Elfaki will be based in The Gambia, and replaced Muhammed Mumin Mahmud Ebrimi, whose term ended in October 2015.
The international NGO has its headquarters in Sudan and runs offices in The Gambia, Senegal, Guinea Bissau, Guinea Conakry, Sierra Leone, Mauritania and Liberia.
Shortly after his arrival in The Gambia, Mr Elfaki told the The Point at his office in Kotu that he was happy the government created an enabling environment for Munazamat Al-Dawa Al-Islamia to work with Gambians, to help in improving living conditions through Islamic values.
Mr Elfaki, who had 26 years working experience, revealed that the NGO has been operating in Africa since 1992, and he also had the opportunity to work with the organisation in different fields.
He added that he was appointed this year as the new regional director.
“We are here in The Gambia to partner with the government and support them to develop a better life for the people and in Africa, especially the Muslim Umah (community),” he said.
Munazamat has been operating in Africa since 1992 and Elfaki, who has 26-year work experience, said he had the opportunity to work with the organisation in different fields and capacities.
He thanked the government and people of The Gambia for hosting Munazamat Al-Dawa Al-Islamia, and allowing the NGO to operate in The Gambia, as well as hosting the regional centre.
He said he would reveal his plans and activities for The Gambia and other African countries as soon he settled down.
“I need some time to see what has been done, and draw up my plans for the coming years with my staff,” he said.
He commended the outgoing former regional director, Muhammed Mumin Mahmud Ebrimi, for his exemplary leadership role during his time serving in The Gambia, and for accomplishing all his development projects in The Gambia and the other six African countries.
Mr Elameer Elfaki, who started working with the NGO in Sudan, has also worked in South Sudan for eight years.
“I came here to replace Mr Mumin to start new development projects, and complete his unfinished development project,” he said.
He visited The Gambia in 2013, he said, adding that he met with the country’s Vice President who had “good and nice words” about his organization.
He plans to meet her again, he said.
Elfaki said his NGO has good working relations with key government institutions, such as the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education and the Ministry of Health.
“This is why for 20 years now, The Gambia is hosting the regional centre of the NGO,” he said.
On 1 October 2015, he added, Dr Omar Sey, Minister of Health and Social Welfare, laid the foundation stone of two multi-million dalasi health centre projects at Jabang village in the West Coast Region (WCR) and Abuko village in the Kanifing Municipality.
The projects were sponsored by the Manazamat Al-Dawa Al-Islamia estimated to the tune of US$40,000 for the Jabang health centre, and for the Abuko health centre to the tune of US$157,000, he said.
It would be recalled that in March 2008, the Secretary-General of Manazamat Al-Dawa Al-Islamia, Sheikh Mohamed Ali Al-Amin, was in The Gambia on a three-day official visit.
Sheikh Mohamed Ali Al-Amin is the Chief Executive of the parent body headquartered in the Republic of Sudan, and part of his visit was to familiarise himself with Munazamat’s activities within the West African region.
These include activities undertaken by the Munazamat regional office in The Gambia, as well as meeting with the relevant authorities to solicit the Gambian government’s continuing support for the regional office in the implementation of its projects.
Mr Al-Amin also visited the Brusubi and Tanjie mosque projects, as well as Munazamat’s school in Kotu, and graced the graduation ceremony of students of Munazamat’s non-formal Islamic education classes for women.
