The Council of Ambassadors of the League of Arab States in South Africa hosted an official luncheon in honour of a visiting delegation from the Foreign Affairs, Political Affairs and National Security Committee of the Arab Parliament on Friday, 24 July 2026, at the CT Hotel in Pretoria.
The luncheon formed part of the committee’s official visit to South Africa from 22 to 25 July 2026, reflecting the growing importance of parliamentary diplomacy and reinforcing relations between the Arab world and South Africa.
The visiting delegation was led by H.E. Mr. Aymen Nagra, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs, Political Affairs and National Security Committee of the Arab Parliament from the Republic of Tunisia.
Other members of the delegation included:
- H.E. Mr. Adel Abdulrahman Jassim Al-Maawda, Vice-Chairman of the Committee (Kingdom of Bahrain);
- H.E. Ambassador Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Bayan, Committee Member (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia);
- H.E. Mr. Hassan Taher Ali Misbah, Committee Member (State of Libya);
- H.E. Mr. Nasser Abdullah Salem Abu Baker, Committee Member (State of Palestine).
The delegation was accompanied by Mr. Adel Fathi, Secretary of the Foreign Affairs, Political Affairs and National Security Committee.
The luncheon brought together members of the Arab diplomatic corps accredited to South Africa, who welcomed the delegation and reaffirmed their shared commitment to strengthening cooperation between Arab states and South Africa through dialogue, diplomacy and parliamentary engagement.
The official visit provided an opportunity for members of the Arab Parliament committee to engage with South African counterparts and institutions on matters relating to foreign affairs, regional security, governance, and international cooperation. Such exchanges play an increasingly important role in advancing mutual understanding and encouraging collaboration on issues of common concern affecting both the Arab region and the African continent.
During their visit, the delegation also held engagements with the Pan-African Parliament in Midrand, underscoring the importance of closer cooperation between regional parliamentary institutions. The discussions reflected a shared commitment to promoting peace, stability, sustainable development and stronger inter-parliamentary relations between Africa and the Arab world.
The Council of Ambassadors of the League of Arab States in South Africa described the luncheon as an important occasion to welcome distinguished parliamentarians and further strengthen diplomatic and parliamentary ties. The gathering also highlighted the role played by ambassadors in fostering dialogue beyond traditional state-to-state diplomacy by facilitating exchanges between legislative institutions and regional organisations.
The Arab Parliament serves as the parliamentary body of the League of Arab States, representing member states across the Arab world and promoting cooperation on political, economic, social and security matters. Its Foreign Affairs, Political Affairs and National Security Committee is responsible for examining issues related to international relations, regional stability, peace, security, and strategic cooperation with partner regions.
The committee’s visit to South Africa reflects the enduring relationship between the Arab world and Africa and demonstrates the growing value of parliamentary diplomacy in addressing shared challenges, strengthening multilateral partnerships and promoting constructive engagement between regional institutions.
As South Africa continues to play a prominent role in African and global diplomacy, visits such as these contribute to expanding dialogue between the Arab Parliament, the Pan-African Parliament and the wider diplomatic community, laying the foundation for deeper cooperation on issues that advance peace, development and international solidarity.
