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Gulf

Saudi Arabia and Africa... Laying the Foundations for Continental Integration, Sustainable Future

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman delivers his speech at the opening of the summit (SPA)
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman delivers his speech at the opening of the summit (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia and Africa... Laying the Foundations for Continental Integration, Sustainable Future

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman delivers his speech at the opening of the summit (SPA)
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman delivers his speech at the opening of the summit (SPA)

The leaders of Saudi Arabia and African countries have affirmed their determination to develop cooperation and partnership and to lay the foundations for continental integration that charts a sustainable future for the countries and peoples of both regions.

Addressing the opening ceremony of the first Saudi-African summit in Riyadh on Friday, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announced the launch of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ development initiative in Africa, which seeks to implement development projects and programs in the continent with a value exceeding one billion dollars over a period of ten years.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman pledged to pump more than $25 billion in new Saudi investments into various sectors, finance and secure $10 billion in exports, provide $5 billion in additional development financing to Africa until 2030, and increase the number of Saudi diplomatic missions in the continent to more than 40 embassies.

“The Kingdom and African countries are keen to enhance cooperation in a way that contributes to establishing security and peace in the region and the world,” the Saudi Crown Prince said.

Pointing to the war on Gaza, he stated: “We condemn the military aggression witnessed in the Gaza Strip, the targeting of civilians, and the continued violations of international humanitarian law by the Israeli occupation authority. Let us stress the need to stop this war and forced displacement, and create conditions for the return of stability and the achievement of peace.”

Prince Mohammed explained that the Kingdom and African countries support “all efforts aimed at achieving security and stability.”

He added: “In this regard, we welcome the resumption of the Jeddah talks with representatives of both sides of the crisis in Sudan, and we hope that the language of dialogue will be the basis for preserving the unity of the Republic of Sudan and the security of its people.”

The Crown Prince went on to say: “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has provided more than $45 billion to support development and humanitarian projects in 54 African countries.”

He added that the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center has offered more than $450 million in aid in 46 African countries.

“We are determined to deepen relations of cooperation and partnership with African countries and develop areas of trade and integration,” Prince Mohammed said.

“From this standpoint, we are pleased to announce the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ development initiative in Africa, by launching development projects and programs with a value exceeding one billion dollars over a period of 10 years.”

For his part, Moussa Mahamat, Commissioner of the African Union, touched on the spiritual, historical, cultural, economic and commercial ties between Africa and Saudi Arabia, which he said were translated by bilateral relations between the Kingdom and a large number of members of the African Union.

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Gulf

Qatar, Kuwait Say Security of Saudi Arabia and GCC States Integral to Region

A general view of Kuwait City buildings, Kuwait, December 23, 2024. (Reuters)
A general view of Kuwait City buildings, Kuwait, December 23, 2024. (Reuters)
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Qatar, Kuwait Say Security of Saudi Arabia and GCC States Integral to Region

A general view of Kuwait City buildings, Kuwait, December 23, 2024. (Reuters)
A general view of Kuwait City buildings, Kuwait, December 23, 2024. (Reuters)

Qatar announced that it is following with great interest the ongoing developments and events in Yemen, reiterating its full support for the legitimate Yemeni government and the importance of preserving Yemen’s unity and territorial integrity, safeguarding the interests of the brotherly Yemeni people, and achieving their aspirations for security, stability, and development.

In a statement, the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed that the security of Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council states is integral to the security of Qatar, stemming from the deep-rooted brotherly ties and shared destiny that unite the GCC countries.

The ministry commended the statements issued by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, noting that they reflect a commitment to prioritizing the region’s interests, boosting the principles of good neighborliness, and adhering to the foundations and principles enshrined in the Charter of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

Qatar will remain at the forefront of countries supporting efforts to promote dialogue and diplomacy as the optimal path to achieving prosperity, security, and stability for the region and its peoples, stressed the ministry.

Kuwait's foreign ministry issued a similar statement, saying the security of Saudi Arabia and GCC states is a fundamental pillar of Gulf collective security, rooted in the bonds of brotherhood and shared destiny among them.

It expressed continued support for regional and international efforts aimed at promoting dialogue and peace, emphasizing diplomacy as the most effective path to achieving security, stability, and lasting peace in the region.

Gulf

Saudi Development Projects Fuel Growth in the Heart of Yemen

Saudi Arabia’s efforts through the SDRPY have emerged as a practical model for supporting Yemen’s path toward development and stability. (SPA)
Saudi Arabia’s efforts through the SDRPY have emerged as a practical model for supporting Yemen’s path toward development and stability. (SPA)
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Saudi Development Projects Fuel Growth in the Heart of Yemen

Saudi Arabia’s efforts through the SDRPY have emerged as a practical model for supporting Yemen’s path toward development and stability. (SPA)
Saudi Arabia’s efforts through the SDRPY have emerged as a practical model for supporting Yemen’s path toward development and stability. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia has provided Yemen with wide-ranging development and humanitarian support since the 1970s. The Kingdom has spared no effort to back Yemen's stability and prosperity, reflecting the fraternal ties, shared history, family bonds, and geographic proximity between the two neighbors, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Tuesday.

Building on that long-standing support, the Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen (SDRPY) was established in mid-2018 by royal decree of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

The SDRPY was launched with a strategic vision aimed at meeting Yemen’s development needs and aligning with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The vision aims to apply global best practices in development and reconstruction to boost planning efficiency, improve implementation, and ensure sustainable impact.

The program’s development projects and initiatives complement Saudi Arabia's historical support for Yemen and follow a strategy focused on improving the efficiency and effectiveness of assistance through local, regional, and international partnerships.

These efforts are intended to support Yemen’s government and state institutions in achieving peace, stability, and reconstruction, improving living standards for the Yemeni people, and promoting sustainable development across the country.

The SDRPY incorporates sustainability principles into its development interventions, including building the capacity of Yemeni professionals across multiple sectors, deploying renewable energy technologies, and boosting effective community engagement to support stability and link development efforts with peacebuilding.

To date, the program has delivered 268 development projects and initiatives across eight key sectors: education, health, water, energy, transportation, agriculture and fisheries, government capacity-building, and development programs, covering 16 Yemeni governorates.

Health initiatives have boosted the sector’s capacities, benefiting around 4 million people, including the King Salman Medical and Educational City project in Al-Mahra. This project is among the largest efforts supporting Yemen’s health and education sectors, spanning one million square meters and including a fully integrated 110-bed hospital.

Another flagship project, Prince Mohammed bin Salman Hospital in the interim capital Aden, has a capacity of 270 beds and has delivered more than 3 million medical services since opening, in addition to specialized centers for cardiac care, dialysis, and maternal and child health.

In education, SDRPY has supported projects in 11 governorates, including Taiz, Aden, Socotra, Al-Mahra, Marib, Hadhramaut, Hajjah, Lahj, Abyan, Shabwah, and Al-Dhaleh.

Initiatives span general and higher education, as well as technical and vocational training. These include a development package for the University of Aden, the construction and equipping of medical, pharmacy, and nursing colleges at Taiz University, and the expansion of the University of Saba Region in Marib.

The SDRPY’s projects and initiatives have also strengthened water security and improved the efficiency of water distribution and management, with full coverage of water needs in Al-Ghaydah, 50% coverage in Socotra, and 10% coverage in Aden.

Transport-sector initiatives have benefited 14 million people. These include the rehabilitation of 150 kilometers of roads, such as the Al Abr Road, upgrades to border crossings including Al-Wadiah, rehabilitation of airports such as Aden International Airport and Al-Ghaydah International Airport, and expanded capacity at ports including Nashtoon and Socotra.

These projects have boosted connectivity, improved daily life, and supported commercial and economic activity by facilitating movement by land, sea, and air.

The SDRPY has also launched pioneering initiatives to support livelihoods, strengthen rural resilience, empower women and youth economically, revive and preserve heritage, restore historic buildings, build capacity in the cultural sector, and deliver targeted initiatives that further advance the development process.

Among these projects is the restoration of the historic Seiyun Palace to preserve it as a landmark and cultural center, while strengthening the capacity of Yemen’s government institutions as a key step toward enhancing stability and stimulating economic growth.

Overall, the SDRPY’s projects and initiatives are designed to meet citizens’ basic needs, support infrastructure across multiple sectors, and empower local communities, contributing to sustainable development and strengthening economic and social resilience across the governorates.

The program operates in coordination with the Yemeni government and local authorities, and in partnership with civil society organizations, international and UN agencies, the private sector, and local, regional, and international partners. It maintains five executive offices in Yemen to oversee project implementation on the ground.

Gulf

Saudi FM, Rubio Discuss Developments in Yemen

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah. SPA
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah. SPA
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Saudi FM, Rubio Discuss Developments in Yemen

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah. SPA
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah. SPA

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah has held a phone call with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to discuss the situation in Yemen.

During Tuesday’s call, the two sides discussed developments in the region, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.

According to The State Department, Rubio spoke with Prince Faisal “about the ongoing tensions in Yemen and discussed issues impacting regional security and stability.”

Prince Faisal also received a phone call from Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammad Ishaq Dar, SPA said.

During the call, they reviewed relations between the two countries and discussed the latest developments in the region and the world, the news agency added.