The 15th Islamic Summit Conference in Banjul, Gambia, saw Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal Bin Farhan reaffirming Saudi Arabia’s commitment to restructuring, developing, and reforming the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to address regional and international challenges. Representing King Salman, Prince Faisal reiterated the Kingdom’s call for an immediate and lasting ceasefire in the ongoing Israeli attacks on Palestinians. He emphasized the OIC’s role as the voice and conscience of the Islamic nation in advocating for the Palestinian cause and striving to end the injustice faced by the Palestinian people.
Prince Faisal expressed his disappointment over the failure of the UN Security Council and the international community to halt the unprecedented Israeli attacks that have resulted in the indiscriminate shelling, destruction of hospitals, schools, shelters, and infrastructure in Gaza, causing harm to thousands of innocent civilians, including children, women, and the elderly. Saudi Arabia, in collaboration with other nations, has been working tirelessly to protect civilians and provide relief in Palestine.
During its previous OIC presidency, Saudi Arabia made efforts to strengthen Islamic cooperation, unite positions, and respond positively to common threats. The Kingdom has taken a firm stance against provocative acts towards Islamic symbols, desecration of the Qur’an, acts of hatred, racism, and Islamophobia. Prince Faisal highlighted the importance of uniting Muslims and enhancing the OIC’s role in conflict resolution, regional and global security.
On other regional issues, Prince Faisal stressed the importance of supporting peace efforts in Yemen for a comprehensive political solution to alleviate the suffering of the Yemeni people and support their economic and developmental aspirations. He also emphasized the significance of Syria’s stability, unity, and security, along with efforts to combat terrorism, armed militias, and drug smuggling to create a safe environment for the return of Syrian refugees.
Addressing the situations in Sudan, Libya, and Somalia, the minister underscored the importance of preserving Sudan’s unity and sovereignty, ensuring the preservation of state institutions to protect the country’s resources and prevent a bleak future. He also highlighted Libya’s right to elect a unified national government for security and stability, free from militias and mercenaries, to reclaim its influential role in the Arab and Islamic region. In Somalia, Prince Faisal emphasized the need to uphold the country’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and regional safety in accordance with international law, expressing hope that the lifting of the arms embargo by the UN Security Council would contribute to peace, stability, and security in the country.
In conclusion, Prince Faisal reiterated Saudi Arabia’s consistent stance on the importance of restructuring and reforming the OIC to effectively meet regional and international challenges. He called for joint Islamic action with a strong political will to reform the organization and position it as a leading intergovernmental entity, second only to the UN. The Kingdom continues to work towards promoting unity, dialogue, and sustainable development within the Islamic community to address pressing issues and achieve peace and stability in the region.
