The descendants of Serigne Touba Cheikh Ahmadou Bamba have intensified their stance against opposition leader Ousmane Sonko, declaring him persona non grata in Touba. The collective, which recently filed a defamation complaint following Sonko’s remarks about alleged illicit funds circulating in Touba, argued that the PASTEF leader has forfeited his right to set foot in Senegal’s spiritual capital—including during the upcoming Grand Magal pilgrimage.

Mokhtar Bousso, spokesperson for the collective, emphasized that Sonko’s statements represent a blatant disrespect toward Touba and its founder. “Anyone who questions Serigne Touba must never darken the doorstep of Touba again,” Bousso asserted on national radio. “If he truly revered Serigne Touba’s teachings, he would never have uttered such words about the holy city.”

Bousso underscored Touba’s pivotal role in Senegal’s development, spanning economic, social, and moral spheres. “Touba has been a cornerstone of this nation’s progress. Ousmane Sonko owes it to Touba—and to Serigne Touba—to show proper respect,” he stated. The collective contends that Sonko’s allegations of ‘dirty money’ in Touba are not only false but an affront to the city’s legacy.

The spokesperson went further, questioning Sonko’s moral right to participate in the Grand Magal, a major mouride event. “To come to Touba and speak of dirty money during such a sacred time is an act of disrespect. He has no place at the Grand Magal,” Bousso declared. He urged Sonko to reflect deeply on his actions, questioning whether the politician should ever return to Touba after his inflammatory comments.

The timing of Sonko’s remarks, just days before the Grand Magal, drew particular criticism. “Touba is the heart of mouridism. To make such statements when talibés are preparing for the Grand Magal is, in my view, a direct challenge to the event’s success,” Bousso concluded.