Kenya and the League of Arab States are stepping up efforts to strengthen Africa–Middle East diplomatic cooperation through specialised training, knowledge exchange and institutional capacity building for foreign policy practitioners.
The five-day programme, co-hosted by the League of Arab States Mission in Nairobi and Kenya’s Foreign Service Academy, opened on Monday, September 28, 2026, bringing together diplomats and foreign policy practitioners for the second edition of the “Diplomacy in the Middle East Region” training programme, which runs until October 2.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Foreign Service Academy Deputy Director-General and Head of Policy, Research and Strategic Analysis Ibrahim Mustapha said the programme would help strengthen participants’ understanding of the Middle East and enhance Kenya’s capacity for effective diplomatic engagement with the region.
Mustapha welcomed the continued collaboration with the League of Arab States, highlighting the importance of understanding the Middle East through its historical, social, cultural, political and economic experiences.
He urged participants to use the training to deepen their knowledge of the region and better understand the geopolitical dynamics influencing relations between Africa and the Middle East.
The programme provides a platform for participants to exchange experiences, examine regional developments and discuss diplomatic approaches that could contribute to stronger cooperation between the two regions.
It also draws on the institutional experience of the League of Arab States, established in 1945, offering participants insights into the political, economic, social and cultural dynamics shaping the Arab region.
Technical assistance and institutional development are central components of the programme, reflecting the growing emphasis on strengthening professional capacity within African diplomatic institutions.
The opening ceremony also recognised the contribution of the Arab Fund for Technical Assistance, which supports capacity building in African countries through economic, human-resource and technical assistance.
The event brought together Ambassador Ashraf Mowafi, former Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Egypt; Sherin Imam, Minister Plenipotentiary at the League of Arab States Mission in Nairobi; and Abdinour Adem Nour, Deputy Head of the League of Arab States, alongside officials and participants from the Foreign Service Academy.
The second edition of the programme highlights the continuing institutional partnership between Kenya and the League of Arab States and comes as African countries seek to strengthen diplomatic expertise on the Middle East amid evolving political, economic and strategic relations between the two regions.
