JEDDAH — Ambassador Hissein Ibrahim Taha has taken over as the Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). The Chadian diplomat assumed office at the headquarters of the OIC's General Secretariat in Jeddah on Wednesday.

Ambassador Taha was elected in November 2020 during the 47th Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) held in Niamey, Niger, as a representative of the African Group, as per the geographical rotation of the office of the OIC Secretary-General.

Taha has held several positions in his country, including Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Integration and International Cooperation, Minister (Assistant Deputy Secretary-General of the Presidency of the Republic), Diplomatic Advisor to the Presidency of the Republic, Minister Plenipotentiary, and Ambassador Extraordinary to France, Spain, Portugal, Greece, and the Holy See. He also served as a Senior Advisor at the Embassy of the Republic of Chad in Saudi Arabia.

Taha, who speaks French, Arabic, and English, was awarded the National Order of Chad (Knight), the French National Order of the Legion of Honor (Officer), and the honorary ambassador merit. — SPA