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Heads of State and Government from 43 member countries of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) have strongly condemned Israel’s aggression against Qatar and reaffirmed their support for the Gulf nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The condemnation came in the final communiqué of the 15th September Doha Emergency Arab-Islamic Summit, which also urged the international community to hold Israel accountable for its actions and enforce United Nations Security Council resolutions on a ceasefire, humanitarian aid, and the establishment of a Palestinian state.
Representing Sierra Leone at the summit, Ambassador Mohamed S. Barrie, the country’s Permanent Representative to the OIC and Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, conveyed President Julius Maada Bio’s solidarity with Qatar. He condemned the attack in strong terms, stressing Sierra Leone’s commitment to peaceful conflict resolution. “We unequivocally condemn the act of aggression by the State of Israel, and reiterate our unwavering support for the independence, sovereignty, and security of the State of Qatar,” Ambassador Barrie said.
In his opening remarks, His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of Qatar, described the Israeli attack on a residential area which left six people dead and 18 injured as a “cowardly terrorist act.” He vowed that Qatar would take all necessary measures to protect its sovereignty and national security.
The Secretary-General of the OIC, H.E. Hussein Ibrahim Taha, expressed the organization’s full solidarity with Qatar, while the Secretary-General of the Arab League, H.E. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, warned that Israel’s actions posed a serious threat to regional stability.
He further called for an immediate cessation of hostilities, respect for Qatar’s territorial integrity, an impartial international investigation into the incident, and urgent intervention by the UN Security Council.
On the sidelines of the summit, Ambassador Barrie held discussions with His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, on strengthening bilateral relations between Sierra Leone and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia—an engagement that underscores Sierra Leone’s commitment to deepening ties with regional partners.
