On March 6, 2020, Dakar, the capital of Senegal, hosted the conclusion of the fourth edition of the International Forum for Civil Society Organizations in OIC Member States, an event that culminated in the issuance of the historic Dakar Declaration. The international organization « ANA » played a prominent and influential role through the participation of its Secretary-General, Baki Ben Amer.
He actively contributed to discussions aimed at unifying civil society efforts across African and Islamic spheres and addressing the various challenges threatening the stability of nations and their overarching institutions.
The forum’s objectives and discussions centered on critical strategic issues, foremost among them countering attempts to undermine the unity of the *Ummah* (the global Muslim community) and resisting efforts to infiltrate its entities or bypass its legitimate representative organizations by creating alternative or parallel frameworks. Participants also focused on deconstructing the roots of underdevelopment and diagnosing its political and intellectual causes to propose sustainable solutions for development and advancement.
Furthermore, the agenda emphasized activating the consultative status of civil society organizations within the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), formulating a robust media strategy to combat Islamophobia, and monitoring the situation of Muslim minorities worldwide.
The forum drew high-level participation, bringing together over two hundred figures representing approximately thirty-five countries. The proceedings were held under the high patronage of Senegalese President Macky Sall—represented by the Speaker of the Senegalese Parliament—and featured the distinguished presence of the First Lady of the Republic of Guinea (Conakry).
The conference proceedings were also attended by former Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohamed El-Orabi; human rights activist and politician Zein El-Sadat; the Saudi Ambassador to Dakar; and a distinguished group of scholars, thinkers, and representatives from major religious institutions—such as Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, Al-Zaytouna, and Al-Qarawiyyin—alongside leaders of civil society and human rights organizations.
In his address to the forum, Baki Ben Amer, Secretary-General of the « ANA » organization, emphasized that the gathering of this elite group in West Africa marks a pivotal step toward fortifying joint Islamic-African efforts against attempts at fragmentation and polarization. He stressed that safeguarding state stability and upholding the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) as the sole, unifying reference point is a non-negotiable duty in the face of any parallel initiatives seeking to sow division.
Ben Amer added that the recommendations of the Dakar Declaration provide a solid foundation for activating civil society and harnessing its potential to counter hate speech and defend the dignity of Muslims and the rights of minorities, noting that close coordination between civil society actors and member states is the true guarantee for successfully achieving progress, development, and social peace.
