Chakwera’s trip in limbo as Saudi Arabia postpones 5th Arab-African Summit

Saudi Arabia has suddenly postponed the 5th Arab-African Summit, which was scheduled for this weekend due to the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas in Palestine’s Gaza Strip.

A statement seen by the press quotes the Saudi Foreign Ministry as having said the postponement was made in coordination with the Secretariats of the Arab League and the African Union Commission to ensure that political events in the Middle East do not affect the Arab-African partnership, and a new date will be scheduled later.

Instead, Riyadh will host an Arab League Emergency Summit on the same day involving the bloc’s Foreign ministers to discuss the Israel-Hamas war that has killed over 11 000 people and wounded thousands more since October 7 and the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.

President Lazarus Chakwera was due to depart the country today to attend the summit in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, on November 11 alongside other African Heads of State and Government.

A notice from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued yesterday said Chakwera was expected to depart Kamuzu International Airport this afternoon for Riyadh before proceeding to Egypt for the Third Intra – African Trade Fair on November 13th.

The government was yet to comment on Chakwera’s programme following this postponement.

Source:NPL