Where is the OIC?

It is sad and rather shameful that the Islamic Ummah is largely unable to deal with the worst humanitarian crisis in the Muslim world. Look at what is happening in GAZA, Sudan, Yemen, Northern Nigeria and in the Sahel States, in Lebanon, Syria, Myanmar, and elsewhere in the world. The Arab world is divided. The OIC is hopelessly looking at all this crisis in the Muslim world and there does not seem to be any headway in finding resolutions to the problems. There is so much hypocrisy in the international arena that the world cannot be united on justice, peace, security and development. As Lincoln once said, “my heart trembles when I reflect that there is a God of justice and his justice does not sleep.” It is a belief that when a people have a need and yearn for peace and that felt need cannot be fulfilled, time and circumstances will produce a situation from Allah that will send a powerful signal to humanity. This world is rapidly moving towards a satanic world. When peace is sidelined in the conscience of men then the world is in trouble. The role of the OIC in these troubling times is critical to finding peace in the Islamic ummah. In this connection, the Gambia that is holding the Chair of the OIC must flex its diplomatic muscles to call for an emergency meeting of the organisation with the support of some key member states to address the crisis facing member states in a united and committed manner. The Gambia was acclaimed for her role in finding a solution to the Iraq/Iran war under the leadership of the former President Jawara. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia could be a suitable venue for the OIC Emergency Summit in which all member states at heads of states level should be urged to attend. This will enhance the country’s image in the Islamic world. The Islamic world cannot remain largely divided on finding peace in the Ummah. Such a move is all the more justifiable when taken into account that His Excellency President Barrow was awarded the African Peace Champion. It is therefore, both logical and necessary for the Gambia to take a strong lead in finding peaceful resolutions to the conflicts and humanitarian crises the Islamic countries continue to live with constantly. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. There is the urgent need for the current Chairmanship of the OIC to employ high diplomacy to engage with member states at a round table meeting on the crisis situation faced by the Muslim world around the world. The Islamic ummah and particularly the Arab world, is the most endowed with wealth on the face of the earth. Wealth is power and power can move Nations from underdevelopment to development, from poverty to prosperity and from weakness to strength. One sees this state power manifested by global leaders in the world on various international issues. It is therefore, incomprehensible that the OIC with all its wealth and power has become an enemy of itself and could not confront the challenges of the crisis it is faced with in the world. Islam calls for peace and that member states of the OIC are under obligation to ensure a resilient and united Islamic Ummah for peace and humanity. A determined effort to end the sufferings in the Islamic world is the moral imperative and religious duty bound of the OIC. The organisation should come out of its contradictory state on the humanitarian and economic and injustices concerns of the Muslim world populations.