Diaspora, Africa – (African Boulevard News) – Syrian President Bashar al-Assad attended the Arab League summit in Baghdad, Iraq, marking his first appearance at the regional forum in 12 years. The summit was held on May 19, 2023, and the Syrian President met with African leaders on the sidelines of the summit.
Assad’s attendance at the conference comes amid speculation that Syria may be seeking to improve its relationship with African countries. During his meeting with African leaders, the Syrian President emphasized the importance of building deep bilateral relations that go beyond diplomatic relations.
“Is it possible to have deep bilateral relations that go beyond diplomatic relations, that go beyond the relationship between the officials, that go beyond the relationship between the two presidents? We believe it is possible, and this is what we seek to achieve with our African friends,” Assad said.
The Syrian President’s meeting with African leaders was attended by several prominent figures, including the President of Senegal, the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, and the Foreign Minister of South Africa. The discussions focused on promoting economic and political cooperation between Syria and Africa.
In addition to meeting with African leaders, the Syrian President also held discussions with several Arab leaders on the sidelines of the summit. During his meeting with the Emir of Kuwait, Assad discussed ways to strengthen the economic ties between the two countries.
Assad’s attendance at the summit is seen as a significant boost to his efforts to restore Syria’s international standing. The country has been under sanctions from the United States and other Western countries since the start of the Syrian civil war, which began in 2011.
The Syrian President’s appearance at the Arab League summit was celebrated by many of his supporters. The summit presented an opportunity for the Syrian President to showcase his country’s renewed commitment to regional diplomacy.
Despite this, some observers have expressed skepticism about the Syrian government’s ability to improve its relationship with African countries. They have pointed to the ongoing conflict in Syria, which has resulted in the displacement of millions of people and left the country economically devastated.
As the Syrian government seeks to rebuild its relationships with the rest of the world, it remains to be seen how successful its efforts will be. Nonetheless, Assad’s meeting with African leaders marks an important step in this process and highlights the importance of building strong partnerships between countries in the Middle East and Africa.
