The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has announced its intention to move its embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. This decision follows a recent visit by President Felix-Antoine Tshisekedi to Israel, according to a joint statement.

The announcement revives a commitment first made in September 2023 when President Tshisekedi met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the United Nations General Assembly. At that time, the DRC leader had indicated plans to strengthen diplomatic ties with Israel, including appointing an ambassador after a two-decade hiatus and establishing an economic section in Jerusalem.

President Tshisekedi has previously expressed strong support for Israel, citing his Christian faith as a driving factor. His administration has also sought support from the United States, particularly concerning advancements by armed rebels in the DRC, and has faced pressure regarding the situation in Rwanda.

The DRC's move aligns with a trend of several countries relocating their diplomatic missions to Jerusalem. The United States set a precedent in 2018 by moving its embassy under President Donald Trump. Since then, Fiji, Guatemala, Honduras, Papua New Guinea, and Paraguay have followed suit. Additionally, Kosovo and Somaliland, neither of which are UN member states, maintain missions in the city that they designate as embassies.

This shift in diplomatic positioning is significant given the international community's general stance on Jerusalem. Most nations with diplomatic ties to Israel maintain their embassies in or around Tel Aviv. Their reasoning is that the final status of Jerusalem should be resolved through negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians.

Israel, however, claims the entire city as its capital and has actively encouraged foreign governments to establish their diplomatic outposts there. The international community largely views East Jerusalem as occupied territory.

The DRC's decision also comes shortly after Colombia's newly elected president announced a similar plan to relocate its embassy, marking a departure from his predecessor's policies regarding Israel and the conflict in Gaza.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog visited the DRC capital, Kinshasa, in November, further indicating a deepening of bilateral relations between the two nations.