JEDDAH — The African Group of Consuls General in Jeddah celebrated Africa Day at the Crowne Plaza on Monday evening. Mauritanian Consul General in Jeddah and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps of African States Adou Ould Babana received guests with Algerian Consul General Abdelkader Kacimi El-Hassan. Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Makkah Province and the permanent representative of the Kingdom to the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Ambassador Ahmad Mohammad Tayeb and the Secretary General of Muslim World League (MWL) Dr. Abdullah Bin Abdulmohsen Al-Turki also attended the ceremony. This year the ceremony coincides with the 52nd celebration of the Organization of the African Union. The ceremony began with the African Union and Saudi national anthems. Ado Ould Babanah said: “African countries have seen early the need for solidarity and coordination, and have struggled under the banner of the Organization of African Unity since its inception on May 25, 1963 to achieve unity and economic and social development; significant progress has been made through many initiatives to rid the continent from the remnants of colonialism and apartheid. “They continue to seek seriously and actively promote unity and solidarity among them, and strengthen cooperation for development and preservation of their sovereignty and territorial integrity, paving the road to reform into the African Union on July 9, 2002." Al-Turki said: “With the help of Allah, the Muslim World League has continued its vigorous efforts in Africa. “Since its inception in 1962, the league has given Africa required concern. “The best proof of this attention is that the representatives of African countries constituted the third of the members of the founding Constituent Council of the League. “Furthermore, today half of the league's external offices are in Africa.” Tayeb praised Afro-Saudi relations and development of the relations and its “positive” impact on the continent.
