Why DR Congo is deepening ties with Israel despite Rwanda’s close relationship?

The Democratic Republic of Congo’s growing ties with Israel are being driven by security needs, diplomacy and Kinshasa’s desire to strengthen its position with Washington, analysts say, even as Israel maintains close defence relations with neighbouring Rwanda.

President Félix Tshisekedi visited Jerusalem on August 31 and September 1, meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog.

The visit followed Herzog’s trip to Kinshasa in November 2025 and was officially presented as an effort to expand bilateral cooperation in security, defence, agriculture, infrastructure, energy and advanced technology.

But analysts say the security dimension is particularly important as Tshisekedi’s government struggles with the conflict in Eastern Congo.

Professor Jason Stearns of Simon Fraser University told BBC that Tshisekedi now needs Israel more than before, particularly for military capabilities.

Richard Moncrieff of the International Crisis Group similarly said high-level discussions between the two countries have increasingly focused on defence and security.

The rapprochement comes as Congo seeks to strengthen its armed forces after years of fighting against the M23 rebel movement.

In August, Kinshasa and the M23-led alliance agreed on a roadmap for peace talks, although violence has continued.

For Kinshasa, closer relations with Israel could therefore provide access to military expertise and technology while also reinforcing diplomatic links with a country that has strong ties to the United States.

Israel’s relationship with Rwanda makes the development particularly significant.

Rwanda and Israel have maintained longstanding defence and security cooperation, and in March 2026 Rwanda’s defence leadership held talks with Israel’s ambassador on strengthening existing military ties.

A regional security assessment by the Critical Threats Project said Congo may also see closer relations with Israel as a way of encouraging Jerusalem to reduce its engagement with Rwanda.

Congo has also announced plans to move its embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, while Israel has said it intends to open an embassy in Kinshasa.

Yet analysts caution against viewing Israel’s relationship with Congo and Rwanda as mutually exclusive.

Stearns argues that Israel has an interest in maintaining relationships with both countries rather than choosing sides in the Congo conflict.

Meanwhile, there is little evidence that the conflict itself is close to ending.

UNHCR says 6.9 million people remain internally displaced in Congo, with more than five million in North Kivu, South Kivu and Ituri.

The August peace-talks roadmap offers a diplomatic channel, but continued fighting means the security calculations that are bringing Kinshasa and Jerusalem closer remain firmly in place.