In the context of the Organization of the Islamic Conference summit in Dakar, in March 2008, billions of Arab petrodollars have poured into Senegal to help realize its ambition to become the “Gateway to Africa”. However, boosting the country’s infrastructure may not be sufficient, as long as major obstacles such as the country’s energy crisis, are not tackled simultaneously. Situated on the western-most tip of Africa, Senegal is a predominantly Muslim country, although its Sufi-inspired conception of Islam can hardly be compared to what is practiced in most of mainstream Arabia. Still, the 11th summit of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) is set to take place on March 8-14 in the country’s capital Dakar. Founded in 1969, the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) represents 57 member states on four continents, which makes it the world’s second largest inter-governmental organization after the United Nations. Its role on the
