Ambassador Boukary Savadogo, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Burkina Faso to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), visited the International Islamic Fiqh Academy in Jeddah on Wednesday, 15 Rajab 1446, corresponding to 15 January 2025. This visit came as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen cooperation and partnership between the Republic of Burkina Faso and the Academy.

Upon his arrival, Ambassador Boukary Savadogo was received by H.E. Prof. Koutoub Moustapha Sano, Secretary General of the Academy, who thanked him for this visit, expressing his deep gratitude and appreciation to the Republic of Burkina Faso for its continuous support and patronage to the Academy. The Secretary General then gave a brief overview of the Academy’s activities, and programs, including efforts to counter extremism and terrorism by promoting moderation, coexistence, and tolerance among different religions. His Excellency also said that the Academy has some of the Ummah’s best and most trusted scholars, and one of the Academy’s objectives is to reinforce cooperation with OIC Member States, by signing memoranda and working together to hold specialized conferences and seminars on issues of concern.

In his turn, the Ambassador expressed his great pleasure to visit the Academy and his thanks and appreciation to the Secretary General for the warm welcome, stressing his country’s keenness to establish strong and sustainable relations with the Academy and benefit from its outstanding expertise in addressing many religious, intellectual and social issues, expressing his hope to strengthen collaboration and coordination between the Academy and Burkina Faso in co-organizing intellectual events inside and outside Burkina Faso. He also emphasized on the necessity to promote collaboration and partnership between Academy’s and Burkina Faso’s scholars and experts to support the government’s efforts to combat extremist ideologies and intolerance among followers of different religions and to promote social cohesion and constructive dialogue among them. The esteemed guest expressed his expectation that the Academy will play a pivotal role in the forthcoming international conference organized by the Republic of Burkina Faso under the title of “Promoting Interfaith Dialogue”, as he wished His Excellency would play an important role in this forthcoming international conference.

His Excellency the Ambassador concluded the visit by recording his feelings in the Book of Honors, where he wrote: “I was pleased to meet with the Secretary General of the Academy. The meeting allowed us to share ideas and reaffirm our commitment to the important goals of the Academy. We appreciate the support and guidance from His Excellency, and I want to extend my thanks to the scholars and experts who work hard every day to promote moderate Islam and encourage harmony in our communities. Islam is a peaceful faith, and Burkina Faso wants to promote its authentic teachings.”

The meeting was attended by Mr. Mohamed Mondher Chouk, Director of Cabinet and Protocols, Mr. Mohamed Adnan Al-Fehri, Director of Administrative and Financial Affairs, and Mr. Amjad Ibrahim Mustafa, Head of Protocols.