Algiers, 2 November 2022 (TDI): Leaders from Arab states are reaching Algeria on the occasion of the first Arab League Summit. The main roads of Algiers have been decked out with Arab flags and huge billboards welcoming “brother Arabs”.
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The Summit is being held after almost three years with the last one being conducted in 2019, before the Coronavirus pandemic.
Since then the Arab world has been facing a lot of different challenges like the establishment of diplomatic ties between Israel and four Arab countries, as well as the war in Ukraine, which has reshaped the agenda for the summit.
Till now, many Arab leaders including Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister; Faisal bin Farhan, and the Ruler of Dubai Mohammed bin Maktoum among various others have reached Algeria to attend the summit.
However, some Arab leaders will not be attending the summit. Among them are Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince; Mohammed bin Salman and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) leader Mohammed bin Zayed.
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Also, Morocco’s King Mohammed VI will not attend the event. Additionally, the Presidents of the UAE and Lebanon, Kuwait’s Emir, the King of Bahrain, and the Sultan of Oman will remain absent from the summit.
Despite having a common agenda, Arab nations are divided over topics like Palestinian support, the rehabilitation of Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad, and Iran vs Turkey political dissent.
Moreover, Algeria itself has a clash with Morocco over the Western Sahara issue. It is pertinent to mention here that the Algerian government is conducting the summit as a mark to return to the forefront of diplomacy.
This is because it was absent from Arab affairs since 2019 owing to Hirak Movement that led to huge protests in the country.
“The summit shows that Algeria is back in international affairs after years of isolation due to Bouteflika’s illness, the protest movement, COVID-19, and the financial crisis,” a former Algerian government Minister and the Ambassador said.
