Meet on Oman’s role in African Great Lakes States begins

BUJUMBURA — President Pierre Nkurunziza of the Republic of Burundi yesterday opened the International Conference on Islamic Civilisation and Culture and the Role of Oman in the African Great Lakes States in the presence of Shaikh Abdullah bin Mohammed al Salmi, Minister of Awqaf and Religious Affairs. The three-day conference is organised by the National Records and Archives Authority (NRAA) in the capital Bujumbura, in collaboration with the intermediary office, the University of Burundi and University of Peace Reconciliation in the Republic of Burundi. The opening ceremony of the conference began with a message of peace presented by Shaikh Dr Kahlan bin Nabhan al Kharousi, Assistant Grand Mufti of the Sultanate of Oman, followed by a message of peace given by Archbishop Evariste Ngoyagoye of Bujumbura, Burundi during which he stressed cooperation among religions in Burundi.
Dr Hamad bin Mohammed al Dhoyani, Chairman of NRAA gave a speech during which he highlighted the efforts and actions that have been made to hold the conference in an endeavour towards achieving the desired goals and objectives for the historical, cultural, social and cultural importance of this conference. Spokesman of the Conference Dr Mohammed Rukara Khalfan, ombudsman of Burundi presented a working paper titled “The Role of Omanis in the Spread of Islam and Islamic Culture in the Great Lakes States”. Shaikh Abdullah bin Mohammed al Salmi  spoke about the ancient Omani-African relations. He added that the cooperation between the Sultanate and the Republic of Burundi is a good sign for joint cooperation between the two countries, saying “there is a social and historical relationships binding us and will develop with the Republic of Burundi”
The President of the Republic of Burundi, then gave a speech during which he said: “We are honoured to host this international conference, which is held in the Republic of Burundi, and which reflects the civilisation and cultural cohesion between the two countries and that there are blood relations between the Omanis and Burundians, and there are Omani families are still living in Burundi. The conference aims to study the history of Islamic civilisation and culture of the Omani role in the Great Lakes states, including their political, cultural, economic and social history, the clearness of their unity of territories, the richness of diversity in their communities, continuity and change in their customs and traditions, enrichment of the population coexistence on cultural and urban life. All this interaction lies in highlighting the cultural interaction in drawing paths of relations between Oman, East Africa, the Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes. Through the research papers, the conference will shed light on the civilisational aspects of Oman and its role and participation in the human civilisation.
The conference will include the geographic and demographic, historic and political, literary and linguistic, economic and social, cultural and media, and documents, manuscripts and archaeology themes. After the opening ceremony, the President of Burundi opened and toured the accompanying documentary exhibition, which covers various historical periods from the 17th century to the 20th century.  The exhibition includes documents that highlight the relations that link Oman with other states like Britain, France, Germany, USA, Russia and other states in various political, trade, and economic fields. Different pictures on old and modern Oman, most prominent Renaissance projects and many touristic attractions in the Sultanate, in addition to pictures of the mutual official visits between the Sultanate of Oman and the Republic of Burundi were displayed. — ONA

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