy in Kinshasa, after it was shuttered in 2003 amidst ongoing warfare in the country.
Stepping onto the red carpet at the president’s official residence, Tshisekedi joined Herzog as they reviewed an IDF honor guard before greeting diplomatic and religious dignitaries, including the Latin and Greek Orthodox patriarchs of Jerusalem.
Tshisekedi, a deeply religious Christian, visited biblical sites at the Sea of Galilee, including Capernaum, on Tuesday along with his entourage.
While in Israel Tuesday, Tshisekedi spoke by phone with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken about the military coup in Sudan.
Israel had a warm relationship with Mobutu Sese Seko, the US-allied dictator of the nation formerly known as Zaire, who in 1982 broke with most African states to restore relations with the Jewish state. Ties deteriorated during the fighting two decades ago.
A series of presidents from Ezer Weizman onwards kept raising the issue of Israel gaining observer status with the AU, whenever receiving credentials from new African ambassadors or welcoming African presidents, prime ministers and foreign ministers, but until July of this year, their efforts, and those of the Foreign Ministry yielded no results.
In July, Israel finally attained observer status, so this is a subject that Herzog will not have to tackle.
In his talks with the Israeli leadership, Tshisekedi will focus on security matters, investment and trade, health, communications and agriculture
Included in his delegation are Defense Minister Gilbert Kabanda, Communications and Media Minister Patrick Mayaya, the President’s special envoy to Israel and North America Prof. Serge Tishibanga and the president’s special investments adviser Juan Claude Kabongo.
Before moving on to his next appointment, Tshisekedi assured Herzog that Israel can rely on the continued friendship and support of the DRC.
Deputy Foreign Minister Idan Roll met with Tshisekedi and a delegation of Congolese ministers.
Roll thanked Tshisekedi for actively advocating for Israel to be allowed to join the African Union as an observer, which it did earlier this year.
Tshisekedi briefly lived on Kibbutz Lahav in the Negev as a participant in a program run by MASHAV, Israel's development agency.
Cassien Tribunal Aungane, Editor
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