Saudi Arabia's Kattan Tours Africa to Bolster Ties, Sign Agreements

Saudi Minister of State for African Affairs Ambassador Ahmed Kattan - AAWSAT AR
Saudi Minister of State for African Affairs Ambassador Ahmed Kattan - AAWSAT AR
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Saudi Arabia's Kattan Tours Africa to Bolster Ties, Sign Agreements

Saudi Minister of State for African Affairs Ambassador Ahmed Kattan - AAWSAT AR
Saudi Minister of State for African Affairs Ambassador Ahmed Kattan - AAWSAT AR

Saudi Minister of State for African Affairs Ahmed Kattan will tour several African countries to sign the general cooperation agreement and the memorandum of understanding for political consultation.

He will first visit Uganda, followed by Senegal and Guinea Bissau, as part of Saudi Arabia's efforts to strengthen relations with these countries.

Kattan said this tour comes under the directives of the Saudi leadership to consolidate relations with African countries.

It also complements the tours he made to several African countries at the beginning of this year including Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Togo, Ghana, and Cote d'Ivoire.

In December, Kattan visited Central Africa, Congo-Brazzaville, Angola, and Zambia. He also visited Chad, Niger, Mali, Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Madagascar.

Relations between Saudi Arabia and Africa developed more extensively with the start of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz leadership.

Its impact was evident in the boom in relations and initiatives to enhance partnerships. Riyadh assigned a minister for African affairs to establish stronger political ties, new security connections, and institutional frameworks with many African countries.

Saudi-African relations are deepening within the scope of non-diplomatic relations, including all aspects of international economic, financial, scientific, educational, cultural, media, and social ties. They aim to address the imbalance of living conditions, environmental problems, food shortages, and the pandemic affecting African peoples.

Saudi Arabia also launched mediation efforts to resolve the conflicts facing African states.



Saudi Leadership Congratulates Emir of Kuwait on National Day 

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister. (SPA)
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister. (SPA)
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Saudi Leadership Congratulates Emir of Kuwait on National Day 

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister. (SPA)
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister. (SPA)

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud sent on Wednesday a cable of congratulations to Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah on his country's National Day.

King Salman wished Sheikh Meshal continued good health and happiness, and the government and people of Kuwait steady progress and prosperity. He also praised the fraternal relations that bind their countries.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, sent Sheikh Meshal a similar cable on the occasion.


Saudi Arabia Opens Registration for Domestic Pilgrims for 2026 Hajj 

Worshippers perform prayers at the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Makkah. (SPA)
Worshippers perform prayers at the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Makkah. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia Opens Registration for Domestic Pilgrims for 2026 Hajj 

Worshippers perform prayers at the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Makkah. (SPA)
Worshippers perform prayers at the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Makkah. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah announced on Tuesday that registration was open for domestic pilgrims to perform this year’s annual Hajj.

It said people can register through the Nusuk mobile phone app and through its website.

Priority will be given at the beginning for people who have not performed the Hajj before.

Applicants should be at least 15 years of age and meet the necessary health requirements.

Residents must have a valid residency permit, with priority to those who have been living in the Kingdom for over a year.

Applicants must be in good health and not be suffering from severe or infectious chronic diseases. They must have also taken the meningitis and seasonal flu vaccines.


Riyadh, Kigali Discuss Regional, Int’l Developments 

Rwanda's President Paul Kagame and Saudi Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed Elkhereiji meet in Kigali on Tuesday. (SPA)
Rwanda's President Paul Kagame and Saudi Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed Elkhereiji meet in Kigali on Tuesday. (SPA)
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Riyadh, Kigali Discuss Regional, Int’l Developments 

Rwanda's President Paul Kagame and Saudi Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed Elkhereiji meet in Kigali on Tuesday. (SPA)
Rwanda's President Paul Kagame and Saudi Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed Elkhereiji meet in Kigali on Tuesday. (SPA)

Rwanda's President Paul Kagame received Saudi Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed Elkhereiji in Kigali on Tuesday for talks on regional and international developments.

Elkhereiji conveyed the greetings of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, along with their wishes for continued progress and prosperity for the government and people of Rwanda. Kagame, for his part, wished the Kingdom, its leadership and its people further development and prosperity.

The meeting reviewed bilateral cooperation relations and explored ways to strengthen and expand them across various fields.

Elkhereiji had arrived in Rwanda on an official visit earlier on Tuesday.

Elkhereiji during his visit to the King Faisal Hospital Kigali. (SPA)

He met with Rwanda’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Usta Kaitesi. They discussed ways to boost cooperation between their countries in various fields and addressed issues of common interest.

Elkhereiji later visited the King Faisal Hospital in Kigali to review work progress at the facility.

King Faisal Hospital is the largest referral hospital in Rwanda, having received support exceeding SAR109 million from the Saudi Fund for Development since its establishment through its rehabilitation and expansion.

The hospital provides a wide range of specialized medical services, including disease diagnosis and specialized treatment. It has performed more than 300 complex cardiac catheterization procedures and over 32 kidney transplant operations - the first of their kind Rwanda.