State House, Banjul, 3 May 2024:  President Barrow received a briefing on the Senior Officials and Ministerial Sessions, setting the pace for the Leaders’ Summit this weekend, 4-5 May 2024.   

With less than 24 hours to go, the OIC Secretary General, Mr Hissein Brahim Taha and his team updated His Excellency, President Adama Barrow, as incoming Chairman of OIC, on the Technical and Ministerial meetings at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Center in Bijilo.   

The OIC Secretary-General congratulated and commended President Barrow for the progress since his last visit to The Gambia.  The transformation within the short period demonstrates that despite the challenges, President Barrow accepted The Gambia to host the Summit.   

Secretary-General Taha said, “Since my last visit, the level of development achieved deserved congratulations for setting the way forward for other African states in hosting successful Summits. The ongoing constructions is a good sign for advancement.” 

Receiving the delegation, the President said he was honoured that a long, complex and challenging journey has ended with The Gambia hosting the 15th Summit of the OIC, significant in its history. He thanked member states for their trust and confidence in The Gambia to lead the Organisation.   

Cognisant of the diverse nature of the membership, His Excellency Barrow encouraged the OIC Secretariat to emphasise issues that would unite the Ummah through dialogue.  “The most important things are unity and solidarity amongst the member states, which would make us strong and allow us to achieve what the Ummah wants.”  He said.

The Senior Official and Ministerial Sessions are critical technical meetings in the Summit processes and getting consensus on resolutions on issues affecting the Ummah.   

Additionally, the Gambian President expressed gratitude to the OIC Secretariat in Saudi and the Gambian teams in the Gambia and Saudi for providing the proper support to host the Summit. 

The briefing ended on a high note, with the leadership of the OIC Secretariat giving assurance of their commitment and support to President Barrow during his tenure as Chairman.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad, His Permanent Secretary Lang Yarboe, Ambassador Omar G. Sallah at the Gambian Embassy in Riyadh, Chief Executive Officer of the OIC Secretariat in Banjul, Mr Yankuba Dibba, Staff of the Office of the President amongst others witnessed the briefing.