Abul Gheit: AL committed to enhancing partnership with Africa

ADDIS ABABA - 28 January 2018: The Arab League (AL) is committed to strengthening strategic partnership with Africa, its Secretary General Ahmed Abul Gheit asserted on Sunday.

Delivering a speech at the opening session of the African Union (AU) summit in Ethiopia, Abul Gheit commended the keenness of African Union Chairman Moussa Faki to develop bilateral cooperation and coordination with the AL, based on the joint action and the general agreement on cooperation, which was signed between the AU and the AL in March 2007.

He called for stepping up efforts and making good use of the capabilities of the Arab world and Africa to eliminate hotspots of tension and handle instability.

During his speech, the AL chief vowed to boost cooperation with the AU Commission through enforcing all resolutions issued by Arab leaders in previous summits, including a decision to develop the Arab-African joint action plan for coming years.

With regard to the Libyan crisis, Abul Gheit said the AL and the AU give a high priority to this crucial file, citing joint efforts exerted to end the transitional period in the North African country by unifying various institutions, building the foundations of a stable nation and going ahead with the parliamentary and presidential poll.

The AL is fully prepared to support any good offices at the political and technical levels to deal with the migrants’ issue and address violations facing the migrants in Libya, either through helping the Libyan state’s institutions or neighboring countries or “the true tripartite partnership” linking the European Union, United Nations and the African Union, he added.

As for Somalia, he asserted that the AL is willing to make further efforts to back the Somalian government to entrench the pillars of security and stability across the country.

Moreover, Abul Gheit stressed that the AL is keen on cementing cooperation with the AU to consolidate the foundations of stability in Comoros.

The AL agrees with the AU and the African Export–Import Bank, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) in respect of the necessity of respecting the Agreement signed in Addis Ababa last month on cessation of hostilities in South Sudan, protection of civilians and allowing the delivery of humanitarian aid, he noted.

In addition, Abul Gheit called for bolstering coordination and cooperation as regards the existing security and legal mechanisms at the AL and the AU to stand up the joint threat posed by terrorist groups, notably Daesh, Al Qaeda, Somalia's al Shabaab and Nigeria’s Boko Haram.

Concerning the Palestinian cause, he expressed his full appreciation of the steadfast African stance towards the Palestinian people by supporting its legitimate rights to enjoy freedom and end the Israeli occupation.

Also, Abul Gheit thanked African states for standing by the Palestinian people at all international forums, which was evident through rejecting the unilateral decision taken by the US administration to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and move the US embassy to it.