Under the chairmanship of His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and as part of the Muslim Council of Elders’ message of spreading the values of dialogue, tolerance and cooperation among Muslim and non-Muslim societies, this year saw the Council add two new members to an existing array of Islamic scholars, experts and specialists who are known for their wisdom, independence and moderateness. 

In July 2022, His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders issued a decree selecting His Eminence Allahshukur Pashazadeh, Grand Mufti of the Caucasus as the newest member of the Muslim Council of Elders. 

His Eminence Allahshukur Pashazadeh is the spiritual leader of Muslims in Azerbaijan, Republic of Georgia, and Dagestan, Kabardino-Balkaria, Ingushetia, Chechnya, Karachay–Cherkessia, and Adygea in the Russian Federation. He is also the Chairman of the Baku International Center for Interfaith and Intercivilizational Cooperation (BCIC) as well as the Co-chair of CIS Interreligious Council and the Chairman of the Advisory Council of Muslim Leaders of CIS and the current Chairman of the Supreme Religious Board of Caucasian peoples. As leader of Azeri Muslims, he has made concerted efforts to promote interreligious dialogue, tolerance and multiculturalism on a local and international level.

In August 2022, the Grand Imam issued another decree selecting His Excellency Mahamadou Issoufou, former President of Niger as the newest member of the Council.

Issoufou served as the President of Niger from 7 April 2011 to 2 April 2021. Issoufou was also the prime minister of Niger from 1993 to 1994 and President of the African nation's National Assembly from 1995 to 1996.

The former Nigerien politician is a recipient of the 2020 Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership for his efforts in economic development of his country while working for regional stability, as well as his engagement to limit himself to two terms, leading to the first ever democratic transition of power in Niger. He is also a member of the Judging Committee of the 2022 edition of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity. 

The Muslim Council of Elders is an independent international organization that promotes peace in Muslim communities by discouraging conflict and other issues that lead to divisiveness. Founded in Abu Dhabi on the 19th of July 2014, the Council is comprised of various Muslim scholars who are known for their wisdom, justice, independence, and moderateness. It strives to represent all the forms of Muslim communities and encourages reconciliation to prevent foreign intervention, divisiveness and conflict.