Qatar has named a new ambassador to Egypt as the two countries continue to improve bilateral ties. The office of Qatar Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani announced on Thursday that Salem bin Mubarak Al Shafi will serve as the country’s new ambassador to Cairo, a month after Egypt followed Riyadh in naming a new ambassador to Doha for the first time since joining the blockade of the island state in 2017. The UAE and Bahrain are yet to follow suit.

Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the UAE all severed diplomatic ties with Qatar in 2017 and blockaded the country over its alleged support for terrorism and interference abroad. The rift now seems to have ended after the countries agreed to normalize relations earlier this year. Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry has since met with his Qatari counterpart in Cairo and President Abdel Fattah El Sisi for an official visit to Doha. The story got coverage in Reuters.

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Ethiopia said the second filling of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) was carried out in line with the 2015 Declaration of Principles signed with Egypt and Sudan: Ethiopian Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen Hassen drove this point home during a meeting with his Algerian counterpart Ramtane Lamamra in Addis Ababa, Sputnik news reports. Ethiopia also called on Algeria to play a role in correcting misconceptions by the Arab League over GERD. Ethiopia has completed the second filling of GERD despite warnings from Egypt and Sudan.

Lamamra was also in Cairo yesterday for an official visit to discuss bilateral ties, and met with Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry (watch, runtime 9:25) after wrapping up his visits to Ethiopia then to Sudan. Algeria’s potential involvement in GERD negotiations was also on the airwaves, with Sada El Balad’s Ahmed Moussa referring to unconfirmed reports of Algeria’s mediation (watch, runtime 2:57).

Egypt, France pledge to support Tunisia: Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian said their countries support Tunisian in its efforts to achieve stability and resolve its economic crisis, Egypt’s foreign ministry said in a statement. During a phone call on Thursday the two ministers agreed to support Tunisia’s institutions and emphasized the importance of respecting the democratic will of the people. Shoukry also discussed the importance of reaching a fair agreement with Ethiopia over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, and ensuring that a Lebanese government capable of undertaking economic reforms can soon be formed.