Hassan Cheruppa

Saudi Gazette



JEDDAH – A high profile fact-finding mission of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) called for an immediate end to all forms of violence against the Muslim minorities who face "large-scale ethnic-religious cleansing” in the Central African Republic (CAR).



During the visit to CAR on April 29-30, the OIC delegation assessed the grave situation of the displaced Muslims and vowed OIC’s full solidarity with them. They held talks with leaders and representatives of a cross section of civil society organizations on ways to end the violence and preserve national unity, according to OIC sources.



The CAR has observer status at the pan-Islamic body.



The high level ministerial delegation, headed by Guinea’s Foreign Minister Lounceny Fall, who chairs the Council of OIC Foreign Ministers, was comprised OIC Secretary-General Iyad Ameen Madani, OIC’s special envoy to CAR Cheikh Tidiane Gadio and some members of the OIC executive committee.



The OIC officials held series of meetings with CAR President Catherine Samba-Panza, Prime Minister Andre Nzapayeke and other high-ranking officials, as well as with the speaker of the transitional parliament, members of parliament, religious leaders and prominent civil society figures.



The delegation had fruitful exchanges with key international partners who briefed it on the security, political and humanitarian situation in the country, the sources said.



The delegation also paid a visit to the central mosque in Bangui to take stock of the pathetic condition of hundreds of displaced Muslims who have been trapped inside the complex.



While underscoring the unity and territorial integrity of CAR, the delegation called for an immediate end to all forms of violence against Muslims. It highlighted the right of Muslims to safety and insisted on the protection of their fundamental rights as citizens of CAR.



The delegation also paid a visit to the neighboring Republic of Congo where it reviewed the crisis with President Denis Sassou Ngesso, who is the regional mediator in the conflict in CAR.



The delegation also visited Chad and held talks with President Idriss Deby Itno, who is also the leader of a regional grouping of central African states.



The visits came in line with a decision by the OIC executive committee meeting on Feb. 20.