Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, Deputy Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met with Dr. Mahamadou Oumar Koné, Minister of Religious Affairs, Worship, and Customs of the Republic of Mali, on Wednesday, 9 July 2025. Also present at the meeting was Mr. Fafré Kamara, Ambassador of Mali to the Kingdom of Morocco, along with their accompanying delegation, to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation between the Organization and the Republic in areas of mutual interest, particularly the preservation and valorization of historical manuscripts and combating extremist ideology.

During the Meeting, which took place at ICESCO Headquarters in Rabat, Dr. Benarafa emphasized the importance of the relationship between ICESCO and the Republic of Mali, reviewing the programs and projects that have been implemented in this regard. Among the most prominent was the organization of the international symposium “Ahmad Baba al-Timbukti: A Model of Civilizational Diplomacy in West Africa,” held in Marrakech, Kingdom of Morocco, to highlight the contributions of African scholars to the culture of the Islamic world and to shed light on the prominent role of Scholar Ahmad Baba al-Timbukti.

The Deputy Director-General of ICESCO also spoke about the Organization’s efforts to preserve, restore, and valorize the historical manuscripts of Timbuktu, including the implementation of a field study to monitor and document the violations and damages these manuscripts have suffered, and the preparation of a detailed project paper for their conservation and preservation, which includes a joint action plan for cataloguing, digitization, and safe storage.

The Meeting also addressed future joint projects, particularly the organization of training courses to combat extremist ideology, including sending personnel from the Republic of Mali to benefit from ICESCO’s expertise in this area, and to learn more about the work of the ICESCO Center for Civilizational Dialogue in supporting cultural diversity and promoting peaceful coexistence.

For his part, the Malian Minister praised ICESCO’s efforts in supporting education, science, and culture in its Member States, affirming his country’s keenness to advance cooperative relations with the Organization in areas of shared interest.

The Meeting concluded with a tour in which Dr. Benarafa accompanied Dr. Mahamadou Oumar Koné and his delegation to the International Exhibition and Museum of the Prophet’s Seerah and Islamic Civilization at ICESCO Headquarters, which has welcomed over 8 million visitors since its public opening in November 2022.