Saudi Arabia continues its diplomatic efforts to promote peace and resolve conflicts in Yemen, Sudan, and Niger Republic. In Yemen, the Head of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council, Rashad al-Alimi, recently met with UN envoy to Yemen, Hans Grundberg, and his assistant, Muin Shreim, to discuss the Yemeni crisis and explore options for renewing the truce. The meeting aimed to address the ongoing conflict in Yemen and find ways to achieve a lasting ceasefire [535e1c94].
Meanwhile, in Sudan, Sudan's Commander-in-Chief of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and President of the Sovereignty Council Lt Gen Abdelfattah El Burhan met with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali in Addis Ababa to discuss the Sudan crisis and commit to regional cooperation. The meeting in Addis Ababa focused on the repercussions of the crisis in Sudan, with El Burhan reviewing the violations committed by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and affirming his government's commitment to cooperate with initiatives. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed emphasized Ethiopia's dedication to maintaining security and stability in Sudan and stressed the importance of collaborative efforts to resolve the Sudanese crisis [00831201].
Saudi Arabia hopes that the parties involved in the conflict in Sudan will adhere to the Jeddah Declaration, as negotiations resume in Jeddah to end the ongoing war. The conflict, which has lasted for over six months, has resulted in thousands of deaths and the displacement of millions of citizens. The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomes the resumption of talks and urges the negotiators to abide by the Jeddah Declaration and the short-term ceasefire agreement. The Kingdom emphasizes its commitment to unity and stopping the bloodshed in Sudan. The negotiations in Jeddah also involve representatives from the Intergovernmental Authority on Development [d4a6ad3a].
In addition to the Sudan conflict, Saudi Arabia has been appointed to the UN Advisory Body on Artificial Intelligence. The Saudi Minister of Islamic Affairs affirms the GCC's support for the Palestinian people. The Saudi Minister of Defense meets with the UK Secretary of State for Defense, and the Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs calls on the UN Security Council to assume its responsibilities in addressing the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question. Qatar's Prime Minister condemns the collective punishment policy in Gaza and emphasizes the importance of keeping communication channels open for a peaceful solution [d4a6ad3a].
Furthermore, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr Richard Montgomery, and the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Muhammadu Sa'adu Abubakar III, have discussed the prospects of a mediated resolution of the Niger Republic impasse. The High Commissioner visited Sokoto State and acknowledged the Sultan's role in promoting peace between people of different faiths in Nigeria. They discussed traditional leadership, social progress, inter-faith dialogue, national peace initiatives, and regional mediation. The High Commissioner also paid his respects at the graves of soldiers who lost their lives in the Second World War [d9dc2e99].
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock is traveling to Djibouti, Kenya, and South Sudan to promote dialogue, stability, and peace in Sudan. The Sudanese army and paramilitary forces have been engaged in fighting for eight months, resulting in over 12,000 deaths, 7 million displaced persons, and a collapsed healthcare system. Baerbock aims to bring the Sudanese generals Burhan and Hemedti to the negotiating table and prevent further destabilization of the region. She will hold political talks in Djibouti and meet with representatives of the regional organization IGAD. In Kenya, Baerbock will meet with Sudanese civil society representatives and visit a training center funded by GIZ. In South Sudan, she will hold political talks, meet with German members of the UNMISS mission, and visit a refugee settlement. Baerbock emphasizes the importance of international pressure to end the conflict and support the brave young people who took to the streets in 2019 for peaceful change in Sudan [3a831a43].
Foreign Minister Winston Peters discussed the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and enhanced cooperation in the Pacific with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock during her first official visit to New Zealand. They also discussed the inter-connected security threats in the regions, including Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine. The Ministers witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Arrangement between Antarctica New Zealand and the Alfred Wegener Institute, which will broaden connections between marine and polar science institutes. Minister Baerbock's visit highlighted the importance of Germany to New Zealand, as it is their largest export market in Europe and their most important science and innovation partner. They also discussed Germany's recent attribution of malicious cyber activity to agents of the Russian Government and condemned it. Minister Baerbock is also meeting with Ministers Judith Collins and Simon Watts to discuss space, science, and climate change cooperation [63c60a17].
Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah advocated for a shift from a security-focused approach to a developmental approach in dealings between Africa and Europe during his participation in the Italy-Africa Summit held in Rome. He emphasized recognizing African countries as true partners in international development, which he said would help address critical issues such as migration, political stability, and security. Dbeibah also highlighted the significance of Africa's natural resources and called for a developmental approach to improve relations with the countries of the continent. On the sidelines of the summit, Dbeibah met with his Italian counterpart, Giorgia Meloni, to discuss economic cooperation, focusing on oil and gas and bilateral trade. They also discussed activating the Friendship Treaty between Libya and Italy, supporting joint committees, and addressing security and illegal immigration [7d57898d].