Qatar tries to exploit Africa’s 'economic need': Hail

CAIRO – 24 December 2017: Leading opposition figure Khaled al-Hail said that the Qatari regime has been trying recently to take advantage of the “economic need” of the African countries to serve narrow interests.

“I believe that Arab countries, especially the quartet, will lead the Arab orientation towards Africa and will stop the Qatari-Persian influence there,” Hail added.

الساحة الإفريقية هي العمق الاستراتيجي للوطن العربي والنظام القطري مؤخرا يسعى الى تحقيق مصالح ضيقة معهم في محاولة لاستغلال الحاجة الاقتصادية لتلك الدول. ولكني أثق بأن الدول العربية، وخاصة مجموعة الأربعة ستضطلع بدور قيادي في التوجه العربي نحو إفريقيا وإيقاف النفوذ القطروفارسي فيها.

— خالد الهيل (@khalidalhaill) ٢٣ ديسمبر، ٢٠١٧

Qatari Prince Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani started a tour on December 20 to six African countries: Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Côte d'Ivoire, and Ghana, respectively.
Spokesperson of the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lulwa al-Khater, said that the tour is a part of Qatar’s effort to open up new markets and diversify its economy.

On June 5, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain severed diplomatic ties with Qatar over accusations of sponsoring terrorist groups; an accusation which Qatar denies.