Ali Othman Mohammed Taha, Sudan's Vice President, opened here today a symposium titled "Islam and African Challenge", organized by the Makkah-based Muslim World League (MWL) in collaboration with Omdurman Islamic University. MWL Secretary General Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulmohsen Al-Turki, Chairman of the Islamic Jurisprudence Complex Dr. Isam Ahmed Al-Bashier, Saudi Charge D'affaires Sulaiman Al Bidair and a number of Arab and Islamic ambassadors accredited to Sudan also attended the opening ceremony. Addressing the gathering, Al-Turki thanked the government of the Sudan, led by President Omer Al-Bashier, for warm welcome and generous hospitality and for organizing this event. He also extended thanks to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud for the efforts exerted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for further enhancing relations with Sudan at all levels and in all fields as Sudan is one of Islam's gates to Africa. He said Islam has spread in Africa earlier than any other continent, citing the immigration of Muslim pioneers to Al-Habasha (current Ethiopia) during the days of Prophet Mohammed (pbuh).
