Impeccable sources close to the Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) have told this Medium that the Islamic Republic of Pakistan will be hosting the 2022 OIC Summit of Presidents and Heads of State.
The decision to move the Summit to Pakistan is anchored on Gambia’s lack of adequate Infrastructure to host the Summit this year.
Our source revealed that a team of OIC officials who recently concluded a visit to the country to assess the state of infrastructural development the country embarked on ahead of the Summit observed that most of the projects earmarked for the conference are at infancy and will not be ready for the Summit in December 2022.
“Last year’s summit was held in Chad (Africa Group), this year will be in Pakistan (Asia Group), and next year is scheduled for Mauritania (Arab Group),” our source revealed.
“OIC is yet to announce this decision officially, but I can confidently tell you that this year’s OIC Summit of Presidents and Heads of State will be hosted in Pakistan,” one source with knowledge of the Summit told Alkamba Times.
This Medium also contacted the OIC Secretariat in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to shed light on the development. Unfortunately, one official who described himself as Muhammed declined to speak, informing our reporter that they would get back to him.
The Information, Publicity, and Brand Director of the OIC-Gambia Secretariat, Nfally Fadera, vehemently denied that the OIC Summit had been rescheduled to Pakistan.
He told TAT The Gambia may not be able to host the Summit this year but still reserves the hosting right to do so either in 2023 or 2024.
“Whosoever your source may be, they got it all wrong. The Gambia is still the rightful host country of the next OIC Heads of State and Government Summit, i.e., the 15th Islamic Summit. Any report or claim that suggests the contrary is “fake news” and alternative facts,” the OIC mouthpiece defended.
He added: “Through our permanent diplomatic mission at the OIC Jeddah Secretariat, I can assure you that The Gambia enjoys the fullest support of the Secretary-General and all member countries, especially the Africa Group, on whose behalf we are hosting. Additionally, just last week, our CEO of the Gambia OIC Secretariat, Mr. Yankuba Dibba, met with the Secretary-General and all the ambassadors of the member countries in Jeddah. They have all expressed the same sentiments.”
The Gambia is making considerable efforts to successfully host the high-profile OIC Presidential Summit with a string of new infrastructural developments, covering roads, hotels, and new airport infrastructure bolstering the country’s commitment to bring the OIC to Banjul.
