Minister of Information Moses Kunkuyu says the Saudi-Africa Summit will proceed as planned in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia this weekend despite the cancellation of the Arab-Africa Summit.

According to Kunkuyu, the two summits were planned, saying the Saudi-Africa summit is going ahead with invited African Heads of State and Government, including President Lazarus Chakwera.

Said Kunkuyu: “This is the one that is critical to the signing of the Mangochi-Makanjira road construction agreement.

“During the same period, His Excellency the President Dr Lazarus Chakwera is also supposed to attend the Saudi – Africa summit.

The $20 million (about K24 billion) Mangochi-Makanjira Road will be financed by the Saudi Fund for Development, which is a Saudi Arabian government agency that provides development assistance to developing countries such as Malawi by financing social and infrastructure projects.

“This is not under the Arab-Africa Summit or Arab League. Therefore, the President’s travel is hinged on the Saudi-Malawi relationship and cancellation of the Arab-Africa Summit changes nothing as it has no impact on the critical business to be undertaken by the President,” Kunkuyu said.

On Tuesday, the Saudi Foreign Ministry postponed the 5th Arab-African Summit due to the conflict in Gaza between Israel and Hamas of Palestine.

Meanwhile, a notice from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs says Chakwera will depart Kamuzu International Airport around 2pm today for Riyadh before proceeding to Egypt for the Third Intra – African Trade Fair on November 13th.

He is expected to return home on Tuesday November 14 2023.

Source:NPL