The descendants of Serigne Touba have escalated their stance against PASTEF leader Ousmane Sonko. Following a defamation complaint filed in response to his remarks about alleged ‘dirty money’ circulating in Touba, the group now insists that the former Prime Minister should refrain from visiting the holy city, including during the upcoming Grand Magal pilgrimage.

In an interview on RFM, the collective’s spokesperson, Mokhtar Bousso, condemned Sonko’s statements as a blatant disrespect toward Touba and its founder, Serigne Touba Cheikh Ahmadou Bamba. ‘Anyone who questions Serigne Touba’s legacy must never set foot in Touba,’ he declared. ‘If he truly revered Serigne Touba and his teachings, such remarks would never have left his lips.’

Touba’s role in Senegal’s development

Bousso emphasized Touba’s pivotal contributions to Senegal’s economic, human, and moral progress. ‘Touba has always been a cornerstone of national development. Sonko must acknowledge this and honor the founder of Mouridism,’ he asserted.

The spokesperson also criticized Sonko’s timing, arguing that his allegations of ‘dirty money’ undermined the spiritual significance of the Grand Magal. ‘Accusing Touba of harboring illicit funds and then participating in the Magal is a contradiction,’ he stated. ‘Serigne Touba’s doors remain open to all, but that doesn’t excuse a lack of respect.’

A call for self-reflection

Bousso urged Sonko to reflect on his actions, questioning whether the politician should ever return to Touba. ‘He must ask himself if his presence in Touba aligns with the accusations he’s made,’ he said. ‘If he believes dirty money flows through Touba, he has no business being there.’

The collective’s stance reflects growing tensions ahead of the Grand Magal, with Bousso framing Sonko’s remarks as an attempt to sabotage the event. ‘Touba is the heart of Mouridism. To make such claims just days before the Magal—when all talibés are preparing—is, in my view, a deliberate effort to undermine its success,’ he concluded.