Sheikh Dr. Muhammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, Secretary-General of the Muslim World League (MWL) and Chairman of the Organisation of Muslim Scholars, is in Kigali for a three-day official visit aimed at strengthening ties between the global Islamic organisation and Rwanda.
The MWL, founded in 1962 in Makkah, is an international non-governmental organisation that promotes moderate Islam, interfaith dialogue, and peaceful coexistence. Dr. Al-Issa’s visit coincides with the start of Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic lunar calendar. Muslims around the world fast from dawn until sunset during this period, breaking the fast each evening with Iftar.
The visit began on Wednesday evening at the Kigali Convention Centre (KCC), where Dr. Al-Issa presided over a ceremony recognising young memorizers of the Holy Qur’an. Addressing over 300 attendees, including 160 Qur’an teachers, he highlighted the importance of religious education in nurturing moderate and peaceful values.
During his stay, Dr. Al-Issa is scheduled to meet President Paul Kagame and visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial to pay tribute to the victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, underscoring the MWL’s commitment to “Never Again.”
Another key aspect of the trip includes the signing of two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs): one between the MWL and the Rwandan government to promote social development and intellectual exchange, and another with the Rwanda Muslim Community (RMC) to strengthen the capacity of local religious leadership.
Dr. Al-Issa also took part in a symposium titled “Peaceful Coexistence and the Rwandan Experience,” where he praised Rwanda’s post-conflict reconciliation model as a “beacon of hope” for the world.
The visit will conclude on Friday with a special sermon at the Al-Fath Onatracom Mosque in Biryogo, where thousands of worshippers are expected to attend the Jumu’ah prayer.
The MWL operates independently with a global reach, supporting education, humanitarian aid, and orphan care while unifying scholarly views to promote moderate Islamic principles and counter extremism. Its Supreme Council, chaired by Dr. Al-Issa, comprises 60 leading Islamic figures from around the world.
