Djibouti, June 7, 2022, SPA -- The Djibouti-based Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) today welcomed Advisor at the Royal Court Ahmed Qattan in the presence of Djiboutian Foreign Minister Mahamoud Ali Youssouf and IGAD Executive Secretary Dr. Workneh Gebeyeh. During the meeting, Qattan delivered a speech that went over the Saudi-African relations and means to develop them in all fields, stressing the wise leadership’s keenness to further enhance relations with all African countries. He also spoke about the First Saudi-African and Fifth Arab-African summits that will be held in Riyadh this year, stressing that the holding the First Saudi-African summit is based on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s keenness to enhance partnership with all African counties. He also went over Expo 2030 that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia aspires to host in 2030 in Riyadh, referring to the announced support that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia received from all African countries. At the end of the meeting, the authority issued a statement welcoming the visit of Qattan and his accompanying delegation and holding the two summits, and praised the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s efforts that seek to develop relations with all African countries. The authority also stressed its full support for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to host Expo 2030 in Riyadh, noting that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia enjoys huge potential and capabilities that enable it to host a historical and successful version with the highest levels of innovation. The authority comprises Djibouti, Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia and Eretria. --SPA 16:47 LOCAL TIME 13:47 GMT 0016 www.spa.gov.sa/w1743661