Azerbaijan to host 16th Islamic summit in 2026

Azerbaijan is set to assume the chairmanship of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) during the 16th Islamic Summit, scheduled to take place in the country in 2026.

On May 4, 2024, during the 15th summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in The Gambia, it was announced that the 16th Islamic Summit of the OIC would be held in Azerbaijan in 2026, Caliber.Az reports per local media.

Note that, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, originally established as the Organization of Islamic Conference in 1969, has evolved significantly in its mandate to bolster solidarity and safeguard the rights of the Islamic world.

The organization was born out of a historic Islamic Summit held in Rabat from September 22-25, 1969, in response to the arson attack on Al-Aqsa Mosque – Islam’s third-holiest site – by an Australian extremist on August 21, 1969. The incident spurred Muslim nations to rally behind a united front.

In March 1970, at the first meeting of the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs, the Office of the Secretariat General was established, with a Secretary General appointed, and its headquarters set in Jeddah pending the liberation of Jerusalem.

A landmark rebranding occurred at the 38th meeting of the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs in Astana from June 28-30, 2011, when the organization’s name was officially changed to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, reflecting its broader, more dynamic role in addressing contemporary global challenges.

The 15th summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) was held in Banjul, The Gambia on May 4, 2024, where world leaders from the 57 member countries and beyond gathered to address pressing issues facing the Muslim community. The summit, themed “Enhancing unity and solidarity through dialogue for sustainable development,” was inaugurated on Saturday and concluded on Sunday.

Türkiye was represented by Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, and the gathering focused on strengthening collective unity to tackle challenges, including the situation in Palestine and the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip, which had claimed over 34,000 lives.

In addition to addressing global concerns, the summit also aimed to promote domestic economic growth, particularly by revitalizing small and medium enterprises, while showcasing the richness of Gambian and African culture.

During the summit, three key documents—a draft Palestinian resolution, a draft Banjul statement, and a draft final document—were presented to the Council of Foreign Ministers and subsequently discussed, marking a significant step toward unified action among member nations.

By Aghakazim Guliyev