Indonesia Calls for OIC Reform, Offers to Become an ‘Oasis of Peace’

Baghdad, MINA – Indonesian Deputy Foreign Minister Muhammad Anis Matta has called for reforms to make the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) more effective in resolving conflicts and strengthening peace among member states, declaring Indonesia’s readiness to serve as an “oasis of peace” for the Islamic world.

Anis delivered the message in Indonesia’s national statement at the 52nd OIC Council of Foreign Ministers Conference in Baghdad, Iraq, held on October 17–18, 2026.

“The OIC needs to have a special mechanism to resolve disputes among its member states. Indonesia can be an oasis of peace for OIC member countries,” Anis said in his statement, quoted on Monday.

He said the continuing conflicts across the Islamic world should serve as an impetus to strengthen the organization’s role and institutional capacity. Reform, he added, should begin with a shared vision that brings together the political, social, cultural and economic potential of Muslim-majority countries.

Anis emphasized that such efforts must be supported by a common development roadmap and effective mechanisms for resolving differences through peaceful means.

At the conference, he reaffirmed that Palestine remains the OIC’s highest priority, urging member states to move beyond political declarations and translate their support into coordinated action across diplomatic, legal, political and humanitarian fields.

“Palestine will remain the OIC’s top priority. The OIC must be more operational in unifying political, diplomatic, legal, and humanitarian efforts to support Palestine,” he stressed.

Indonesia also called for increased humanitarian assistance for Palestinians, an end to the expansion of illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, and opposition to relocating embassies to Al-Quds Al-Sharif, or Jerusalem.

On the sidelines of the conference, Anis held bilateral and multilateral meetings to strengthen Indonesia’s partnerships with OIC member states and other strategic partners.

In a meeting with D-8 Secretary-General Sohail Mahmood, the two discussed Indonesia’s leadership in the Developing Eight economic cooperation organization for the 2026–2027 period.

Their discussions covered economic and trade integration, cooperation among think tanks, research and innovation, tourism, and preparations for the 12th D-8 Summit, scheduled to take place in Indonesia in 2027.

The OIC is an intergovernmental organization comprising 57 member states. It seeks to promote solidarity and cooperation among its members and address issues affecting Muslim communities worldwide.

However, divisions among member states and difficulties in coordinating collective responses have challenged the organization’s ability to address conflicts and humanitarian crises, including the Palestinian issue.

Indonesia’s proposal for a special mechanism to resolve disputes reflects its call for stronger institutional cooperation and more practical measures to prevent and manage conflicts within the Islamic world.

The Baghdad conference provided a platform for member states to discuss Palestine, regional conflicts and ways to strengthen cooperation. Indonesia’s call for reform underscored the need to translate shared commitments into coordinated action, particularly in addressing the Palestinian crisis and promoting peaceful relations among OIC members.[]

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)