Democratic Republic of Congo to Move Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem

The Democratic Republic of Congo announced on Thursday that it will move its embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. The decision followed a visit by President Felix Antoine Tshisekedi, during which he and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a joint statement pledging to take steps toward the relocation and to strengthen diplomatic ties. This move aligns the DRC with a small group of countries, including the United States, Guatemala, Honduras, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, and Paraguay, that have taken similar steps. Kosovo and Somaliland also maintain missions they consider embassies in the city.

President Tshisekedi has stated that his support for Israel is driven by his Christian faith. Reports indicate he has also sought support from the United States, which has pressured Rwanda regarding rebel advances in the eastern DRC. The plan to relocate the embassy revives a commitment from September 2023 and follows a 2020 announcement regarding the appointment of an ambassador and the establishment of an economic section in Jerusalem.

The status of Jerusalem remains a central point of contention in the Israeli Palestinian conflict. Israel claims the entire city as its capital, while Palestinians seek East Jerusalem as the capital of a future state. Most countries maintain their embassies in Tel Aviv, arguing that the city's final status should be determined through negotiations. The United Nations Security Council has rejected measures to alter the status of Jerusalem and has urged countries not to establish diplomatic missions there.

Outlets with different political leanings framed the move in distinct ways. Center left sources highlighted the move as a break from international consensus and noted the DRC's status as one of the world's poorest countries facing armed conflict. The center source framed the move as a symbolic gesture of backing Israeli sovereignty and placed it within a broader trend of right wing shifts in other nations, such as Colombia.