The United Nations is expanding its work with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to respond to worsening crises in Gaza, Sudan, Afghanistan, and beyond. Briefing the Security Council this week, UN Assistant Secretary-General Khaled Khiari said the partnership remains central to efforts that aim to bring peace and protect civilians.
With 57 member states, the OIC holds real weight in regions facing conflict. “The UN values this collaboration—not just as diplomacy, but as a way to help shape real solutions in difficult situations,” Khiari told Council members. He linked the partnership to the UN Charter and the Pact for the Future, a joint plan adopted last year to strengthen multilateral action.
Khiari pointed to joint efforts in Gaza, where the OIC and the League of Arab States backed a recovery and rebuilding plan, and in Sudan, where the bloc supports international mediation and the work of the UN Secretary-General’s envoy, Ramtane Lamamra. The OIC has also remained involved in discussions around Jerusalem, including an annual gathering hosted in Senegal.
In Afghanistan, OIC leaders continue to speak with Taliban officials as part of the UN’s Doha Process. Khiari said their voice, especially on the rights of women and girls, carries weight. In Myanmar, the OIC is pushing with the UN for accountability and the safe, voluntary return of the Rohingya.
The UN and OIC are also working more closely on elections, countering religious hatred, and supporting women’s leadership. A new exchange program and joint counter-terror work are helping solidify the ties.
“As we act on the Pact for the Future,” Khiari said, “this partnership will play a key role in keeping dialogue open, defusing tensions, and finding a way forward.”
