Qatar hosts Egyptian president after rejecting Buhari’s visit request

The Emir of the state of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, is hosting Egypt President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi on a two-day visit.

This comes days after the monarch turned down President Muhammadu Buhari’s request for a state visit, according to Sahara Reporters.

Peoples Gazette reports that the meeting with the Egyptian leader is fixed for Tuesday and Wednesday, September 13th and 14th according to the Qatar News Agency.

Both leaders are expected to discuss bilateral relations.

“HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani will meet today with HE President of the sisterly Arab Republic of Egypt Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, who will arrive on a two-day official visit to the country. HH the Amir and HE the Egyptian President will discuss at the Amiri Diwan Wednesday the bilateral relations between the two brotherly countries and prospects of enhancing and promoting them in various fields, in addition to the most important issues of concern to both brotherly countries,” a statement read.

Meanwhile, President Fattah El-Sisi’s two-day official visit to Qatar was granted 8 days after Qatari government rejected the proposed dates for Buhari’s visit.

The Federal Government had proposed 11th and 12th September, 2022 for President Buhari to visit the country but the Emir asked for other dates in 2023.

According to SaharaReporters, the Qatar Embassy in Abuja made the Head of State’s position known in a statement released on August 19, noting that the proposed dates for the visit are not suitable.

“The Embassy of the State of Qatar in Abuja presents its compliments to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Regions Department) and with reference to the latte’s Note M 403/2022 dated 12/08/2022 informing that H.E Muhammadu Buhari, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has accepted to visit Qatar on 11-12 September 2022 on invitation of H.H Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar.

“Has the honour to communicate that the proposed dates for the visit are not suitable and kindly request the Nigerian side to propose other dates for the visit during the first quarter of the year 2023.

“The Embassy of the State of Qatar avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Regions Department) the assurance of its highest consideration,” a note verbale sent by the Qatar embassy read.