Within the framework of strengthening relations of cooperation, partnership and coordination between the International Islamic Fiqh Academy (IIFA) and the scientific and religious institutions that are active in the field of studies, research, and fatwas inside and outside the Muslim world, and based on the goals of the Academy, which provides for the encouragement of collective Ijtihad in contemporary life issues and problems with the aim of providing solutions stemming from Islamic Shariah, His Excellency Prof. Koutoub Moustapha Sano, Secretary General of the Academy, signed with His Excellency Dr. Saeed Mohamed Baba Silla, Secretary General of the Union of African Scholars, a strategic cooperation agreement between the two institutions on Wednesday,01 Rajab 1443H, corresponding to 02 February 2022D, remotely via Zoom technology.

This agreement aims to build a strategic partnership in the field of mutual benefit from the scientific and research capabilities and capacities of the two institutions, and the joint study of new developments and contemporary issues in order to direct and rationalize them. The agreement also aims to jointly organize conferences and symposia, hold workshops and training, exchange publications, and represent the two sides in the work of conferences and symposia that are held by each in the field of common interest between them.

Following the signing of the agreement, His Excellency the Secretary General expressed his delight at this cooperation and hoped that this memorandum would usher the beginning of a new phase in the strong and sustainable cooperative relations between the Academy and the Union of African Scholars in the Republic of Mali in order to coordinate efforts and provide effective solutions to the problems of contemporary life, and to all issues of concern to Muslims all over the world. His Excellency affirmed that the Union of African Scholars will find all support and encouragement from the Academy to enable it to clarify the legal rulings on issues and problems of concern to Muslims throughout Africa.

For his part, His Excellency the Secretary General of the Union expressed his great pleasure in concluding this agreement, which will allow the Union to benefit from the enormous capabilities and expertise of the Academy, which will directly benefit the scientific and research outputs of the Union and its ability to perform its role optimally. His Excellency added that he looks forward to the Academy’s Fiqh and scientific support of African Scholars by holding joint specialized symposia with the Academy revolving around the issues and concerns of African countries, in addition to providing intensive training courses throughout the year to develop and raise the level of the Union’s scholars.

In implementation of the terms of the memorandum, the two parties agreed to form a specialized committee to determine aspects of cooperation between them, and ways and mechanisms of implementation according to the conception contained in the memorandum itself, and it has the authority to seek the assistance of whomever it deems appropriate to implement all the terms of the agreement.

The signing ceremony was attended by Dr. Omar Bamba, Executive Director of the Union of African Scholars, Mr. Mohamed Al-Mondher El-Chouk, Director of the Cabinet and Protocol Affairs Department at the Academy, Ms. Sarah Al-Bedewi, Director of Family and Women’s Affairs Department at the Academy, Dr. Abdel Fattah Abnaouf, Director of the Planning and International Cooperation Department at the Academy, Dr. Alhagi Manta Drammeh, Head of the International Cooperation and External Affairs Division at the Academy, and Mr. Mourad TLiLi, Adviser to the Secretary General for Media Affairs.