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Zaire and Israel by J A publication of ihe African Studies Program of The Georgetown University Center tor Strategic and International Studies No. 10 • March 21, 1983 Zaire and Israel by J. Coleman Kitchen, Jr. 1962. Zaire (then known as the Democratic for Zaire ... we could do it immediately," but "Zaire Republic of the Congo) establishes diplomatic re­ is not alone in Africa [and there] must be consultation lations with Israel. [with other African countries] . I will wait to see September 1963. Commander-in-chief of the what the other ones are going to do." Congolese armed forces Joseph-Desire Mobutu (future May 14, 1982. At a congress of the ruling Mouve­ Zairian President Mobutu Sese Seko) receives his ment Populaire de Ia Revolution (MPR) in Kinshasa, jump wings after taking a paratrooper training course Mobutu announces his government's decision to in Israel along with 218 other Congolese. resume relations with Israel. October 4, 1973. In the course of a long speech An IBA broadcast from Jerusalem adds these delivered at the UN General Assembly two days details and observations: "[The] announcement by the before the outbreak of the Yom Kippur Arab-Israeli Zairian government about the resumption of relations war, President Mobutu announces his decision to with Israel was preceded by an exchange of messages break relations with Israel: "Zaire must choose be­ between President Mobutu and the [Israeli] prime tween a friendly country, Israel, and a brother coun- · minister and the defense minister . An Israeli try, Egypt. Now, between a friend and a brother, the diplomat has for some months been stationed in a choice is clear. And our decisions are taken in com­ foreign embassy in Kinshasa and has handled re­ plete independence and outside all pressures." [As late lations between Israel and Zaire. The spokesman of as 1972, Israel had 32 diplomatic missions in Africa. the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem, Avi Pazner, As of 1981, only five African states-Egypt, Lesotho, welcomed the Zairian decision and noted this was an Malawi, South Africa, and Swaziland-had official important development in Israel's relations with diplomatic ties with Israel.] Africa. He emphasized [that] Israel calls on other November 1981. Under the headline "Israel Begins countries on the African continent also to resume rela­ an African Comeback," Newsweek reports in its tions of friendship and cooperation with Israel. Our November 30 "Periscope" feature: "[L]ast week Israel's correspondent has learned the Zairian president is Defense Minister Ariel Sharon led a group of five top­ now trying to persuade some of his colleagues to level officials on a secret tour of several capitals in follow in his footsteps. The French government and western and central Africa. The message of the mis­ President Mitterrand are also trying to persuade sion was that Israel is ready to provide economic and African countries which had in the past been under military aid to possible targets of further Libyan French rule to resume relations with Israel. Two days adventures in exchange for closer cooperation or ago, Zaire announced it no longer wanted economic renewed diplomatic relations with the Africans." aid from the United States. Washington had offered December 2, 1981. On the final day of a "working $64 million in economic and military aid. However, visit" to Washington, Mobutu recalls his 1973 as­ during a Congressional hearing, testimony was sertion that relations with Israel would remain broken presented about corruption in the Zairian administra­ "until Israel gives back the occupied territories to tion along with hints the president had used U.S. aid Egypt," but says that there are now "no more prob­ funds for his own benefit. Israeli sources in Washing­ lems" because Egypt and Israel have diplomatic re­ ton told the UPI correspondent [that] Israel would not lations and the last piece of occupied Egyptian ter­ extend economic aid to Zaire but it would be ready to ritory is scheduled to be returned in April 1982. As far send volunteers along the lines of the U.S. peace as timing is concerned, he says that reestablishing re­ corps. About six months ago, ... Sharon signed an lations with Israel would not be a "difficult problem agreement on cooperation in Zaire." Editor: Helen Kitchen, Director of African Studies CSIS AFRICA NOTES • Suite 400 • 1800 K Street, NW Editorial Assistant: M. Frost Gordon Washington, DC 20006 • (202) 887-0219 2 May 15, 1982. Mobutu's special envoy, Nimyaidika tain Arab Gulf states and the Rabat regime but also Ngimbi, arrives in Israel for a three-day visit, bringing because Zaire's policy carries within it characteristics a verbal message for Prime Minister Menachem Begin of Sadat's policy ... If Sadat in the recent past "intended to reinforce the declaration on resuming acted foolishly and dissented from Arab . unanimity in political relations between the two countries." Accord­ order to establish a separate peace with the Zionist ing to the Tel Aviv daily Ma'ariv, the envoy says that entity at the expense of the Arab nation's number one "we are expecting mutual cooperation on all possible cause, Mobutu is today following the same path at the issues-in the military, economic, and agricultural expense of Arab-African solidarity and without any spheres. As befitting two friendly countries, we do not regard for the consequences of his actions for Arab­ reject any sphere." African relations." May 16, 1982. During a radio interview in Qatar severs diplomatic relations with Zaire. Jerusalem, Presidential Envoy Nimyaidika Ngimbi is AZAP, the official Zairian news agency, issues a asked if the new Zairian embassy will be located in report summarizing President Mobutu's response to Jerusalem. He replies: "Yes, why not? Since it is the "negative international reactions" regarding his de­ capital of the state of Israel." Later in the day, the cision to reestablish relations with Israel. Some Zairian envoy meets with Minister Sharon and then excerpts: Prime Minister Begin. According to an Israeli radio "[N]o state in the world has the right to prevent report of the latter meeting, Begin invites Mobutu to Zaire, a free and sovereign state, from freely shap­ visit Jerusalem and expresses his own readiness to ing its foreign policy, thus exercising fully its visit Kinshasa in the autumn, after his leg heals; he national and international sovereignty. That is why, says that Israel will help Zaire to the best of its on October 4, 1973, at the United Nations, this ability. sovereignty was publicly and solemnly proclaimed Minister of Foreign Affairs Yitzhak Shamir says in a when, through the voice of their president, the radio interview that Mobutu's decision "will at once Zairian people decided to sever relations with Tel raise Israel's prestige in the international arena, in all Aviv. This sovereign decision was dictated by the international organizations and institutions," but fact that the African land of Egypt-I repeat, the declines to speculate about which other African coun­ African land of Egypt-was occupied by the Jewish tries may resume relations with Israel in the near state . At that time, Zaire was highly praised future: "I would not like to embarrass any African not only for its political sense and the shrewdness heads of state. I can only say there are several coun­ of its analysis, but also for the courage and tries whose leaders have in their hearts made the foresight of its leader. But since April 25, [1982,] decision to take this step and they are thinking about following the same logic and consistency, Zaire has it and discussing the effective date. I assume the noted . that the reasons for breaking relations Zairian president's decision will accelerate their with Israel are no longer valid . decision." "[W]hen Zaire took that historic position in 1973, May 17, 1982. In Washington, State Department it did not mention Arab land, but African land of spokesman Alan Romberg welcomes Zaire's decision Egypt, which happens to be an Arab state . to renew diplomatic relations with Israel, but reserves Therefore, Zaire cannot help but deplore the re­ comment on Zaire's apparent decision to locate its actions in African capitals after its decision to embassy in Jerusalem, saying "this is a bilateral affair restore diplomatic relations with Israel. So much concerning only Zaire and Israel." guile and pure cowardice coupled with inconsisten­ May 18, 1982. Saudi Arabia severs diplomatic cy cannot bring anybody to take Africa seriously relations with Zaire. Zaire feels sad to note the puerile assurance May 19, 1982. Tunisia recalls its ambassador to of all those who in the past shouted against co­ Zaire for "consultation" "as a first step." Zaire's em­ lonialism and neocolonialism whenever any Western bassy in Paris issues a statement declaring that Zaire country's attitude smacked of the least interference has never said or decided that its embassy in Israel in the internal affairs of any country, but which to­ would be in Jerusalem, and affirming that the recent day in the face of massive interference of the Arabs decision on the Middle East contains only three in the politics of a sovereign state have nothing to points: "[reaffirmation] of recognition of the Pa­ say, but only follow the leader of the slave caravan lestinian people's right to have a sovereign state; with his whip and turban. Did we fight European maintenance of Zaire's recognition in 1975 of the PLO colonialism and neocolonialism in the past only to as the Palestinian people's sole representative; and the stick out our necks today to the yoke of Arab resumption of normal diplomatic relations with the neoslavery? . Jewish state." "From the reactions received, we now know that May 20, 1982.
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