SOUTH AFRICA TO HOST BRICS DEPUTY MINISTERS AND SPECIAL ENVOYS ON THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA

South Africa will host and chair the 9th session of the meeting of BRICS Deputy Ministers and Special Envoys responsible for the Middle East and North Africa from Monday, 24 April to Wednesday, 26 April 2023. The meeting will take place in Cape Town.

The meeting forms part of a series of activities leading up to the BRICS Annual Heads of State Summit, to be held in August 2023 in Gauteng.

The Deputy Ministers and Special Envoys meeting in Cape Town will discuss, amongst other issues, the Middle East Peace Process as well as developments in the Gulf States, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Iraq, Western Sahara and Yemen.

The MENA are regions that have had rich civilisations, cultures and traditions since ancient times, contributing positively to advancements in various facets of life, including science, arts, culture and politics.

 Today, this region is home to more than 500 million inhabitants who live in countries that are heterogeneous in terms of territorial size and levels of development. The region is now at a critical juncture in its history, as its people struggle to contain and resolve persistent conflict, address the challenges of terrorism and extremism.