The new Ambassador From Zaire to Israel, Mbuze N. Somi Lobwanabi, presented his credentials today to President Yitzhak Navon. At the ceremony, Navon welcomed the envoy and said this was a “historic and great moment for Israel.”
The President expressed his confidence that other Black African nations will follow the “Zaire pioneers.” He also expressed appreciation for the courage and “the far reaching understanding of a statesman like your President who is the father of your nation,” Mobutu Sese Seko.
Premier Menachem Begin is scheduled to visit Zaire next week and meet with Mobutu to mark the resumption of diplomatic relations with that country. Zaire is the first Black African state to renew diplomatic relations with Israel since it and most other Black African states broke ties with Israel in 1973. Mobutu announced last March that with Egypt now having diplomatic relations with Israel, there was no reason to continue its break.
Before the Yom Kippur War of 1973, Israel had strong relations with Black African nations and was instrumental in helping a number of them in development projects. But in 1973, at the urging of the Arab League, then headed by Egypt, all but Malawi, Swaziland and Lesotho broke off ties with Israel.
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