Arab League

The Alexandria Protocol was signed in October 1944 to establish the framework for the formation of the Arab League.

Sudan became a member of the Arab League on 19 January 1956, just two weeks after gaining independence from the United Kingdom and Egypt.

The Arab League was established in Cairo on March 22, 1945, as a regional organization of Arab states in the Middle East and parts of Africa, with the aim of strengthening and coordinating political, cultural, economic, and social programs among its member states.

The Cultural Treaty of the Arab League was established in November 1946 to promote cultural cooperation among Arab countries.

The Arab League strongly opposed the creation of the state of Israel and five of the six Arab League countries invaded when Israel declared independence. The war resulted in a defeat for the Arab League countries and is known as the 'Nakba' or catastrophe in Arabic.

On April 13, 1950, an agreement on joint defense and economic cooperation was signed by Arab League member states, committing them to coordinate military defense measures and enhance economic cooperation.

In 1956, the League of Arab States ratified an agreement focusing on facilitating commercial transactions, payments, and the movement of capital among its member states, aiming to boost economic cooperation within the Arab world.

In 1957, the Economic Council of the League of Arab States ratified an agreement establishing a common table of tariffs among member states, aiming to streamline trade policies and promote economic integration within the Arab League.

Morocco and Tunisia joined the Arab League on 1 October 1958, two years after gaining independence.

Kuwait became a member of the Arab League on 20 July 1961, just 31 days after gaining independence, becoming the first Asian state to join the League after the founding states.

The Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) was established during the first Palestinian National Council meeting in East Jerusalem on 2 June 1964, initiated by the Arab League.

After a significant defeat by Israel in 1967, the Arab League issued the Khartoum Resolution, known for its three 'nos': no peace with Israel, no recognition of Israel, no negotiations with it.

ALECSO was established in 1970 as an associated institution of the Arab League to focus on educational, cultural, and scientific initiatives in the Arab world. It plays a key role in promoting literacy, preserving cultural heritage, and fostering exchanges among member states.

In 1971, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Qatar, and Bahrain joined the Arab League.

At the Sixth Arab Summit in 1973, the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa was established, with its headquarters located in Khartoum, Sudan.

The Palestinian Liberation Organisation joined the Arab League on 9 September 1976, with its seat later assumed by the State of Palestine following the declaration of independence in 1988.

Djibouti became a member of the Arab League on 4 September 1977, just two months after gaining independence from France.

After Egypt signed a peace treaty with Israel on March 26, 1979, the Arab League suspended Egypt's membership. Egypt was later reinstated as a member in 1989.

In 1984, the Agreement on the Facilitation and Development of Trade Between Arab Countries was approved, aiming to enhance trade relations among Arab nations.

In May 1989, Egypt was readmitted to the Arab League after Arab League states restored diplomatic relations with the country. The League's headquarters were moved back to Cairo in September 1990.

North and South Yemen unified on 22 May 1990.

In 1991, Egypt was re-admitted into the League of Arab States, reinstating its membership in the regional organization.

In 1997, the League of Arab States expressed disapproval towards the Gulf Cooperation Council's choice to lift the secondary and tertiary trade embargo on Israel. The League emphasized that only the Council of the Arab League holds the authority to alter such policies, and individual member states should not make independent decisions in this regard.

At the Beirut Summit on 28 March 2002, the Arab League adopted the Arab Peace Initiative, a Saudi-inspired peace plan aimed at resolving the Arab-Israeli conflict through various conditions.

In 2004, the Arab League formally incorporated international human rights law into its conventions, signaling a commitment to upholding human rights standards within the organization. This move was further solidified when the Arab Charter on Human Rights was ratified in 2008.

The Greater Arab Free Trade Area (GAFTA) agreement was set to be completed by January 1, 2008, making 95% of all Arab products tax-free of customs. This agreement aimed to boost economic cooperation and trade among Arab League member states.

Libya was suspended from the Arab League on 22 February 2011 due to the Libyan Civil War and the use of military force against civilians, making it the second country in the League's history to have a frozen membership.

The Arab League suspends Libya from its membership due to President Muammar al-Gaddafi's regime using military force against protesters.

On 20 September 2011, the Arab Parliament recommended suspension of Syria over reports of violence against regime opponents during the Arab Spring.

The League passed a decree on 12 November 2011 to suspend Syria's membership if the government failed to stop violence against civilian protesters amidst the uprising.

Syria was suspended from the Arab League on 16 November 2011 in the aftermath of the Syrian Civil War.

In 2012, the Arab League urged Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to resign from his position due to the ongoing conflict in Syria. This move reflected the league's stance on the Syrian crisis and its support for the opposition.

As of July 1, 2013, the states of the Arab League had a total population of about 359 million people, with Egypt being the most populous member state and Comoros being the least populated.

The Arab League announced the creation of a Joint Arab Force to combat extremism and other threats to Arab States. This initiative aimed to enhance security and stability in the region.

On 15 April 2018, the Arab League passed a resolution calling on Turkish forces to withdraw from Afrin in response to the Turkish invasion of northern Syria aimed at ousting U.S.-backed Syrian Kurds.

On 12 October 2019, the Arab League met in Cairo to discuss the Turkish offensive into north-eastern Syria and voted to condemn it as an 'invasion' and an 'aggression' against an Arab state, citing a violation of international law.

In April 2021, the Arab League requested Somalia to conduct postponed presidential and parliamentary elections.

During the period between 2020 and 2022, the Arab League issued calls to action on major regional concerns, including urging reforms to address Lebanon's financial crisis and advocating for peaceful resolutions to conflicts in Libya, Syria, and Yemen.

Syria was readmitted to the Arab League on May 7, 2023.

As of November 21, 2023, the Arab League continues to exist with 22 member states in Africa and Asia. It works on various projects and policies in military, political, economic, and cultural realms.

Ahmed Aboul Gheit took over as the Secretary-General of the Arab League in March 2024. He has been in this position since 2016.