The meeting between the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Félix Tshisekedi, and the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, at the UN General Assembly provoked strong reactions. The two leaders announced a historic decision: the opening of an Israeli embassy in Kinshasa and the transfer of the DRC embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
This rapprochement between the two countries marks a new stage in diplomatic and economic relations. Discussions between Netanyahu and Tshisekedi resulted in a mutually beneficial agreement, strengthening cooperation in various areas such as security, agriculture and infrastructure.
President Tshisekedi’s interest in Israel is not new. Since coming to power, he has shown constant interest in the country and sought to establish close ties. He met several times with religious representatives and Israeli officials, and expressed support for former US President Donald Trump’s peace plan.
This decision to transfer the Congolese embassy to Jerusalem raises questions about the position of the DRC vis-à-vis the Palestinian question and the African Union, which maintains a position of non-recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel .
From a diplomatic point of view, this rapprochement could also open new opportunities for Israel in Africa, particularly in terms of support for obtaining consultative status in the African Union.
Thorium, a company specializing in security consulting, welcomed the announcement and stressed the importance of strengthening ties between the two countries in the field of cybersecurity.
However, this rapprochement also attracts criticism. Some fear this could damage the DRC’s relations with other Arab and African countries. Furthermore, the issue of Jerusalem remains a sensitive subject on the international scene, and this embassy transfer could be seen as a violation of international law.
It is therefore essential to closely monitor the political and diplomatic consequences of this decision, as well as the potential economic fallout for both countries.
In conclusion, the decision to open an Israeli embassy in Kinshasa and transfer that of the DRC to Jerusalem represents a historic rapprochement between the two countries. This decision opens new diplomatic and economic opportunities, but also raises questions and criticism. It will be interesting to see how this decision will influence the DRC’s relations with other countries and what the international community’s reaction will be.