GFH Acquires AMA International University of Bahrain

GFH Acquires AMA International University of Bahrain
TT

GFH Acquires AMA International University of Bahrain

GFH Acquires AMA International University of Bahrain

GFH Financial Group (GFH) said that it, alongside its strategic partners, has acquired the AMA International University-Bahrain (AMAIUB), building the Group’s local and regional education portfolio currently valued at USD250 million.

The transaction, valued in excess of USD100 million, will see GFH assume the lead in the management of the University on behalf of its partners, leveraging its strong and long-standing track record and experience in the sector.

Commenting on this, Group Chief Executive Officer Hisham Al Rayes said: "We are delighted to announce the acquisition of AMA International University-Bahrain by GFH and our partners."

He described this as "a strategic investment in a world-class institution that continues to rapidly build its position as one of the Kingdom’s and region’s top university destinations for both undergraduate and post-graduate studies.”

Rayes went on saying that "Investment in the education sector, among the fastest-growing the GCC region today, forms one of the key pillars of our strategy and we are focused on continuing to diversify and strengthen our portfolio with the addition of unique assets, like AMAIUB, to which we can apply our deep investment and operational know-how to deliver further growth and value for all stakeholders."

With this investment and our management of the University, we will work closely with the administration, staff, and students in order to help accelerate AMAUIB’s ability to meet and maximize its vast potential."

According to him, this includes adding resources and expertise that would further enhance the university's offering and capacity and raise the bar of international standards of higher education in the region.



Humanitarian Corridors and Pauses Needed in Sudan, US Envoy Says

The US special envoy for Sudan, Tom Perriello, attends a press briefing on the sidelines of Sudan peace talks at the US Mission in Geneva, Switzerland, August 23, 2024. (Reuters)
The US special envoy for Sudan, Tom Perriello, attends a press briefing on the sidelines of Sudan peace talks at the US Mission in Geneva, Switzerland, August 23, 2024. (Reuters)
TT

Humanitarian Corridors and Pauses Needed in Sudan, US Envoy Says

The US special envoy for Sudan, Tom Perriello, attends a press briefing on the sidelines of Sudan peace talks at the US Mission in Geneva, Switzerland, August 23, 2024. (Reuters)
The US special envoy for Sudan, Tom Perriello, attends a press briefing on the sidelines of Sudan peace talks at the US Mission in Geneva, Switzerland, August 23, 2024. (Reuters)

More and faster aid deliveries are needed in Sudan, the US special envoy to the war-weary country told Reuters, ideally through the implementation of humanitarian corridors and pauses as discussed with government leaders in a visit on Sunday.

"We are pleased that there has been some progress, but we need to see much more," Tom Perriello said in an interview, following the approval of flights to hunger-striken South Kordofan and the extension of permission to use the Adre border crossing into Darfur by the Sudanese army.

The army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces have been locked in a 19-month conflict that has caused acute hunger and disease across the country. Both sides are accused of impeding aid deliveries, the RSF by looting and the army by bureaucratic delays.

Proposals including humanitarian corridors and pauses were shared with Sudanese sovereign council head Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and others on a trip to Port Sudan on Monday and progress was made, Perriello said.

In October, the sovereign council approved flights into Kadugli to provide assistance to rebel-held regions of South Kordofan state, where people have gone hungry without aid deliveries, through an agreement with the South Sudanese government.

"I think if we can see that same attitude on the ability to get corridors into places like Khartoum, Omdurman, El-Gezira, al-Fasher, Sennar I think we could get a lot of life-saving aid to some of the most desperate Sudanese," he said.

In a speech on Tuesday, however, Burhan cast doubt on the speed of progress.

"Our vision is clear to all those who want to help us. The war must stop first and the rebels must leave the areas they have occupied," he said.

"Once civilian life is back, relief can return and be available to all Sudanese," he added.

US-led efforts to bring the army and RSF to the negotiating table have not succeeded so far.

"We do remain in active lines of communication with RSF leadership on the negotiations around both humanitarian access and peace," Perriello said.