(JNS.org) Israel and Guinea, a Muslim-majority nation in western Africa, have re-established diplomatic relations for the first time in 49 years. The new ties were cemented last week in a declaration signed in Paris by Israeli Foreign Ministry Director-General Dore Gold and the chief of staff of Guinean President Alpha Conde, Ibrahim Khalil Kaba. The re-establishment of ties comes after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent tour of Africa, during which he called Conde in a conversation facilitated by the leader of one of the seven East African nations with whom Netanyahu met on his tour. That leader has not been identified. Eighty-five percent of Guinea’s 10.5 million citizens are Muslims.

“This is an important closing of a circle,” Gold said. “The number of countries on the African continent that still haven’t [re-established ties with Israel] is steadily decreasing, and we’re hopeful that soon this number will not exist anymore.”

CAP: Dore Gold and Guinean Foreign Ministry director renew ties. Photo: Courtesy of Foreign Ministry.