Ahmed Aboul Gheit re-elected Arab League Secretary-General

The Arab League leaders have traditionally come from Egypt

Secretary-General of the Arab League Ahmed Aboul Gheit chairs the Arab Foreign Ministers 153rd annual meeting at the Arab League headquarters in the Egyptian capital Cairo. AFP

Ahmed Aboul Gheit will remain as Secretary General of the Arab League after his term was renewed by Arab foreign ministers.

Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El Sisi nominated Mr Gheit for a second five-year term back in January.

Mr Aboul Gheit, 78, took over as leader of the 22-member League in March 2016, succeeding veteran diplomat and international law expert Nabil El Araby.

Mr Gheit's renewed leadership continues a long tradition of the league's secretary's coming from Egypt.

Founded in 1945, the Arab League has been criticised in the past for ineffectiveness during regional disputes and crises.