President Buhari arrives in Saudi Arabia for OIC summit
Saudi Arabia is holding a summit of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the second-largest inter-government organisation after the United Nations, amid escalating tensions in the Gulf. Chief on the agenda is how to stop funding of terror organisations across the world by some nations and the escalating threat to global peace by Iran.
Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari is already in Saudi Arabia for the summit and he is expected to render account on the ongoing war against Boko Haram and its sister terror groups in the West African country.
In recent ISIS, ISWAP and Boko Haram have killed thousands and destroyed property worth billions in the West African flank of the continent, forcing international liaisons among affected nations.
In addition to the OIC meeting, the kingdom is also hosting the summits of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the Arab League.
Prime Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser Al Thani will represent Qatar in the OIC summit – titled Makkah Summit: Together for the Future.
Meanwhile, Arab and Muslim heads of state on Friday denounced Iranian actions in the Gulf as destabilizing to regional security and urged that the International community takes “strict measures” against the Iranian regime.
In a gathering in Makkah early Friday, the Arab League heads of nations issued a final communique demanding that the Iranian regime must stop funding terror and to abide by commitments it has made.
The leaders condemned the sabotage of four commercial ships in the Emirates, which has escalated tensions in the region and precipitated a summit in the Muslim holy city.
They asked the international community to stop Iran from obtaining nuclear capabilities.
The final communique also:
• denounced Iranian intervention in the Syrian crisis and its impact on Syria’s unity;
• condemned the launching of Iranian-made ballistic missiles from Yemen toward Saudi Arabia;
• condemned Iran’s interference in the affairs of Bahrain, and its support of terrorist groups there; and
• condemned Iran’s occupation of three islands belonging to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The Gulf and Arab League emergency summits kicked off on Thursday in Makkah for the start of a trio of high-level summits after Saudi Arabian King Salman convened the gatherings earlier this month. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit will be held later Friday, entitled the Makkah Summit: Hand in Hand Towards the Future (Together towards the Future).
OIC Secretary-General Yousef Al-Othaimeen said Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia will be discussed at the Islamic Summit.
He told Saudi TV that all countries share common interests regardless of religion or race. He condemned interference in other countries’ internal affairs.
