Nine heads of state to attend next Arab summit

Only nine Arab heads of state are expected to attend the upcoming Arab summit scheduled for 25 and 26 July in the Mauritanian capital Nouakchott, while some 13 heads of states said they will not be able to attend, sources familiar with the summit have said.

Fayez Al-Sarraj, head of Libya’s national unity government, will participate for the first time in the summit.

Turkey’s Anadolu news agency quoted unnamed sources as saying that a ruler in the emirates, three prime ministers, a parliament speaker and three foreign ministers will lead delegations of their countries.

Spokesman for the Arab League Secretary-General Mahmoud Afifi expected at a press conference in Nouakchott on Friday evening ten to fifteen kings, princes and presidents to attend the summit without giving further details.