Israel announced on Wednesday that it is resuming diplomatic relations with the Republic of Guinea after nearly half a century of estrangement, according to a statement by the Israeli Foreign Ministry.
The ministry said in an official statement: “This is an important moment, as Guinea renews its diplomatic relations with Israel after 49 years.”
The Ministry’s Director-General Dore Gold was quoted in the statement as saying: “I am happy to inform you that Mr. Ibrahim Khalil Kaba, Chief of Staff of the Guinean Presidency, and I signed a joint declaration announcing the renewal of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Guinea and Israel.”
Gold hinted that Israel is likely to renew diplomatic relations with a number of other African countries soon, without providing further details.
“The number of African nations that have yet to renew ties with Israel is becoming smaller and smaller, and we dearly hope that soon there will be none. Israel is calling on all those countries that have not yet renewed their diplomatic relations with us to follow Guinea, so that we will be able to work together for the good of all the peoples in the region,” Gold was quoted in the foreign ministry statement as saying.
The Republic of Guinea cut ties with Israel in 1967.