By: Fatou Krubally
Ambassador Omar Jah (Jr.) has been appointed to the Council of the International Islamic Fiqh Academy (IIFA), Gambian government announced on Thursday.
The appointment has strengthened Gambia’s representation in one of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation’s (OIC) leading institutions on Islamic jurisprudence.
In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad said Ambassador Jah, The Gambia’s ambassador to the State of Qatar, has been appointed as the country’s representative member on the Council of the Jeddah-based academy.
Established in 1981, the International Islamic Fiqh Academy brings together Islamic scholars, jurists and experts from OIC member states to examine contemporary issues and provide guidance based on Islamic jurisprudence and scholarship.
The ministry said Ambassador Jah’s appointment followed his nomination by President Adama Barrow and succeeds Ambassador Professor Dr. Omar Jah (Sr.), who retired from the Council in September 2025.
It described Ambassador Jah as a scholar, diplomat and educator with extensive experience in academia and public service, saying his expertise would contribute to the work of the academy.
According to the ministry, the appointment ensures that The Gambia maintains its representation in the Council, which considers emerging issues affecting Muslim societies and develops responses through collective scholarly deliberation.