On Tuesday, the Libyan Foreign Minister of the Parliament-designate government, Abdel-Hadi al-Hwaij, welcomed the Chairman of the Islamic Committee of the International Crescent (ICIC), Ali Mahmoud Buhedma, and Executive Director Mohamed Hamad Elasbali.
The discussion in Benghazi emphasised activating the ICIC, given Libya’s hosting of its headquarters and the importance of strengthening partnerships with relevant institutions.
Efforts and cooperation were underscored, particularly amidst global challenges, to encourage countries to ratify or sign the International Islamic Committee’s agreement, especially as it’s a governmental organisation under the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)
Minister Al-Hwaij commended the chairman’s leadership role and his dedication to the committee’s noble mission, which garnered esteem from member states.
Furthermore, Al-Hwaij stressed the importance of revitalising the committee, with a fresh approach, new structures, members, programmes, aiming to actualise its noble goals. This will be done by restructuring its focus on expertise exchange, best practices activation, and inter-country cooperation to facilitate joint humanitarian efforts and bolster Islamic solidarity.
In another context, Al-Hwaij said that Libya has emerged as the only country to open its doors to Sudanese displaced persons fleeing the ravages of war.
In a joint press conference held with the State Minister for Illegal Migration Affairs, Fathi Al-Tubawi Al-Hwaij discussed the outcomes of the first preparatory meeting for the upcoming African-European Conference on Migration, scheduled for late May in Benghazi under the auspices of Libyan Prime Minister Osama Hammad.
Highlighting the crucial decisions made during the first African Conference held in Benghazi in January 2024, Al-Hwaij emphasised the agreement to convene an African-European conference on May 25, 2024, with the participation of all European states, including non-European Union members.
The Foreign Minister lauded the success of the African Conference, hosted and sponsored by the Libyan government under Prime Minister Hammad’s leadership.
Al-Hwaij also mentioned that Libya, serving as a transit country rather than a source or destination, faces significant challenges, prompting the government to take the initiative for this unique African-European framework meeting.
He emphasised the conference’s importance, aiming for the participation of around 100 countries, including government representatives, parliamentarians, experts, and civil society, totaling approximately 300 participants from both continents and Africans in the diaspora.
