The Gambia has called for stronger dialogue, solidarity and international cooperation to address regional conflicts, support Palestinian statehood and advance sustainable development at the 52nd Session of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers in Baghdad, Iraq.

Foreign Affairs Minister Sering Modou Njie led the Gambian delegation to the meeting, held under the theme “Dialogue and Solidarity: Two Fundamental Pillars for Promoting Peace and Sustainable Development”.

Speaking in his capacity as Chair of the 15th Islamic Summit, Minister Njie said dialogue and solidarity were essential to resolving conflicts in the Middle East, stressing that there was no military solution to the region’s crisis.

He urged all parties to de-escalate tensions and called on OIC member states to pursue a comprehensive plan to address the region’s security and political challenges.

He also commended Qatar and Pakistan for their complementary mediation efforts.

On Palestine, Njie called on the international community to end Israeli aggression and reaffirmed The Gambia’s support for Palestinian self-determination and an independent state within the 1967 borders, with Al Quds Al Sharif as its capital.

He rejected changes to the geographical or demographic character of occupied Palestinian territory, including Gaza, and reiterated The Gambia’s commitment to a two-state solution.

He also called for accountability for violations of international law and urged OIC members to mobilise humanitarian assistance and support reconstruction efforts.

The minister updated the meeting on The Gambia’s case against Myanmar at the International Court of Justice over alleged violations of the Genocide Convention against the Rohingya, describing the proceedings as the “Voice of the Islamic Ummah”.

He thanked contributors to the OIC Legal Fund and appealed for further support to help advance the case.

Njie also presented The Gambia’s candidacy of retired Chief Justice Hassan Bubacar Jallow for membership of the OIC Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission, citing his extensive legal experience.

In his closing remarks, the minister called for deeper economic integration, greater investment in young people and women, and stronger cooperation to tackle poverty, underdevelopment, food insecurity and limited technological innovation.

On the sidelines of the meeting, Njie held bilateral talks with counterparts from Indonesia, Azerbaijan and Iraq to strengthen relations. He also signed the Statute of the OIC Humanitarian Fund, an initiative proposed by Qatar to reinforce humanitarian assistance and solidarity among member states.

The Gambian delegation urged OIC members to translate their commitments into practical cooperation to promote peace, security and sustainable development across the Islamic world.

By Adama Makasuba