AU calls for dialogue to solve Gulf crisis

African Union chairperson Alpha Conde on Sunday put himself forward as a mediator in the crisis between Qatar and other Gulf countries, urging dialogue after several African nations also recalled their ambassadors to Doha.
Conde, who is president of Guinea which has close ties to Saudi Arabia, said in a letter to King Salman he had observed with “sadness” the feud between Qatar and its Gulf neighbours, which he described as “brother countries” of his Muslim-majority country.
African nations including Chad, Niger and Senegal have recalled their ambassadors to Doha in recent days, while Mauritania has cut relations entirely.
Saudi Arabia finances the building of mosques, schools and development projects in several majority-Muslim African nations.
Conde offered as AU chairperson to “mediate… in order to find a swift and peaceful solution to this crisis”.
“Only dialogue will allow us to reach a real compromise,” Conde added, while praising the “wisdom” and “know-how” of the Saudi king in battling extremism.