Yaoundé, Cameroon – 30 August 2024: Upon instructions of His Excellency Ambassador Berik Aryn, the Director General of the Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS), Mr. Abdula Manafi Mutualo, Chief Multilateral Affairs Officer, represented the Organization at in the 50th Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation ( OIC ), being held in Yaoundé, Republic of Cameroon, that was from 29 to 30 August 2024. This year’s Session was themed: “Developing Intra-OIC Transportation and Communication Infrastructure: Key Instrument for Combating Poverty and Insecurity.”
His Excellency the Prime Minister of the Republic of Cameroon, Dr. Joseph Dion Ngute, on behalf of the President of the Republic of Cameroon, opened and closed the two-day deliberations that were presided over by H.E. Mr. Lejeune Mbella Mbella, Minister of External Relations of the Republic of Cameroon, who received such role transferred by the Chairman of 49th CFM, H.E. Mr. Mohamed Salem Ould Merzoug, Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania.
A Ministerial Brainstorming Session on the theme: “Developing Intra-OIC Transportation and Communication Infrastructure: Key Instrument for Combating Poverty and Insecurity” was held on the first day, and participating Member States highlighted their views on how to advance such agenda within the OIC geography, and some of them mentioned the critical role that robust transportation and communication infrastructure play in fostering economic cooperation and ensuring food security across OIC Member States.
Among the more than 100 resolutions that were adopted by the 50th CFM, it is to be highlighted the decision of launching the OIC Food Security Day that is to be celebrated on every 11th of December, the day that the IOFS was established in 2013.
Additionally, the Ministerial Meeting welcomed the idea of initiating the IOFS Gene Bank to be hosted by the Republic of Kazakhstan to serve all Member States, as well as the establishment of a Regional Center for Training and Guidance on the application of good agricultural practices for Member States and promoting awareness of agricultural insurance among the Member States, as proposed by the State of Qatar.
The Session brought together Foreign Ministers from OIC Member States, as well as representatives of OIC Institutions, to discuss a wide range of topics, including political issues, the Palestinian cause, economic affairs, science and technology, cultural and social matters, and humanitarian concerns.
It should be noted that the meeting also marked the 50th anniversary of Cameroon’s accession to the OIC in 1974, adding a historic dimension to the event, which in its Declaration, welcomed the kind offer of the Republic of Turkiye to host the 51st CFM in 2025.
