What you need to know about IMCTC

CAIRO – 26 November 2017: The Islamic Military Coalition to Counter Terrorism (IMCTC), which is formed of 41 states, is a unified Islamic system to counter extremism and terrorism.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman launched this coalition in December 2015, aiming to unite the efforts of Islamic countries in the face of terrorism.

The IMCTC has stated that its primary objective is to protect Muslim countries from all terrorist groups and organizations irrespective of their sect and name.

The coalition draws its legitimacy by the participation of the majority of Muslim countries. It also enjoys the support and respect of the international community and seeks to employ local culture to combat terrorism by formulating regional and local solutions.


The IMCTC consists of Afghanistan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Burkina Faso, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Senegal, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen, among other Islamic countries.

The coalition initially began with 34 nations; now it consists of 41 states, according to the Saudi government.

On Sunday, the Coalition’s defense ministers held their first meeting in Riyadh under the theme “Allied against Terrorism,” with the participation of several diplomatic missions.

The crown prince said that Sunday's meeting sends "a strong signal that we are going to work and co-ordinate together to support each other."

The meeting is set to present a general strategy for the Islamic military coalition to battle terrorism in all fields; such as ideologically, militarily, and in the media. This coalition is going to lead to organizing and unifying all Islamic countries’ efforts in their endeavor to combat terrorism.