Dr. Salim AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), began his visit to Senegal with a meeting with Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko. During his visit, Dr. AlMalik participated in the closing ceremony of the Fourth Session of the Quranic Schools.

During the meeting held on Monday, March 30, 2026, in Dakar, the two sides discussed areas of mutual cooperation and ways to strengthen the partnership between ICESCO and Senegal in education, culture, and science.

Mr. Sonko commended ICESCO’s programs and projects that benefit Senegal, emphasizing the importance of developing this cooperation and building a distinguished strategic partnership that serves national priorities in these fields.

For his part, Dr. AlMalik affirmed that Senegal is one of ICESCO’s distinguished Member States and praised the level of existing cooperation between the two sides.

Mr. Sonko also reaffirmed his country’s commitment to settling its arrears, thereby enabling it to benefit more fully from ICESCO’s programs and opportunities.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Dr. AlMalik reaffirmed ICESCO’s commitment to supporting joint programs and ICESCO’s interest in strengthening the role of Quranic Schools and implementing the recommendations issued by the Fourth Session of the Quranic Schools.

Senegal’s Minister of National Education, Mr. Moustapha Mamba Guirassy, attended the meeting.