Israel, DR Congo Agree to Strengthen Security and Economic Ties

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Democratic Republic of Congo President Félix Tshisekedi agreed Tuesday to strengthen economic and security ties between their countries during talks in Jerusalem.

Netanyahu welcomed Tshisekedi at the Prime Minister’s Office, where Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar also participated in the meeting.

“It is a great friendship. We are strengthening it, and this visit will only help strengthen it even further,” Netanyahu said.

Tshisekedi said the two countries want to give their relationship a new dimension, with cooperation focused on agriculture and food security, water, health, technology and innovation, security, training and investment.

“Our ambition is to build with Israel a modern, pragmatic and mutually beneficial partnership, one that is measured not only by the agreements we sign, but by their implementation and the results they produce for our two peoples,” he said.

Tshisekedi also met President Isaac Herzog at the President’s Residence. The two discussed bilateral relations as well as international and regional security issues. Herzog thanked the Congolese president for his country’s support for Israel in international forums.

The visit follows a period of growing cooperation between Jerusalem and Kinshasa. In July, Sa’ar and Congolese Foreign Minister Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner signed two memorandums of understanding covering diplomatic training and regular political consultations between their foreign ministries.

During that visit, the two sides also discussed expanding cooperation in investment, agriculture, health care, education, innovation and emerging technologies. Israel delivered three tons of medical aid to the DRC to help authorities respond to an Ebola outbreak.

Tshisekedi’s office said his visit would also focus on defense, infrastructure, energy and high technology, as well as opportunities for Israeli investment in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Relations between Israel and the DRC have strengthened in recent years. In 2023, Tshisekedi announced that the DRC would move its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, while Netanyahu said Israel would open an embassy in the Congolese capital, Kinshasa. Neither move has yet been completed.