In the bustling city of Riyadh, an urgent summit has convened under the auspices of Saudi Arabia, bringing together voices from across the Arab and Islamic sphere. Among the distinguished attendees is Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who has traveled to Saudi Arabia to address the rising turmoil in Gaza and Lebanon. CREDIT/ Villa Somalia
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AX) — With a backdrop of heightened tension, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud from Somalia touched down in Riyadh this Monday. He joins an assembly of prominent Arab and Islamic leaders, summoned by Saudi Arabia, to deliberate on the escalating chaos in both Gaza and Lebanon.
This crucial gathering, spearheaded by Saudi Arabia amid relentless clashes involving Israel, Gaza, and Hezbollah in Lebanon, has united key figures from nations woven by cultural and religious threads. President Mohamud’s agenda includes important discussions with Saudi King Salman, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and other regional figureheads. Their conversations aim to cultivate cooperative tactics for stabilizing the volatile region and providing relief to besieged civilians.
According to a statement issued by the Somali presidency, it’s a “shared obligation” for Arab and Islamic countries to champion peace and security in these turbulent times. This summit builds upon a previous conclave held in Riyadh last year, where the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Arab League unequivocally denounced the violence in Gaza.
This year’s assembly arrives on the heels of escalating violence, ignited by a massive assault by Hamas on southern Israel on October 7, which saw significant loss of life. Israel’s response has been a fierce military campaign in Gaza, resulting in a devastating toll of more than 43,600 civilian casualties, a figure corroborated by the United Nations.
The already strained situation has worsened with Hezbollah, based in Lebanon, launching attacks on Israel following the October 7 event. In retaliation, Israel has intensively bolstered its military operations in southern Lebanon, adding fuel to the region’s already volatile conditions.
In preparation for the high-profile summit, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan presided over a preliminary meeting on Sunday, sculpting the agenda which encompasses both immediate and enduring strategies to stave off the crisis. Leaders from nations such as Pakistan, Nigeria, and Lebanon have already congregated in Riyadh.
As this summit draws to a close, it’s anticipated that a forceful declaration will emerge, advocating for an immediate cessation of hostilities in Gaza. The assembled regional leaders are driven to harmonize their response to the escalating crisis. Given the increasingly dire civilian impact and Saudi’s diplomatic aspirations, the declaration is expected to sternly denounce the military actions in Gaza and Lebanon, urge an immediate ceasefire, and press for humanitarian channels to cater to the urgent needs of those caught in the conflict.
The conclusions from the summit aim to further Saudi Arabia’s ambition of being recognized as a key peace mediator in the region.
Although the communique promises to be unambiguous and firm, its real-world influence might be somewhat restrained. Nonetheless, Saudi Arabia, along with other participating nations, will attempt to leverage this statement to apply international pressure on major players, particularly the United States and the European Union, urging them to reassess their positions and pursue diplomatic pathways to resolution.
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
Axadle international–Monitoring
