Saudi Nominates Its Former Social Minister as Madani’s Replacement

Riyadh, 01 Shafar 1438/01 November 2016 (MINA) – The Secretariat-General of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) announced, in a statement here Monday, that the Secretary General has resigned.

Secretary-general of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Dr. Iyad bin Amin Madani has tendered his resignation, for health reasons, according to a statement from the organisation.

Acording to SPA, Saudi Arabia nominated Yusuf al-Othaimeen, a former minister of social affairs, as Madani’s replacement, both are Saudi nationals, at the post of the Secretary General of the OIC.

From Cairo Xinhua reported that Egypt said on Monday evening that the country supported Saudi Arabia’s nomination of its former social affairs minister Youssef bin Ahmed Al-Othaimeen as the new chief of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

“Egypt voices its support of the Saudi nominee for the new post out of appreciation of the important role played by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in supporting the activities of the OIC,” the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The OIC said earlier that Iyad Madani had submitted his resignation as the organization’s secretary-general, citing “health reasons.”

Madani’s resignation came after an Egyptian campaign against the man for his remarks in a recent conference in Tunisia, which were understood to be made in a mocking tone about Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi.

Madani, 70, is a Saudi Arabian diplomat who served as the country’s information minister, among other official posts, before his stint on the Saudi-based OIC.  (T/R07/R01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)