A collective representing the descendants of Serigne Touba has escalated its stance against opposition leader Ousmane Sonko. Following his allegations regarding alleged illicit financial flows in Touba, the group filed a defamation complaint and declared Sonko persona non grata in the holy city—even for the upcoming Grand Magal pilgrimage.

Uncompromising stance against Sonko’s remarks

Mokhtar Bousso, spokesperson for the collective, spoke exclusively to local media, condemning Sonko’s comments as a direct affront to Touba and its spiritual founder, Serigne Touba Cheikh Ahmadou Bamba. “Anyone who questions Serigne Touba’s legacy must refrain from setting foot in Touba,” Bousso asserted. He emphasized that Touba has been instrumental in Senegal’s development—economically, socially, and spiritually—and stressed that Sonko’s remarks reflected a blatant disregard for these values.

The spokesperson went further, linking Sonko’s allegations of “dirty money” circulating in Touba to a profound disrespect for the city’s sacred status. “Accusing Touba of harboring illicit funds is an insult to Serigne Touba himself,” he declared. According to Bousso, such statements are incompatible with participating in the Grand Magal, a cornerstone event in the Mouride community’s calendar.

Calls for introspection and self-exclusion

Bousso urged Sonko to reflect deeply on his actions. “It’s time for Ousmane Sonko to ask himself whether he should ever return to Touba after making these statements.” He argued that if Sonko truly believes in the claims he made, his presence in Touba would be indefensible. The timing of the remarks, he added, was particularly egregious, coming just before the Grand Magal—a period when millions of Mouride devotees prepare for the annual pilgrimage.

Concluding his remarks, Bousso highlighted Touba’s role as the “showcase of Mouridism.” “To make such statements at this critical juncture is not just disrespectful—it undermines the very essence of the Grand Magal,” he stated.