United Nations Deepens Collaboration with Organization of Islamic Cooperation to Address Global Conflicts

Strategic Insights -

The United Nations is intensifying its partnership with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to tackle some of the world's most complex conflicts, including those in Gaza, Sudan, Myanmar, and Afghanistan. In a briefing to the Security Council, Khaled Khiari, Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, emphasized the OIC's indispensable role in promoting peace, upholding international law, and delivering durable political solutions in crisis contexts. The UN values this partnership as an essential component of its efforts to promote durable peace, inclusive governance, and respect for international and human rights law.

Key Takeaways:

  • The United Nations is deepening its collaboration with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to address some of the world's most complex and protracted conflicts.
  • The OIC has 57 member States and five observers, representing a significant political, economic, cultural, and religious constituency.
  • The UN-OIC partnership is aligned with Chapter VIII of the UN Charter, which encourages partnerships with regional organizations in maintaining peace and security, and with the Pact for the Future, adopted by Member States in September to revitalize multilateralism.
  • The two organizations are working together in Gaza, Sudan, Myanmar, and Afghanistan to help resolve crises, including the recent endorsement of a recovery and reconstruction plan and collaboration on the question of Jerusalem.
  • The OIC is playing a key role in the UN-led "Doha Process" in Afghanistan, advocating for the rights of Afghan women and girls, and remains an essential voice in global efforts to ensure a safe, dignified, and voluntary return of the Rohingya to Rakhine state in Myanmar.
  • The UN-OIC partnership is also growing in areas such as elections, counter-terrorism, and combating Islamophobia and religious intolerance, with a new staff exchange program and technical support in these areas.
  • The Assistant Secretary-General emphasized that the UN-OIC partnership will remain critical to defusing tensions, advancing sustainable peace, and reinforcing multilateral norms and principles.

Statistics:

  • 57 member States and 5 observers in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
  • Over two years of war in Sudan, resulting in devastating humanitarian consequences.
  • 2024: The year in which a memorandum of understanding was signed between the UN and OIC on counter-terrorism cooperation.
  • September 2024: The month in which the Pact for the Future was adopted by Member States.

Sources:

  • United Nations Secretary-General's briefing to the Security Council, 24 July 2025.
  • Khaled Khiari, Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East.