In 2023 I made my first and so far only visit to Africa. I’ve always wanted to visit Africa.  To be honest, The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) was not on my top ten list to visit, and then it became the first African nation to host me.

Last week DRC was on my mind as a delegation arrived from Kinshasa to Jerusalem, led by Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi. I have been aware of the ongoing expansion of relations between Israel and Congo, especially under President Tshisekedi, a devout Chrisian who not only sees the flourishing of relations as good for his country, but who sees the significance in the restoration of Jewish sovereignty in Israel prophetically.

As a young man Tshisekedi spent time living on a kibbutz. He also became a leading advocate for Israel to rejoin the African Union as an observer.  As President he committed to open an embassy in Jerusalem.  This week in Jerusalem, he announced plans to do so, making DRC the second African nation after Somaliland to have an embassy in Israel’s capital in decades.

Congo and Israel have an important relationship.  We established diplomatic relations following Congo’s independence in 1960, After the Yom Kippur War when African nations were pressured to break relations with Israel by the Arab League, Congo joined the crowd.  At the time, Congolese President Mobutu reportedly said he was making a conflicted and difficult choice between relations with a neighbor, and relations with a friend.  We were the friend, and lost out.

Throughout nearly two weeks in Congo, I heard many voices express that it was Africa that lost out, and Congo in specific.  Congo is the second largest country in Africa physically, and fourth in terms of population.  However, it’s the only among the top five that are an overwhelmingly majority Christian, more than 90%.  That........

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