Credit: PM Of Israeltwitter.com / Republic of Chad President And Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu Meet In Jerusalem Nov. 27, 2018.

By Gary Raynaldo  DIPLOMATIC TIMES

Israel and Chad renewed diplomatic ties Sunday that had been severed nearly half a century, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced in the African nation’s capital city of N’djamen.   Chad is a Muslim-majority north-central African country bordering , Libya and Sudan.  Netanyahu’s visit to Chad is the  first by an Israeli premier since relations between the two countries soured decades ago.

“Chad  President Idriss  Deby and I  announced the resumption of diplomatic relations between Chad and  Israel. We renew the diplomatic relations between the countries!”

Netanyahu posted on Twitter Sunday during his  Jan . 20, 2019 trip to Chad. 

PM Netanyahu characterized the resumption of diplomatic relations as a historic moment. “We view the resumption of relations as the key to future cooperation for the benefit of both countries, he said via twitter. Chad cut off diplomatic relations with Israel in 1972. 

Credit: netanyahutwitter.com /   Chad President Idriss Deby  greets Benjamin Netanyahu in Chad capital Jan. 20, 2019.

Netanyahu’s  Trip To Chad Follows Up President Deby’s visit to Israel last November 

 Credit: Netenyahutwitter.com /   Chad President Idriss Deby visits PM  Netanyahu in Israel November 2018.

Speaking in a joint press conference later Sunday, Chad President Idriss Deby told Netanyahu that he would like to welcome him to the country and wished him a pleasant stay, as reported by haaretz.com. 

“The purpose of your visit is to bring our two countries closer and to cooperate,”

Deby told the Israeli premier. 

Chad President Deby stated that he happily welcomed several agreements he has signed with Netanyahu, including the renewal of diplomatic ties, according to  haaretz.com.   Netanyahu said that Israel was announcing today “a renewal of diplomatic ties with Chad and making a breakthrough for the Arab and Muslim world.” 

What Do Israel And Chad Want From Each Other In Restoring  Diplomatic Ties After Nearly 50 Years?

“It is clear what Chad – an impoverished, water-starved country engaged in a fight with Boko Haram in the Lake Chad area – wants from Israel. It wants arms and security expertise and intelligence. It wants to learn from Israel’s experience about how to protect its borders. It wants to tap into Israel’s technological expertise regarding water and agriculture. It wants improved ties with America,” according to the Jerusalem Post. 

“But what does Israel get from Chad? Why is the establishment of relations with a dictatorial, landlocked, impoverished country that Freedom House has classified as the 18th-least-free country in the world so important that it necessitates Netanyahu taking 23 hours out of his busy election-season schedule to travel 16 hours to spend just seven on the ground in Chad.?.” Jerusalem Post writes.  “First of all, there is the political aspect. Footage of Netanyahu meeting Chadian President Idriss Deby in N’Djamena is sure to feature in the elections campaign as Netanyahu will underline the strong relations Israel has forged during his tenure with China, India, Latin America and Africa”,  The Jerusalem Post. 

Credit: Wikipedia / The Republic of Chad is a landlocked country in north-central Africa.

A largely semi-desert country, Chad is rich in gold and uranium.  

Idriss Deby came to power in 1990 after toppling Chadian President Hissene Habre – with the help of the French secret service,  source BBC news.  A shrewd tactician, Deby had been President Habre’s chief-of-staff, leading a series of victories over rebel forces in the 1980s and earning a reputation for courage and military prowess – BBC.  Deby is one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders, winning a disputed fifth term in April 2016.