Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), held an expanded meeting with Ambassadors of African ICESCO Member States accredited to the Kingdom of Morocco. The meeting took place on Tuesday, 18 August 2026, at ICESCO Headquarters in Rabat, and focused on prospects for strengthening strategic cooperation.

The meeting was attended by Mr. Mouhamadou Youssifou, Ambassador of Cameroon to Morocco, Dean of the African Diplomatic Corps in Rabat; Mr. Hassan Adoum Bakhit Haggar, Ambassador of the Republic of Chad; Mr. Joseph Ahanhanzo, Ambassador of the Republic of Benin; Mr. Foday Malang, Ambassador of the Republic of The Gambia; Mr. Adam Umar Bako, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; Mr. Alhaji Momodu Koroma, Ambassador of the Republic of Sierra Leone; and Mr. Messan Amakoé Klutse, Chargé d’Affaires a.i. of the Embassy of the Republic of Togo, in addition to representatives of the Ambassadors of Niger, Guinea, Burkina Faso, and Côte d’Ivoire.

Dr. AlMalik emphasized that the first such meeting reflects ICESCO’s commitment to strengthening cooperation with its African Member States, which the Organization considers a priority. He noted that African countries account for 16 of ICESCO’s Member States and highlighted the many pioneering programs and activities implemented across these countries in education, science, the environment, culture, heritage preservation, Arabic-language teaching for non-Arabic speakers, the promotion of peace values, capacity building for youth and women, and investment in space sciences and their applications.

Dr. AlMalik further explained that, in line with its strategy, ICESCO has adopted an approach centered on engaging with National Commissions to develop programs and initiatives that respond to the aspirations and needs of its Member States. He added that the Organization takes pride in the presence of African professionals among its staff and looks forward to attracting more African talent in the future.

The Director-General also underscored the importance of Member States fulfilling their annual financial contributions to ICESCO’s budget to ensure the Organization’s sustained ability to implement its programs and initiatives across the Islamic world.

For their part, the Ambassadors commended ICESCO’s contributions to developing and implementing initiatives and programs tailored to the specific needs of its Member States, as well as the modernization efforts undertaken by the Organization in recent years. They reaffirmed their countries’ full engagement in ICESCO’s activities and readiness to support its efforts.

The meeting also featured presentations by several Heads of Sectors and Centers on key milestones in ICESCO-Africa cooperation in recent years, as well as initiatives and programs proposed for implementation in the coming period.