February 2, 2023 — Tel Aviv
American Jewish Committee (AJC), the global advocacy organization for the Jewish people, welcomed today Chad President Mahamat Déby’s inauguration of his country’s embassy in Israel.
“Chad’s opening of an embassy in Israel is a significant development. The continuing renewal of Israel’s diplomatic relations with African nations is vital for expanding mutually beneficial relationships that initially began decades ago,” said AJC CEO Ted Deutch. “Chad joins the growing number of African countries with a diplomatic presence in Israel that greatly contributes to the overall building of bilateral and regional relations with Africa.”
Chad, a Muslim majority country, and Israel renewed diplomatic relations in 2018 during Prime Minister Netanyahu’s visit to N'Djamena.
Israel currently maintains ties with 45 African countries, and 19 of them, including Chad, have embassies in Israel, with an additional five scheduled to open soon. Israel also has observer status in the Africa Union.
AJC has long engaged the African continent through its Africa Institute, founded in 2006. The institute, directed by Wayne Sussman and chaired by Marion Bergman, has been a pioneer in advocating for Israel’s reengagement with Africa. AJC delegations have visited Chad and traveled extensively in the region over the past decade.
