Millions of Gambians and non-Gambians are left in limbo as to the date for the Organisation of Islamic Conference summit in The Gambia.

At least 57 Muslim countries across the world are due to gather in The Gambia for an Islamic and economic summit schedule for 2022.

Speaking at a news conference, Yankuba Dibba, chief of Gambia OIC, said member states are negotiating the date, but insisted the summit will take place in The Gambia 

“Naturally this is an issue for all members of the OIC, but the OIC is not a one-person thing, it is a whole organisation of 57 countries. Obviously 57 countries have to be part of any decision with regards to date.

“What is not in doubt is that following the [OIC] secretary general visit to The Gambia, there is no doubt that the summit will be held in The Gambia. But we all know the volatility of the world situation; things can move dramatically within 24 hours,” Dibba said.

“In 2022, nobody predicted the Covid, we all know the devastating effect Covid had and continues to have on the world economy. Again, nobody predicted 120 days ago that there would be a Ukraine war, this has affected so many things.

“The things we are dealing with are infrastructure and most of the things we require in infrastructural development requires supply, and as you might have known supply chains all over the world have been affected. 

“So, the date is not cast in any stone, the dates are flexible in the sense that they can be discussed, they can be renegotiated but that goes through a process and that process is still on.

“As I said I am not in any position now to tell you precisely what the date will be. This is being worked out within and among the different principals of the Ummah. But what is not in doubt is that the summit will take place in The Gambia,” he added.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba