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.



Saudi Govt Condemns Israel for Resuming Strikes on Gaza

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chairs the cabinet meeting in Jeddah. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chairs the cabinet meeting in Jeddah. (SPA)
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Saudi Govt Condemns Israel for Resuming Strikes on Gaza

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chairs the cabinet meeting in Jeddah. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chairs the cabinet meeting in Jeddah. (SPA)

The Saudi government condemned on Tuesday Israel for resuming its attacks on Gaza.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chaired the cabinet meeting that was held in Jeddah.

The cabinet emphasized the international community's responsibility to intervene urgently to stop the Israeli crimes in Gaza and end the humanitarian crisis faced by the brotherly Palestinian people.

Crown Prince Mohammed briefed the ministers on the telephone talks he held with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

The cabinet reviewed the latest developments in the Arab, regional, and international arenas, reiterating the Kingdom's steadfast positions on these issues and its support for efforts promoting regional and global security and stability.

Minister of Media Salman Al-Dossary said the Cabinet welcomed the conclusion of peace negotiations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, as well as the signing of a border demarcation agreement between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.

The cabinet commended the launch of the Saudi Architecture Characters Map, which highlights 19 architectural styles that represent the Kingdom's geographical, natural, and cultural traits. The initiative will help in the preservation of urban heritage, the enhancement of quality of life, and the development of urban landscapes.

The cabinet discussed strategies to boost development and service projects and reinforce the social welfare and protection system in order to accelerate progress, harness potential, and achieve the nation's ambitions.

It also reviewed indicators of the national economy's performance and the Kingdom's credit rating upgrades by international agencies, underscoring the continued implementation of structural reforms and the creation of an environment conducive to unprecedented economic transformation and diversification, in line with the goals of Vision 2030.

Moreover, the cabinet expressed hailed the proactive security monitoring and response to drug smuggling networks, carried out in partnership with brotherly and friendly countries. He specifically praised the Iraqi Ministry of Interior for intercepting an attempt to smuggle 7 million amphetamine pills, acting on information provided by the Saudi Ministry of Interior.