Tshisekedi assumed the chairmanship of the African Union in February.

Possibly alluding to allegations that Tshisekedi’s 2018 election victory was rigged, Herzog declared, “The State of Israel supports unconditionally your firm leadership.”

During brief remarks before their working meeting, Herzog noted, “My father was the sixth president of the State of Israel, whose first state visit was to your country in 1984, and now the first president to make a state visit of my presidency is you.”

Herzog also promised to do everything he could to ensure that Israel reopens its embassy in Kinshasa, after it was shuttered in 2003 amidst ongoing warfare in the country.

Stepping onto the red carpet at the president’s official residence, Tshisekedi joined Herzog as they reviewed an IDF honor guard before greeting diplomatic and religious dignitaries, including the Latin and Greek Orthodox patriarchs of Jerusalem.

Tshisekedi, a deeply religious Christian, visited biblical sites at the Sea of Galilee, including Capernaum, on Tuesday along with his entourage.

While in Israel Tuesday, Tshisekedi spoke by phone with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken about the military coup in Sudan.

Israel had a warm relationship with Mobutu Sese Seko, the US-allied dictator of the nation formerly known as Zaire, who in 1982 broke with most African states to restore relations with the Jewish state. Ties deteriorated during the fighting two decades ago.