Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL) – With millions of people, predominantly Muslims, in dire conditions in Gaza, questions have arisen about the upcoming Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Summit scheduled for May 4 to 5, 2024, in Banjul, The Gambia.
The meeting aims to gather presidents, kings, sultans, prime ministers, rulers, and other world leaders from the 57 OIC member countries. Despite being rescheduled three times since 2020, The Gambia has assured that all necessary preparations have been made to ensure the success of the summit.
The Gambian government has been working tirelessly to address the ongoing challenges posed by the global pandemic and security concerns, emphasizing the safety and comfort of all delegates. With the support of its international partners, The Gambia is confident that the summit will provide a platform for meaningful discussions and concrete actions to alleviate the suffering of those in Gaza and other regions in need.
Originally scheduled for 2020, The Gambia’s OIC summit was deferred multiple times due to infrastructural projects’ delays, including dual carriageways, a summit hotel, an international conference center, and a VVIP lounge at the Banjul International Airport. However, the conference center and the VVIP lounge were completed a year ago, and other projects are now ready to host the summit.
The decision to hold the summit in Banjul from May 4 to May 5, 2024, was reached after meetings at the highest level with other heads of state and the secretariat. President Adama Barrow’s government has earmarked infrastructural developments to ensure a memorable experience for delegates and improve the lives of people in the country.
The summit’s main objectives include advocating for the unity of the Ummah, addressing challenges faced by Muslims globally, promoting cooperation between prosperous and developed member countries and their counterparts in the Global South, and strengthening unity to collectively address critical challenges facing the Ummah.
The summit’s logo, an acknowledgment of The Gambia’s troubled past under the previous administration and the new hope for justice and prosperity, symbolizes the country’s commitment to the OIC’s goals.
The OIC summit organized periodically brings together 57 member countries heads of state and government from the Muslim world to pick minds on common regional, international and geopolitical interests and strengthen Islamic solidarity.