Morrocan media reported that Foreign Minister Mamadou Tangara was in the North African country to seek its support for Gambia’s new bid to host the second biggest gathering of world leaders, second only to United Nations.
According to North Africa Post, a Morocco-based English language newspaper focusing on North Africa and Middle East, The Gambia is seeking the support of King Mohammed VI for its bid to host the summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in 2022.
President Adama Barrow sent to Rabat his top diplomat Mamadou Tangara carrying a personal message for the Moroccan sovereign.
The Gambian envoy was received on Monday by Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita to whom he handed the presidential message destined for the Moroccan Monarch, according to the paper.
Speaking to journalists after his meeting with Bourita, Tangara said the message requests Morocco’s support for hosting the OIC summit.
“In principle, Gambia should host this summit next November but given the current situation and constraints, we asked that the turn of the Gambia be postponed till 2022 in a bid to prepare it well”, Tangara was quoted as saying.
“We seek the support of HM King Mohammed VI on this matter” he added, expressing his country’s gratitude to Morocco for its unconditional support and Gambia’s willingness to work jointly with the North African Kingdom.
The Gambian government backs Morocco on fundamental issues, especially the Sahara issue, underlined Mamadou Tangara, affirming that his country’s stand has not changed since independence.
He also praised Morocco’s noteworthy actions carried out in the African continent and the positive role it plays at the African Union, hailing the African policy advocated by King Mohammed VI for the sake of African people.
The Gambia should host the OIC summit in 2019 but due to challenges unexplained by the authorities the country gave its hosting rights to Saudi Arabia.