OIC welcomes convening of Conference on Security Situation in Sahel

Dr. Yousef Al Othaimeen, Secretary-General of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, OIC, has expressed his satisfaction at the convening of the regional conference on the security situation in the Sahel and in West Africa, which was held in Bamako this week.

In a statement on OIC website, Dr. Othaimeen said that the security challenge linked to terrorism was turning into a real major concern and obstacle with seriously adverse effects on development in Africa in general and more particularly in the Sahel region, which forms a transitional zone between the arid Sahara to the north and the belt of humid savannas to the south.

He called on the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, as well as on all the states in the Sahel and West Africa region, to coordinate their efforts at all levels in order to eradicate the phenomenon of terrorism.

The OIC Secretary-General reiterated the organisation’s firm stance against violence and terrorism in all its forms, regardless of its origin. He also encouraged ECOWAS to pursue its establishment of a follow-up committee for the implementation of the plan of action, and asserted the OIC’s unwavering support for all initiatives aimed at combating terrorism.