African and Arab leaders gather in Kuwait amid 'complicated' regional upheavals
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}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.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}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.