Arab League vote to bring Syria into its fold after 12-year suspension

Arab government representatives in Cairo on Sunday voted to return Syria to the Arab League after a 12-year suspension.

The vote in the Egyptian capital came days after regional top diplomats met in Jordan to discuss a roadmap to return Syria to the Arab fold as the conflict continues to de-escalate, and soon before Saudi Arabia hosts the upcoming Arab League Summit on May 19.

The decision for Syria to return also includes a commitment to ongoing dialogue with Arab governments to gradually reach a political solution to the conflict, in line with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2254.

The Arab League in the decision also set up a communications committee consisting of Saudi Arabia and Syria's neighbours Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq to follow up on developments.

There is still no Arab consensus on normalisation with Damascus. Several governments did not attend the meeting.