ByGREER FAY CASHMAN
Updated:

President Isaac Herzog is paying a state visit to Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on Monday and Tuesday.

The visit to Zambia will be the first ever by a president of Israel and is part of a major effort to revive the once-strong diplomatic relations between Israel and Africa.

In recent years, the ties have deteriorated, even though several African countries have embassies in Israel, and African students continue to come to Israel to study at MASHAV (Agency for International Development Cooperation) programs for people from developing countries.

From right: Gigawatt Global CEO Josef Abramowitz, Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema, President Isaac Herzog and a Zambian student studying in Israel at the President's Residence in August 2023.
From right: Gigawatt Global CEO Josef Abramowitz, Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema, President Isaac Herzog and a Zambian student studying in Israel at the President's Residence in August 2023. (credit: Lynn Schler)

The importance of the State visit

Herzog’s visit to Africa reflects the importance Israel places on its relations with all the states of the African continent.

Israel’s relations with African states go back to the years when the then-foreign minister Golda Meir went to Africa on an extended visit in 1958, and on her return to Israel, vigorously promoted ties with emerging African states.

In Lusaka, the capital of Zambia, Herzog will participate in the festive reopening of the Israeli embassy.

During his two-day visit, Herzog will meet with his African counterparts, President Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia and President Felix Tshisekedi of the DRC, and will discuss the challenges facing both Africa and Israel, as well as the need to strengthen diplomatic ties.