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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.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received Dr. Azzedine El Midaoui, Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation in Morocco, on Thursday, 13 August 2026, to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation between the Organization and the Ministry in youth capacity building, education system development, and the integration and use of artificial intelligence technologies in Moroccan universities.

During the meeting, held at ICESCO headquarters in Rabat, Dr. AlMalik reaffirmed the Organization’s commitment to empowering youth and women and strengthening their leadership and creative capacities by attracting outstanding talent and developing a range of programs and projects to enhance their skills in education, science, and culture across its Member States. He also highlighted the far-reaching transformations the Organization has undergone in recent years, positioning it as an innovative institution recognized by one of the world’s leading international organizations in the field of innovation.

Dr. AlMalik commended the Ministry’s efforts to modernize the way universities and educational institutions operate in Morocco, stressing ICESCO’s readiness to work together on initiatives in higher education and scientific research.

For his part, Dr. El Midaoui underscored the importance of cooperation between government institutions and international organizations in promoting the use of modern technologies in higher education. He also emphasized the need to involve universities in modernizing education systems to keep pace with technological developments.

He further commended ICESCO’s efforts to support countries across the Islamic world in advancing their goals in science and innovation.

The meeting was attended by Dr. Sally Mabrouk, Head of the Director-General’s Office and Supervisor of the Strategy and Institutional Excellence Sector; Dr. Yergaliyev Kuanysh, Head of the Science and Environment Sector; and Dr. Issam Karimi, Expert in the same Sector.

On Thursday, 13 August 2026, a delegation of participants and jury members of the Mohammed VI International Prize for the Memorization, Recitation, Tajweed, and Interpretation of the Holy Qur’an visited the International Fair and Museum of the Prophet’s Biography and Islamic Civilization, hosted at the headquarters of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) in Rabat.

The delegation was received by Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General, who commended their efforts in memorizing the Holy Qur’an and caring for its recitation and tajweed.

During the visit, Dr. AlMalik provided an overview of the Fair and Museum and its role in introducing visitors to the life and biography of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, and highlighting the civilizational and human values of Islam through scientific, educational, and interactive content that makes use of the latest digital technologies.

Dr. AlMalik also highlighted the strong turnout the Fair and Museum has attracted since its inauguration in November 2022, noting that more than ten million visitors from diverse backgrounds and nationalities have visited it.

As part of the visit, the delegation toured the Sultan Qaboos Library, where its members explored its modern facilities, publications, and resources, including a collection of rare books and documents. They also learned about its knowledge and technological components and its role in preserving documentary heritage, supporting scientific research, and providing researchers and visitors with access to sources of knowledge.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), and Ambassador Hala Keyrouz, Chargée d’Affaires of the Embassy of the Republic of Lebanon to the Kingdom of Morocco, discussed ways to strengthen cooperation between the Organization and Lebanon in training and youth capacity building, as well as heritage protection.

During the meeting, held on Tuesday, 11 August 2026, at ICESCO headquarters in Rabat, Dr. AlMalik reaffirmed ICESCO’s commitment to advancing its bilateral partnership with Lebanon, given the country’s rich culture and promising youth who can contribute to building a bright future. He reviewed ICESCO’s success stories in advancing education, science and culture through pioneering initiatives and programs, and highlighted the importance of joint cooperation in developing a professional training program for Lebanese students within the specialized sectors, divisions and centers of the Organization, with a view to strengthening their leadership and creative skills.

During the meeting, Dr. AlMalik handed Ms. Keyrouz an official invitation for Dr. Fadi Makki, Lebanon’s Minister of State for Administrative Reform, to attend the “Youth Knowledge Forum,” jointly organized by ICESCO, the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation and the United Nations Development Programme on 7-8 September 2026 at ICESCO headquarters in Rabat. The Forum aims to support youth and foster creativity and innovation in knowledge transfer, dissemination and localization worldwide.

For her part, Ambassador Keyrouz commended ICESCO’s contributions in recent years to fostering innovation and mainstreaming the use of modern technology and artificial intelligence across various fields in its Member States, affirming Lebanon’s readiness to cooperate in developing and implementing a number of activities of common interest.

The meeting was attended from ICESCO by Dr. Sally Mabrouk, Head of the Director-General’s Office, Supervisor of the Strategy and Institutional Excellence Sector.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received Mr. Igor Belyaev Alekseyevich, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the Kingdom of Morocco. The two sides discussed ways to strengthen joint cooperation in youth capacity-building, provide scholarships for students from the Islamic world at Russian universities, and enhance the protection of heritage sites.

During the meeting, held on Tuesday, 11 August 2026, at ICESCO headquarters in Rabat, Dr. AlMalik affirmed that the Organization and Russia share a strong partnership based on mutual respect for the specificities of both the countries of the Islamic world and Russia. He highlighted ICESCO’s role in building bridges of communication, coexistence and cultural exchange between its Member States and the rest of the world, given its in-depth knowledge of their needs and priorities in the fields of education, science and culture.

Furthermore, Dr. AlMalik noted the Organization’s celebration of the city of Kazan, in the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia, as the 2026 Capital of Culture in the Islamic World, and Kazan’s hosting of the 15th session of ICESCO General Conference, with the attendance of His Excellency Rais Rustam Minnikhanov.

Dr. AlMalik underscored the importance of strengthening bilateral cooperation in building the capacities of youth and women and preparing them for future professions, developing space sciences and their applications, and mainstreaming the use of modern technology in cultural and academic fields, in addition to supporting the protection of heritage sites in danger in the Islamic world.

For his part, Ambassador Belyaev commended ICESCO’s efforts to develop and implement activities with tangible impact, reaffirming his country’s readiness to cooperate in developing programs and projects in artificial intelligence, exchanging expertise in the areas of civilizational dialogue, and recruiting Russian talents to work at ICESCO.

During the meeting, the two sides agreed to explore the launch of a joint program to provide scholarships at Russian universities for students from the Islamic world.

The meeting was attended from ICESCO by Dr. Sally Mabrouk, Head of the DG’s Office, Supervisor of the Strategy and Institutional Excellence Sector, Dr. Yergaliyev Kuanysh, Head of the Science and Environment Sector, and Mr. Murad Aliyev, expert at the Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), and Dr. Haja Ramatulai Wurie, Minister of Technical and Higher Education of the Republic of Sierra Leone, discussed ways to strengthen cooperation between the Organization and the Ministry in developing education, building youth capacities, advancing digital transformation, and supporting institutional innovation in Sierra Leone.

During the meeting, held on Tuesday, 4 August 2026, via videoconference, Dr. AlMalik stressed that ICESCO, as part of its strategic vision, seeks to develop initiatives and programs focused on the priorities and specific needs of its Member States. He reviewed the Organization’s contributions to promoting the use of innovation and digital transformation in government institutions and bodies through training programs for ministries in countries of the Islamic world.

Furthermore, Dr. AlMalik underscored ICESCO’s readiness to develop a joint action plan with the Ministry to implement programs and projects in education and youth skills development, in addition to training a number of young talents from Sierra Leone at the Organization’s headquarters in Rabat.

For her part, Dr. Wurie reviewed recent developments in the technical and higher education sector, commending ICESCO’s efforts to support the national objectives of its Member States, particularly in education, and describing the Organization as a strategic partner in education, science, and culture.

She also affirmed the Ministry’s desire to cooperate with ICESCO in developing a joint program to leverage artificial intelligence and modern technologies in schools, expressing her readiness to take part in the Youth Knowledge Forum, to be held by ICESCO, the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation, and the United Nations Development Programme next September in Morocco.

The meeting was attended, from ICESCO, by Dr. Sally Mabrouk, Director of the Director-General’s Office, Supervisor of the Strategy and Institutional Excellence Sector, and Dr. Issam Krimi, Expert at the Science and Environment Sector, and, from the Ministry, by Dr. Mohamed Combo Kamanda, Secretary-General of the Sierra Leone National Commission for UNESCO and ICESCO.