Kuwaiti Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Sabah said that his country was keen on assisting African nations, in appreciation of their role played during tough times and to improve Arab relations with Africa. He was speaking from the residence of HH the Amir earlier on Sunday evening, after attending meetings with several African leaders, during the Kuwaiti delegation’s visit as a guest of honor and observer at the African Union Assembly meeting in Addis Ababa.

“We would like to thank the African Union and the head of the current session for their kind invitation to HH the Amir to attend the African Union Assembly’s19th session. “There is no doubt that Kuwait will host the Arab-African Summit, ahead of this occasion HH the Amir was happy to attend today as an honorary guest and deliver a speech to welcome African leaders to Kuwait in 2013.”

“HH the Amir’s speech focused on more than one issue, and its contents were a clear message of gratitude and appreciation to the member nations of the African Union for standing beside Kuwait during tough times,” said Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled, also Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs. He noted that the efforts of the state-founded Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development(KFAED), which operates in 48 countries in the African Union out of a total 50, emphasizing that this presence was solely aimed at improving the infrastructure of these nations.

Roads, communications, education and health were other issues in Africa, Kuwait is keen to support, he added. In admiration of the beautiful architectural structure of the Africa Hall – where the talks were hosted – “the Amir said Kuwait would be donating a generous sum, aimed at providing the building with any additional requirements needed.”

“During the many meetings held earlier this morning and evening, the Kuwait Fund has signed five agreements with several African nations, after necessary revision, for the execution of a number of projects,” he noted. The separate meetings, with African leaders held on the sidelines of the event, are aimed at enhancing Arab-African relations, he said, and Kuwait’s role in preparing for the upcoming gathering of these two regions.

Five African countries have received loans worth a total of around $ 67-70 million from the state-founded Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development, Abdulwahab Al-Bader, Director General said yesterday. “We (KFAED) have taken the opportunity to sign agreements with five nations while His Highness the Amir of Kuwait (Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah) is in the country (Ethiopia) to attend the 19th African Union Assembly as guest of honor. These countries are Uganda, Ethiopia, Lesotho, Senegal, and Kenya,” he told KUNA in an interview earlier.

“These agreements relate to development projects the fund agreed upon with these countries earlier, which would be signed today,” he said during the signing ceremonies at Africa Hall, the headquarters of the African Union. When asked about the nature of these loans, Al-Bader said they fund varied projects, namely for building roads, schools, a dam, where Lesotho is concerned.

After signing on behalf of his country, the President of Senegal Macky Sall told KUNA that the loan was will be utilized to build a key road in Dakar worth $ 17.5 million. “I would like to express my thanks to the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and affirm that our two countries are working closely. “As you know, Senegal was very involved during the Gulf war and we lost a lot of (Senegalese) people. Kuwait cooperates very nicely and generously with Senegal – we appreciate that, and aim to provide an added boost to these relations.”

The Prime Minister of Lesotho Tom Thabane said, “This is not the first time we have this kind of cooperation with Kuwait. We have had a special and very close association with Kuwait.” ” I think that what has happened here today once again is one more step in a very healthy relationship that we have to keep up.” Lesotho is developing its water resources, and Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) will support building a dam, worth millions of dollars, in the African country, he added.

“Our king was there (Kuwait) and his visit made him very happy indeed. We will go back and tell him about what happened here today, and he will be very delighted. Our people stand to benefit greatly from this cooperation and we can only hope that this is not the last time.”