The Democratic Republic of the Congo has revived a 2023 commitment to move its embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Following a visit by President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi, both nations announced reciprocal steps to relocate the diplomatic mission and reopen Israel’s resident embassy in Kinshasa.
What began as a dormant diplomatic pledge is moving forward once again. The Democratic Republic of the Congo has reiterated its decision to transfer its diplomatic mission, according to joint statements released after high-level meetings between Congolese and Israeli leadership.
President Tshisekedi Visits Jerusalem and Meets Netanyahu
The announcement followed a working visit to Israel by President Felix Tshisekedi, who met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog for talks on security, defence, agriculture, infrastructure, energy and technology. The plan dates back to September 2023, when Tshisekedi met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
In 2020, the DRC president announced plans to appoint an ambassador to Israel after two decades and establish an economic section of the embassy in Jerusalem while the embassy remained in Tel Aviv. The relationship has since expanded, with Israeli President Isaac Herzog having visited the DRC capital, Kinshasa, in November.
Following this week’s meetings, both countries said in a statement on Thursday that they would take steps towards the relocation of the embassy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem,
AFP news agency reported. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said that the process would proceed alongside the opening of an Israeli embassy in Kinshasa, describing Congo as a strategically important African country and a friend of Israel. Currently, Israel has no permanent embassy in the Congo, although an Honorary Consulate is present in Kinshasa.
Together with my colleague, the Foreign Minister of the DRC, we will advance the relocation of the DRC embassy to Jerusalem,
Gideon Saar, Israeli Foreign Minister, referring to Congolese Foreign Minister Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner.
Broad Bilateral Cooperation Beyond Diplomacy
The diplomatic pivot comes as several governments signal plans to deepen diplomatic ties with Israel. Tshisekedi has served as president of the DRC since 2019, during which time he has moved the country closer to Israel, including reopening full relations. He appointed the first Congolese ambassador in 2020 and opened an economic section of the embassy in Jerusalem. Tshisekedi also supported Donald Trump’s 2020 peace plan for the region, in the face of stern opposition from the African Union.
Where the DRC Fits on Jerusalem’s Diplomatic Map
Saar said the DRC was expected to become the 11th country to establish its embassy in Jerusalem, a move that would strengthen Israel’s efforts to secure wider international recognition of the city as its capital. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar touted his legacy of increasing the number of foreign embassies in Jerusalem from five to 11 during his tenure.
Most countries maintain their embassies in or around Tel Aviv because Jerusalem’s status remains one of the most sensitive issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Israel regards the entire city as its capital, while Palestinians want East Jerusalem as the capital of a future state. The vast majority of countries, if they recognise Israel, keep their embassies in Tel Aviv on the grounds that the status of Jerusalem will be settled in a final resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The DRC is joining a small group of countries taking the symbolic step of backing Israeli sovereignty in the contested holy city. The US, Guatemala, Honduras, Kosovo, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Fiji and Somaliland currently have embassies in Jerusalem. The announcement comes weeks after Colombia’s new hard-right president, Abelardo de la Espriella, also announced that he would move his country’s embassy to Jerusalem, a sharp shift from his leftist predecessor who criticised Israel over its Gaza offensive. Nauru has also announced plans in recent months to establish a diplomatic mission in the city.
Geopolitical Pressures and Faith-Based Alignment
Tshisekedi has spoken warmly about Israel for years, saying his support is driven by his Christian faith. He has also been eager for support from the United States, which has increasingly pressured Rwanda over armed rebel advances in DR Congo.
DR Congo and Israel issued a joint statement after President Tshisekedi visited Israel and held talks with Prime Minister Netanyahu, agreeing to relocate the DRC embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, though no specific timeline was given. Both leaders expressed a shared commitment to strengthening diplomatic relations
during their meeting.
