We meet at a time of global uncertainty. My dear brother, we are all affected by the conflicts on our continent, in the Middle East, in Ukraine, and other parts of the world. The conflict that continues in the Sudan is a very troubling one, and we must recognize your efforts as part of IGAD to continue to find ways of resolving this uh this disaster. African countries are feeling the impact of rising fuel prices as a result of the conflict in the Middle East. Our position is clear. Dialogue and diplomacy must prevail over confrontation. South Africa and Kenya share a commitment to multilateralism and peaceful resolution of disputes. We stand for a rules-based international order applied fairly and universally and consistently. South Africa and Kenya continue to play important roles in seeking solutions to conflicts in our respective regions and on our continent, and together our countries have stood firm for dialogue, for reconciliation, and an African-led process to resolve disputes. We remain committed to working side by side within the African Union and the regional organizations that we belong to to prevent conflict, to support peace negotiations, and to strengthen democratic governance. Our continent must speak with one voice on a number of issues that affect the lives of our people and people generally in the world guided by our own interests and aspirations. Partnerships with the world must be based on respect equality and shared prosperity. We reiterate our call for reform of global institutions including the UN Security Council and international financial bodies to better reflect today's realities and give Africa its rightful place.