Source: Government of Qatar
New York | September 22, 2026
The State of Qatar participated today in the joint ministerial meeting for GCC Ministers of Foreign Affairs with the Swiss Confederation, on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.
The State of Qatar was represented in the meeting by HE Director of the GCC Affairs Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Abdullah bin Saif Al Mansouri.
Source: Government of Qatar
New York | September 22, 2026
HE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi met with HE Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The meeting discussed ways to strengthen cooperation between the State of Qatar and IGAD, as well as issues of mutual interest.
Source: Government of Qatar
New York | September 22, 2026
HE Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al Khulaifi has participated in a ministerial meeting involving the State of Qatar, the United Mexican States, the Kingdom of Norway and the Swiss Confederation on strengthening cooperation in preventive diplomacy, mediation and conflict resolution.
The meeting was held on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
In his remarks, HE the Minister of State said the meeting was taking place at a time of deepening geopolitical divisions and escalating armed conflicts, underscoring the growing importance of mediation among all parties in such circumstances.
He stressed that the four countries share a firm commitment to the UN Charter and the peaceful settlement of disputes.
His Excellency also commended the Group of Friends of Mediation, co-chaired by the Republic of Turkiye and the Republic of Finland, for its role in mobilizing support for the United Nations’ efforts to prevent the outbreak of conflicts.
HE Al Khulaifi said Qatar’s mediation efforts have, over the years, extended to nearly every continent, ranging from securing the release of hostages to resolving conflicts, negotiating political settlements and helping countries reach diplomatic understandings.
In this context, he noted that Qatar is currently working with the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to de-escalate tensions between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States, safeguard freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, and promote peace and stability across the region.
Source: Government of Qatar
New York | September 22, 2026
HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani has participated in a coordination meeting of the foreign ministers of the Group of Eight Arab-Islamic States concerned with Gaza.
The meeting was held on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The meeting reviewed the latest developments in the Gaza Strip, with particular focus on the roadmap for completing the implementation of HE US President Donald Trump’s comprehensive plan to end the conflict in the Strip.
Source: Government of South Africa
South Africans urged to honour the past, build the future
South Africans are urged to use the lessons of history to strengthen democracy, defend freedom and build a more inclusive future.
This was the rallying call made by Deputy Minister in the Presidency Kenny Morolong during the North West launch of the Milestones of Freedom campaign.
Morolong noted that the yearlong programme provides an opportunity for citizens to reflect on the country’s democratic journey while acknowledging the work that remains to address poverty, inequality and unemployment.
“This campaign is being commemorated…under the theme ‘Honouring the Past. Delivering the Future’. This theme perfectly captures the journey we have travelled as a nation: from the struggle against injustice to the struggle to continuously solidify are democratic gains.
“Throughout this year, we have visited provinces and communities to mobilise citizens to celebrate the gains, achievements and milestones of our 32 years of democracy.
“We have done this mindful of the challenges that still beset many of our communities. Mindful that the legacy of our past continues to live with us. Mindful of the work that still needs to be done to break away from all our socioeconomic challenges mainly based on a tripod of poverty, inequality and unemployment,” Morolong said.
The provincial launch is part of the broader rollout of the Milestones of Freedom Campaign which was launched by President Cyril Ramaphosa in June this year.
The campaign brings together four significant milestones in the South Africa’s path to democracy.
These are:
“The Milestones of Freedom Campaign serves to remind us our past is vitally important because every historic occurrence we commemorate, shaped the democratic future we now inherit.
“When we remember the Constitution, the 1976 youth uprising, the 1956 Women’s March and the trauma of forced removals, we are not merely looking backwards. We are gathering the moral strength to defend freedom, deepen democracy and deliver dignity to every South African,” the Deputy Minister said.
The forced removals
Morolong noted that communities across the country, including Makweteng in North West, suffered under apartheid-era legislation like the Group Areas Act.
“To remember Makweteng is therefore to remember that forced removals were not only a District Six story; they were a national wound felt deeply here in the North West, and they remain part of the memory we must use to defend justice, dignity and redress,” he said.
The Deputy Minister highlighted that the democratic government has sought to address the devastating consequences of forced removals through land restitution.
He noted that between 1998 and 2024, government settled 83 205 land claims nationally with 3981 claims settled in the North West.
“As government we remain determined to heal the wounds of the past and to build a bridge to a better tomorrow for all.
“The restoration of land and the handover of title deeds contributes to healing, dignity, socio-economic justice for our nation. Just and equitable land restitution remains a crucial instrument to redress historical dispossession, restore dignity and foster social cohesion,” he said.
Furthermore, government has invested some R58 billion in land purchases, grants and financial compensation supporting 376 976 beneficiaries across the country.
Turning to gains made since the advent of democracy, Morolong cited government’s work in expanding access to sanitation, electricity, water, housing and social protection.
He noted that access to improved sanitation nationally has increased from 61.7% in 2002 to 84% in 2025, while in North West it rose from 54.1% to 78.8% over the same period.
Additionally, household access to electricity increased from 76.7% nationally in 2002 to 90.6% in 2025, while North West recorded growth from 82% to 90.9%.
“These gains matter because they show that the living circumstances of our people have changed.
“This did not happen by chance or through divine intervention. It happened because democracy created the constitutional, institutional and policy instruments to undo the evils of the past and restore hope and dignity to all,” he emphasised.
The women of 1956
The Deputy Minister paid tribute to the women who led the 1956 anti-pass protests, including North West-born struggle stalwarts Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati, Rita Ndzanga and Josie Mpama.
“In recognising these heroines, we are also called upon to strengthen our national memory of the milestones that led to South Africa’s freedom.
“A nation that remembers honestly is better able to teach future generations that democracy was not handed to us, but was won through organised resistance, sacrifice and the courage of ordinary people who chose justice over fear,” he said.
On gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF), Morolong called on men to play a leading role in combating violence against women and children.
“As men, we need to be at the forefront of the fight against GBVF. We have to clearly say not in our name, these criminals do not represent us and are an afront to the struggles that brought this country together.
“We need to state without any equivocation that women…have a right to walk our streets at anytime without any fear of attack,” he said.
1976 Youth uprising
Morolong also honoured the legacy of the youth of 1976, describing them as active participants in the struggle for freedom whose sacrifices continue to inspire efforts to transform education and expand opportunities for young people.
“Their memory must continue to challenge us to invest in young people not as beneficiaries of democracy alone, but as builders of South Africa’s next chapter. Our freedom is not free; it was forged in pain, loss and untold sacrifice,” he said.
“The Milestones of Freedom Campaign therefore calls on us to honour the past, defend the truth of our history, draw strength from the courage of those who came before us, and deliver a better future for everyone,” he said.
Struggle heroes
Before the official ceremony, delegates lead by the Deputy Minister, visited a memorial site where wreaths were laid in remembrance of fallen struggle heroes and heroines.
The ceremony commemorated struggle heroes like Mfana Majova who went to exile at an early age and was later killed by the apartheid security after he had returned home.
Mjova’s family member, Andile Majova told SAnews that the family feels relieved at government recognition at the efforts of heroes who fought for the country’s liberation.
“Today we are enjoying freedom because of his bravery,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za
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Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Siyabulela Christopher Fobosi, Senior Researcher, UNESCO ‘Oliver Tambo’ Chair of Human Rights, University of Fort Hare, University of Fort Hare
Two recent books draw on more than a decade of research into South Africa’s minibus taxi industry. A Fork in the Road? The Formalisation of South Africa’s Minibus Taxi Industry and Blood on the Tar, Hope on the Horizon: South Africa’s Minibus Taxi Industry in Global Perspective examine formalisation, labour precarity, regulation, governance, violence, mobility and social justice. Siyabulela Christopher Fobosi sets out why the two books raise a question: whose knowledge counts when attempting to understand and transform African institutions?
South Africa’s minibus taxi industry is often described through terms such as “informal”, “unregulated”, “illegal” or “difficult to govern”. These descriptions capture some realities. The industry has serious problems, like working conditions, exploitation, violence and conflict.
The labels used to describe the taxi industry can also obscure another reality: that it contains extensive knowledge, organisation and social practices developed by the people who work in and depend on it.
Taxi drivers know their routes. Operators understand the economic pressures of the industry. Marshals, who manage taxi ranks, understand how to coordinate taxis, control queues and direct passenger flows. Commuters understand where the system works and where it fails. Communities know what inaccessible transport means for their everyday lives.
The question is not whether this knowledge should replace scientific, technical or governmental knowledge. It should not. The question is why it is so often treated as less authoritative.
This is where African philosophy and epistemology – the study of knowledge and how it is produced and validated – become particularly relevant.
Take the word “informal”.
In South Africa, the minibus taxi industry is routinely described as part of the informal economy. Yet “informal” can easily become synonymous with being unorganised, backward, temporary or deficient.
An institution can be informal without being disorganised.
The books span sociology, politics, law, social work and infrastructure. They place the taxi industry within broader questions of mobility, inequality, governance and justice.
In Blood on the Tar, Hope on the Horizon I argue that the problems confronting the industry cannot simply be understood as criminality or disorder but must be connected to historical deregulation, economic pressures and failures of governance.
A Fork in the Road examines the formalisation of South Africa’s minibus taxi industry against its historical development, labour relations and relationship with the state.
Rather than treating formalisation as a straightforward technical process, it raises questions about what is gained, what is lost and whose interests are served when an informal institution is brought under greater state regulation.
The industry has associations, social networks, rules, norms, hierarchies and systems of coordination. Its organisation may not always resemble that of the formal institutions through which the state prefers to govern, but this does not mean that organisation is absent.
This distinction matters.
If policymakers begin with the assumption that informal institutions are simply incomplete versions of formal ones, they may overlook the social systems that already make those institutions work.
Instead of asking how to formalise the taxi industry, we might ask what formalisation means in this particular African context. And then, what knowledge already exists within the industry that should inform its transformation.
Formalisation programmes have not always changed what workers experience.
My research into the Taxi Recapitalisation Programme examined its impact on precarious working conditions in the minibus taxi industry in Johannesburg. The programme was designed to phase out old vehicles. It showed that replacing vehicles or introducing formal regulations does not automatically make jobs safer. A policy can change the physical infrastructure of an industry without transforming its social relations.
Institutions are lived and reproduced by people.
Consider a taxi driver who has spent 20 years working in the industry. That driver may not have a university qualification in transport planning, economics or sociology. But they may know a lot from experience.
They may know why passengers choose particular routes, how informal agreements operate, how disputes are managed, how regulations affect work and why certain government interventions succeed while others fail.
A marshal may possess detailed knowledge of how a rank functions. A commuter may know that a technically completed road is still unusable. An operator may understand economic pressures that do not appear in official statistics.
Such knowledge should not automatically be treated as truth. Experience can be partial, contradictory or self-interested. But neither should it be dismissed simply because it was not produced in a university, government office or consultancy.
Recognising people as knowers does not mean accepting everything they say. It means recognising that they have something to contribute to the production of knowledge.
Millions of South Africans depend on the industry for mobility, yet the people who make that mobility possible can remain largely invisible in public policy debates.
Workers may be invisible not only as workers, but also as producers of knowledge.
Their experiences become data collected by someone else. Their stories become evidence interpreted by someone else. Their realities become policy problems defined by someone else.
Mobility determines whether people can reach work, education, healthcare and other opportunities. A transport system can therefore reproduce or reduce inequality.
And if we want to understand that inequality, we need to listen to those who experience it.
African philosophy offers another useful perspective through ubuntu, particularly the work of South African philosopher Mogobe Ramose.
Ubuntu is often reduced to the phrase “I am because we are”. Its deeper philosophical significance concerns relationality: the idea that human existence and flourishing are profoundly connected to relationships with others.
This provides an interesting lens through which to understand the taxi industry.
That Africa should not merely be a place where theories developed elsewhere are applied. African realities can also produce theoretical knowledge.
A Fork in the Road? asks us to reconsider how we understand formalisation, informality, labour and the taxi industry’s place in South Africa’s economy and society.
Blood on the Tar, Hope on the Horizon connects the taxi industry to wider questions of mobility, justice, citizenship, governance and structural inequality. Its comparative perspective also demonstrates that the challenges facing informal public transport are not uniquely South African.
Together, the books suggest that the taxi industry is not simply a transport problem waiting to be solved.
It is also a site from which we can learn about South African society.
It reveals the limits of simple distinctions between formal and informal.
It exposes the difficulties of state-centred approaches to governance.
It shows how social networks can simultaneously create resilience and inequality.
It demonstrates how workers can be economically indispensable while institutionally marginalised.
And it shows why lived experience matters when designing policy.
African philosophy therefore has something important to contribute to contemporary debates about South Africa’s development.
– South Africa’s minibus taxi industry has lessons for policymakers on how informal systems work
– https://theconversation.com/south-africas-minibus-taxi-industry-has-lessons-for-policymakers-on-how-informal-systems-work-291033
Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Julius Maina, Regional Editor East Africa, The Conversation
Seven Ethiopian armed groups have announced a new alliance aimed at overthrowing the government of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
The so-called Ethiopian Peoples’ Forces Alliance for Survival was unveiled in September 2026. It arrives at a time when Abiy is grappling with armed conflict and deepening political and ethnic divisions. There is fighting in the Amhara region between federal forces and local insurgents. Meanwhile, rising tensions in Tigray have sparked fears of renewed war. These are only two flashpoints in a sea of political divisions that war, elections and national dialogue have so far failed to heal.
The Conversation Africa has published extensively on Ethiopia’s attempts to hold the country together. Here are five essential reads.
Ethiopia launched a national dialogue process in 2022 after a stop to a two-year war in Tigray. The process aims to address the grievances that have led to decades of political instability and violence.
Some political actors have been left out of the process, however. They include armed groups like the Oromo Liberation Army, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front and the Amhara Fano. Yet they are central to ongoing conflicts. They have now become part of the alliance of seven groups against Abiy’s government.
In a recent paper, Dereje Melese Liyew examined why the dialogue process is facing a crisis. He explains its weaknesses and what this means for Ethiopia’s efforts to resolve political conflicts without resorting to violence.
Read more: Ethiopia’s national dialogue was meant to heal the nation, but divisions are deepening
Abiy’s arrival in power in 2018 brought hopes of more political freedom. Political prisoners were released and restrictions on the media were eased.
But a stable democratic settlement didn’t follow. And the interventions weren’t Ethiopia’s first attempt at democratic governance. A culture of solving political differences with conflict, the absence of strong political institutions and ethnic polarisation have led to disagreements about the Ethiopian state.
Terefe Gebreyesus has examined what Ethiopia needs to get democracy right. In his view, four things are missing: sustained economic growth, political elites committed to democratic rules, independent political institutions, and international pressure.
Read more: Ethiopia’s two bids at democracy have failed: what it will take to succeed
One reason building a common political future has been so difficult is that Ethiopians do not share a common interpretation of their past.
Political movements have repeatedly drawn on competing ideas about the state, ethnicity, marginalisation and national identity. These histories shape present-day arguments over how Ethiopia should be organised.
Ethiopia needs a new rallying point instead of recycling its painful past, argues Mohammed Girma. He notes that returning to contested historical narratives can be divisive. Ethiopia instead needs a shared political project that can bring its different communities together.
Read more: Ethiopia needs a new rallying point instead of recycling its painful past
Debates about Ethiopia’s political future frequently focus on the enormous power of the prime minister. Would term limits help address this?
Under Ethiopia’s system, prime ministers get their authority from parliament. They remain in office for as long as a majority in parliament is willing to support them. There are no fixed term limits.
However, limiting an individual leader’s time in office cannot by itself make democratic institutions stronger. The deeper issue is how political power is organised and constrained, says Alemayehu Fentaw Weldemariam, who has studied Ethiopia’s constitutional design and law.
He argues that meaningful political competition and mechanisms that make the government accountable matter alongside rules for how long a leader can remain in office.
Amid political fragmentation, Ethiopian leaders have sought symbols capable of creating a shared sense of national purpose. The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam has been one of the most prominent.
The massive hydroelectric project was formally initiated by Meles Zenawi. He served as president of Ethiopia from 1991 to 1995, and as prime minister from 1995 until his death in 2012. And as early as the 1950s, Emperor Haile Selassie recognised the potential of a dam for Ethiopia’s developmental needs.
But can a development project create political unity? Namhla Thando Matshanda notes that the dam offers a rare potential rallying point in a country where competing visions of national identity have repeatedly fuelled political tensions.
Read more: Ethiopia has struggled to build national unity: can its big new dam deliver it?
– Ethiopia’s armed opposition unites against Abiy Ahmed: 5 reads on the country’s political struggles
– https://theconversation.com/ethiopias-armed-opposition-unites-against-abiy-ahmed-5-reads-on-the-countrys-political-struggles-292619
Source: Government of South Africa
South Africa will not be moved in defence of UN Charter – Lamola
By Dikeledi Molobela
New York, USA – South Africa will continue to defend the principles of the United Nations Charter, international law and multilateralism, despite the challenges associated with taking a stand on global conflicts.
International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola said this on Monday while addressing a special event, “We Shall Not Be Moved: A Special Event in Honour of the UN Charter,” at The Riverside Church, in New York.
Lamola said South Africa’s own liberation struggle has demonstrated the power of international solidarity.
He said the country’s commitment to international law was reflected in its decision to approach the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the United Nations (UN) principal judicial organ, over Israel’s alleged violations of the Genocide Convention.
“When we approached the ICJ, the UN’s principal judicial organ, to challenge Israel’s violation of the Genocide Convention, we did so as part of our commitment to upholding and defending international law and multilateral institutions,” Lamola said.
He said South Africa had taken the action because it understood the impact that global solidarity had played in ending apartheid.
“In so doing, we summoned the same global solidarity that broke apartheid in South Africa to help dismantle the apartheid under which Palestinians continue to live.”
Lamola used the historic significance of The Riverside Church to frame South Africa’s current position on international peace and justice.
He recalled that civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his “Beyond Vietnam” speech at the church on 4 April 1967, while former President Nelson Mandela addressed a crowd at the same venue shortly after his release from prison in 1990.
Lamola said both leaders’ messages remained relevant to the current global environment.
“Sadly, as we gather here today, the words of Dr King and President Mandela speak to our times with renewed urgency,” he said.
Turning to the situation in Palestine, Lamola said Palestinians continued to face severe suffering, while Israel’s actions were threatening prospects for a two-State solution.
“For Palestinians, the age of freedom is yet to dawn. The hour of peace is yet to strike.
“And every day, Israel’s actions – the annexation of Palestinian land, the destruction of their means of life, and wanton violence in Gaza and the West Bank – threaten to crush all prospects for a two-state solution,” he said.
He said South Africa could not ignore what was happening to Palestinians.
“This is why we cannot afford to bury international law.”
He also pointed to the destruction of hospitals, schools, sanitation and water infrastructure in Gaza, and cited the psychological impact of the conflict on children.
Defending multilateralism
The Minister said South Africa’s position forms part of a broader commitment to strengthening the multilateral system and the principles underpinning the UN Charter.
“More than 80 years since its adoption, the UN Charter’s principles of fundamental human rights, the dignity and worth of every person, and the equal rights of nations, large and small, are more important than ever,” he said.
Lamola said the Hague Group represented countries working together to uphold an international order based on the rule of law.
“The Hague Group embodies that solidarity, camaraderie and shared conviction that concrete action is needed to uphold an international order based on the rule of law.”
He also linked the defence of multilateralism to broader global challenges, including inequality, the international financial architecture, climate change and Africa’s representation in global institutions.
“African countries are under-represented in institutions where decisions affecting our future are made,” Lamola said.
He said the international community is also facing major conflict and humanitarian crises, including in Sudan, the Middle East and the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, while the Russia-Ukraine conflict continues.
‘Silence is not golden’
The Minister acknowledged that South Africa’s position has attracted questions about whether the country should instead focus on domestic socioeconomic challenges or avoid confrontation with powerful states.
He said South Africa had nevertheless chosen to act based on its historical experience of international solidarity.
“But we choose to act because silence is not golden. In the face of grave injustice, silence is complicity.”
He said South Africa’s experience of the anti-apartheid struggle had created an obligation to support other people facing oppression.
“As one of the 20th century’s greatest beneficiaries of international solidarity, we have no choice but to act despite trial and challenges we face as a result of our choice to act in defence of humanity,” the Minister said.
He said countries supporting the cause were growing in number and reaffirmed South Africa’s determination to continue advocating for international law, peace and justice.
“Today we declare that indeed we are many. Our numbers are growing. We will not move. We shall not be moved,” Lamola said.
He concluded by invoking the historic resistance of the people of Sophiatown to apartheid-era forced removals.
“Let me conclude by borrowing another rallying cry from the people of Sophiatown, South Africa, who, a little over 70 years ago, took racial segregation head-on and declared in the face of apartheid’s bulldozers: We will not move. Ons Dak Nie. Ons Phola Hier. Amandla!” – SAnews.gov.za
DikelediM
Source: Government of South Africa
South Africa, Vietnam relations will go ‘from strength to strength’ – DM Morolong
Deputy Minister in the Presidency Kenny Morolong has hailed relations between South Africa and Vietnam, noting that the relationship will only strengthen in the future.
The Deputy Minister delivered an address on Monday in Pretoria, during the 81st anniversary of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
“We are confident that in the coming years and decades, relations between South Africa and Vietnam will continue to grow from strength to strength, to the mutual benefit of the peoples of our two countries and the regions we find ourselves in.
“In these turbulent times, when the international arena is marked by uncertainty and rapid change, South Africa and Vietnam stand stronger when they stand together. By joining hands, our two nations can chart a course through shifting global currents with confidence and clarity,” Morolong said.
The Deputy Minister added that country-to-country cooperation allows “our voices to ensure that our perspectives are heard in multilateral forums, and to safeguard our shared interests”.
“It enables us to turn challenges into opportunities: expanding trade, deepening political dialogue, and building resilience against global shocks.
“Together, South Africa and Vietnam can transform uncertainty into a platform for innovation and solidarity, proving that partnership is the surest compass in navigating an unpredictable world,” he said.
Deepening relations
South Africa and Vietnam share long-held diplomatic relations dating back to the dawn of democracy in 1993.
Most recently, President Cyril Ramaphosa embarked on an Official State Visit to the country in 2025.
“We have together established an Inter-Governmental Partnership Forum for Economic, Trade, Scientific, Technical and Cultural Co-operation aimed at facilitating cooperation in areas of mutual interest in 2004.
“In October 2025…we have both agreed to elevate our bilateral ties to a Strategic Partnership. This milestone introduced a qualitative transformation in government-to-government engagement.
“This renewed engagement is marked by deeper political dialogue, strengthened economic and sectoral cooperation, and the establishment of more structured mechanisms for coordination purposes,” Morolong said.
He described 2025 as a representation of “culmination of decades of effort between South Africa and Vietnam to deepen and broaden our ties”, which ensured that the two countries’ shifts towards a “genuine partnership that delivers tangible benefits for the peoples of both nations”.
The Deputy Minister noted that at the regional and multilateral level, South Africa’s “engagement with Vietnam is increasingly situated within the broader context of South Africa’s expanding interaction” with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region.
“The ASEAN Sectoral Dialogue Partner status has created additional platforms for political dialogue and cooperation in Southeast Asia. Vietnam’s active role within ASEAN further enhances its significance as a gateway partner for South Africa’s regional objectives.
“Concurrently, Vietnam has intensified its engagement with BRICS, including through participation in the Partner Country Model, reflecting converging interests in reforming global governance and strengthening South–South cooperation.
“These intersecting dynamics underscore Vietnam’s growing strategic relevance to South Africa across bilateral, regional and plurilateral dimensions, further reinforcing the need for sustained and appropriately resourced diplomatic engagement,” Morolong said. – SAnews.gov.za
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Source: Government of Qatar
New York, September 22, 2026
The Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar, the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, the Republic of Indonesia, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Republic of Türkiye, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia met in New York on 21 September 2026, on the margins of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
The Ministers express deep concern over the continued humanitarian suffering in Gaza and call upon Israel to immediately fulfil its outstanding commitments under the First Phase of the Comprehensive Plan, including by ensuring the immediate, safe and unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance and Early Recovery supplies, and facilitating the rehabilitation of critical infrastructure. They stress the imperative of preserving the ceasefire and ending all violations.
The Ministers stress that the Road Map constitutes an integral part of the Comprehensive Plan and provides the implementation framework for advancing its Second Phase, including decommissioning alongside full Israeli withdrawal, the deployment of the International Stabilization Force (ISF), the assumption by the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG) of its responsibilities throughout the Gaza Strip, and the launch of Early Recovery and Reconstruction across Gaza. They call on all parties to fulfil their respective commitments in good faith and without delay.
The Ministers reiterate their categorical rejection of any measures aimed at the expulsion or the forced displacement of the Palestinian people from their homeland or attempts to alter the territorial or demographic character of the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
They deplore in this context the illegal measures aimed at consolidating Israeli control and annexation, including the accelerating settlement expansion, land confiscation, demolition of Palestinian homes, settler violence and terrorism, and forced displacement, and called for their immediate reversal. They express grave concern over measures undermining the historical and legal Status Quo of the Muslim and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem.
The Ministers welcome the recent measures taken by the United Kingdom, as well as broader national and European efforts, in response to illegal Israeli settlement activity, including measures to halt trade with illegal Israeli settlements and call for further effective measures to end settlement expansion and ensure accountability for settler violence.
They also emphasize that Gaza must remain an integral part of the Palestinian territory and reaffirm that the implementation of the Comprehensive Plan must contribute to the reunification of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip, and to a credible and irreversible pathway towards the exercise of the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and the realization of a sovereign, viable, and independent Palestinian State with East Jerusalem as its capital, through the implementation of the two-state solution.
The Ministers commend the leadership of President Donald J. Trump and underscore the indispensable role of the United States in ensuring the implementation of the Comprehensive Plan. They call for sustained and active US engagement to ensure that all parties, including Israel, fulfil their commitments and obligations and to overcome obstacles to the implementation of the Road Map. They stress that tangible progress on the ground will strengthen the credibility of the Board of Peace and the authority of the plan and create deeply needed momentum.
The Ministers reaffirm their readiness to continue working collectively with the United States, the Board of Peace, the Palestinian Authority and all relevant parties to advance the full implementation of the Comprehensive Plan and its Road Map, alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people, fulfil their right to self-determination and independent statehood and achieve just, lasting and comprehensive peace in the region.
