Congo Prepares Jerusalem Embassy Move as Israel Opens Mission in Kinshasa

The planned embassy move would make the Democratic Republic of the Congo the 11th country to maintain a diplomatic mission in Jerusalem.

By Shula Rosen

Israel and the Democratic Republic of the Congo are moving ahead with plans to establish embassies in each other’s capitals, with Israel preparing a new mission in Kinshasa and Congo expected to transfer its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

The planned embassy move would make the Democratic Republic of the Congo the 11th country to maintain a diplomatic mission in Jerusalem. No date has been announced for the relocation.

The embassy plans stem from a September 1, 2026, meeting in Jerusalem between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi.

The leaders agreed that their governments would continue discussions on implementing both moves.

Their joint declaration called for consultations “with a view to the opening of a resident embassy of the State of Israel in Kinshasa and the transfer of the embassy of the Democratic Republic of Congo from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.”

Israel has since begun putting its Kinshasa mission in place.

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar on Sunday approved its establishment and chose career diplomat Kobi Shoshani to serve as resident ambassador.

Shoshani previously served as Israel’s consul general in Mumbai and has held other diplomatic posts.

Sa’ar has also discussed the reciprocal arrangements with Congolese Foreign Minister Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner.

“We will advance the relocation of the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s embassy to Jerusalem,” Sa’ar said, adding that the process would proceed alongside the opening of an Israeli embassy in Kinshasa.

Israel’s UN Ambassador Danny Danon linked Tshisekedi’s decision to views the Congolese leader expressed years earlier.

Danon said Tshisekedi had spoken of his “deep personal connection to Jerusalem” more than a decade ago and was now “turning that vision into reality.”