JEDDAH: Niger Ambassador Ali Dieye recently called on Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Hissein Brahim Taha in Jeddah.

The envoy presented credentials in his capacity as the permanent representative of the West African country to the OIC.

The secretary-general congratulated the new permanent representative and assured him of the cooperation of the OIC General Secretariat in the accomplishment of his mission.

He also reiterated his high appreciation of the active role Niger has played in the OIC and joint Islamic action.

The ambassador affirmed his country’s support to the OIC.

The two parties also discussed ways and means of strengthening relations between the OIC and the Republic of Niger.

The OIC chief met Niger President Mohamed Bazoum in Niamey last month. The meeting was held within the framework of the secretary-general’s tour of OIC member countries from the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin.

During the meeting, they reviewed aspects of cooperation between Niger and the OIC, and ways to enhance joint Islamic action and solidarity.

Taha thanked Niger, in its capacity as the chair of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the OIC, for its efforts in supporting the organization’s projects, especially the establishment of the regional mission for the Sahel and Lake Chad in Niger.

Bazoum also affirmed Niger’s readiness to support the activities of the organization, calling on member states and institutions of the group to contribute to finding solutions to the security challenges and food crises facing the Sahel, which lies between the Sahara to the north and the Sudanian savanna to the south.

Having a semi-arid climate, the Sahel stretches across the south-central latitudes of northern Africa between the Atlantic Ocean and the Red Sea.