Assassination of Saudi Preacher in Guinea Highlights ‘Pouches of Terrorism’

Saudi preacher Abdul Muhsin Al-Tuwaijri, Asharq Al-Awsat
Saudi preacher Abdul Muhsin Al-Tuwaijri, Asharq Al-Awsat
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Assassination of Saudi Preacher in Guinea Highlights ‘Pouches of Terrorism’

Saudi preacher Abdul Muhsin Al-Tuwaijri, Asharq Al-Awsat
Saudi preacher Abdul Muhsin Al-Tuwaijri, Asharq Al-Awsat

Authorities in Guinea have arrested a number of people accused of involvement in the assassination of Saudi preacher Abdul Muhsin Al-Tuwaijri on Thursday in a remote border area between Guinea and Mali.

Tuwaijri was taken to the capital Conakry in preparation for his body to be transferred to Saudi Arabia.

Security sources confirmed that unidentified gunmen ambushed the Saudi preacher when he was on a motorcycle accompanied by a local resident.

The Saudi preacher died at on the scene of the attack, security and medical sources confirmed that he received two bullets to the chest, resulting in his immediate death.

Tuwaijri was a member of a mission building mosques in Upper Guinea and was killed in the village of Kantebalandougou, between the towns Kankan and Kerouane.

He was “shot twice in the chest while riding a motorcycle with a villager on the way to get his car,” a security source told AFP.

“The Saudi died at the scene while his companion, who owned the motorcycle, was seriously injured and taken to a hospital in Kankan,” said a medical source.

A group of traditional huntsmen are accused of standing behind the assassination which took place after a prayer speech that was not to their liking, and who embrace the old faith-based African religions.

Guinean civil society organizations have already sounded the alarm over Iran's attempt to create its own influence in Guinea under a sectarian guise. It is focused on strengthening Iranian political messages.

However, official authorities remain silent over such warnings.

The role played by Iranian embassies in the West African region is to create religious influence with a parallel political agenda that has become evident in many African countries, including Niger, Ivory Coast and Guinea.

West Africa has been under growing security tensions for several years because of attacks staged by local armed terrorist groups, while government armies are unable curb threats imposed by such groups because of lack of training and weak military capabilities.

Earlier, two Kuwaiti preachers who were on a mission in the state of Burkina Faso last August were also killed during an attack believed to be carried out by al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, killing 18 people in a Turkish restaurant in the center of the capital Ouagadougou .



Iran Signals Readiness to Expand Economic, Cultural Ties with Saudi Arabia

Saudi Crown Prince meets Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Jeddah on Tuesday — SPA
Saudi Crown Prince meets Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Jeddah on Tuesday — SPA
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Iran Signals Readiness to Expand Economic, Cultural Ties with Saudi Arabia

Saudi Crown Prince meets Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Jeddah on Tuesday — SPA
Saudi Crown Prince meets Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Jeddah on Tuesday — SPA

Iran’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Alireza Enayati, described Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi’s recent visit to Riyadh as a clear sign on Tehran’s willingness to deepen economic and cultural relations with the kingdom.

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, Enayati said Tuesday’s visit focused on reviewing bilateral ties and cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Iran. He emphasized Tehran’s commitment to strengthening relations with Riyadh and neighboring countries based on good neighborliness and shared interests.

During the visit, Araghchi held a series of high-level meetings with key Saudi officials, including Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman, and Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan.

Enayati said Iran is ready to broaden cooperation with Saudi Arabia across economic, trade, and cultural sectors. He highlighted that the Crown Prince expressed satisfaction with the growing understanding and collaboration between the two leading Muslim nations.

The ambassador, who attended the meetings, added that the Crown Prince reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s determination to continue advancing this path and develop relations in all fields.

Enayati also recalled Saudi Arabia’s condemnation of military aggression against Iran’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.

He said the Crown Prince stressed that regional security and stability depend on cooperation and understanding among countries in the region. This includes leveraging all capabilities to prevent escalation and insecurity and prioritizing diplomatic tools to resolve disputes, according to Iran’s envoy.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman expressed hope that the recently agreed ceasefire will help foster security and stability across the region, Saudi state news agency SPA reported.

During a reception for Araghchi in Jeddah, the Crown Prince reaffirmed Riyadh’s support for resolving disputes through diplomatic dialogue, describing it as the best path to lasting peace.

Araghchi thanked Saudi Arabia for its condemnation of Israeli aggression and praised the Crown Prince’s efforts to bolster regional security and stability.

Enayati conveyed Araghchi’s praise for “fruitful” security and defense consultations between the two countries.

Enayati described a recent visit to Tehran by Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman as “highly significant and effective in advancing cooperation to strengthen regional security and stability.”

He added that Prince Khalid firmly condemned Israeli military aggression against Iran and extended condolences for the deaths of Iranian military and civilian figures in the attacks, according to the Iranian ambassador.

Prince Khalid took to X to outline the scope of his recent talks with Araghchi, emphasizing bilateral cooperation and regional security.

On his part, Enayati told Asharq Al-Awsat that Araghchi expressed gratitude to the Saudi government for its “valuable assistance” in facilitating the return of Iranian pilgrims amid disruptions caused by Israeli military aggression against Iran.

Enayati also relayed comments from Araghchi attributing recent Israeli attacks to what he described as the “impunity” enjoyed by the Israeli regime for its crimes against the Palestinian people and ongoing aggression toward other regional states.

The Iranian foreign minister strongly condemned the continued killing and displacement of Palestinians and the ongoing occupation.

He further denounced Israel’s repeated strikes against Lebanon and Syria, condemning the United Nations Security Council’s “silence and inaction,” which he described as a key factor in regional insecurity.