DR Congo to Move Embassy to Jerusalem, Following Israel's Lead

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) will become the eleventh country to establish its embassy in Jerusalem. This decision was finalized during a special working meeting on Thursday, September 3rd, between Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar and the DRC's Foreign Minister Therese Kayi-Kwam-Kwam-Bwa Wagner. The Congolese embassy will relocate from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, and concurrently, Israel will open an embassy in Kinshasa, the capital of the DRC. The Israeli Foreign Ministry stated that relocating foreign embassies to Jerusalem is a primary foreign policy objective. The DRC's move follows similar actions by other nations, with Nauru set to open its embassy in Jerusalem the following week and Colombia expected to do so in October. The DRC, the largest country in Africa south of the Sahara and second-largest by area on the continent, is currently a member of the UN Security Council and the UN Human Rights Council. Its rich mineral resources are vital for semiconductors, AI, and electric vehicles, presenting significant potential for expanded economic and security cooperation with Israel. The two nations share a long-standing relationship, evidenced by the DRC's consistent support for Israel in international forums, including at the International Court of Justice in The Hague. Diplomatic ties were first established in 1960, and cooperation has historically spanned security, agriculture, and development.