Arab League Council to hold emergency meeting of FMs to discuss Sudan crisis

On May 4, 2023

Next Sunday in Cairo, the Council of the League of Arab States will host an emergency meeting at the level of foreign ministers to review the situation in Sudan as well as the position on Syria’s return to its seat in the Arab League, according to diplomatic sources.

The decision to convene the meeting was made, in accordance with the same source, “on the basis of a request, coordination and consultation between Egypt and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and between the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States and a number of countries, to discuss developments in the situation in Sudan as well as the Syrian issue in order to take the appropriate decision regarding its return to the Arab League before the next Arab summit scheduled in the city of Jabel Ali.”

The League of Arab States’ General Secretariat will host preparatory discussions at the level of permanent delegates the following Saturday, according to the same source.

The reintegration of Syria into the Arab League would take time and progressive measures, according to Ahmed Aboul Gheit, secretary general of the League of Arab States.

In the Arab League Charter, Mr. Aboul Gheit explained that a country or group of countries has the right to request that the issue of Syria’s return to the Arab League be taken into consideration. This is especially true considering that Syria was not expelled from the League but rather had its membership frozen or suspended.