Updated

Kuwait is urging greater strategic and commercial links between the Arab world and sub-Saharan Africa, as top envoys from more than 65 countries gather to discuss security and economic concerns linking the two regions.

The two-day Afro-Arab summit that starts Tuesday is the first since the 2011 Arab Spring uprisings. It comes amid unrest in Egypt and Libya and anti-terrorism efforts following the September mall attack in Nairobi by Somalia militants.

Kenya's president, Uhuru Kenyatta, is among leaders expected in Kuwait on Monday.

The official Kuwait News Agency lists an economic-heavy agenda, which could include pledges for greater African investments by oil-rich Gulf states.

Kuwait's emir, Sabah Al Ahmed Al Sabah, urged closer ties to confront "complicated" political and economic upheavals. The last summit was in Libya in 2010.