Thierno Alassane Sall, MP and leader of the Republic of Values (RDV) party, was received respectively by the general caliph of the Mourides, Serigne Mountakha Mbacké, and his spokesperson Serigne Bassirou Mbacké Abdou Khadr. He took advantage of the audience to appeal to the political class and discussed the water shortage and flooding in Touba.

"Like every Muslim, I came to Magal to celebrate Sheikh Khadim's call and to thank Allah, first of all for being present again this year and to be able to hope to be there next year," declared the leader of the RDV.

"I am very happy to first meet the Caliph General, Serigne Mountakha Mbacké, with whom I had very courteous exchanges, who prayed for me and who knows that I am a friend and nephew of Serigne Issakha, a high-flying diplomat. And then I came to visit Serigne Bassirou Mbacké Abdou Khadr to also present him with my congratulations on the occasion of the Magal," he added.

The MP said he was heading "a strong delegation that came from all over Senegal and some even from the diaspora."

Call for mutual respect in politics

Thierno Alassane Sall reported that Serigne Bassirou Mbacké Abdou Khadr "recalled the need for all politicians, if they truly believe in Senegal, to do everything to make the country better and not worse."

"I think this is a calling that everyone should hear. If politicians parade here in Touba and in other circumstances in religious capitals doing penance and talking about God, the messages of religious leaders, it is also time that we can practice it first and foremost with mutual respect," he stressed.

Religious teachings applied to politics

The political leader insisted on the values to be respected: "We must not utter hurtful words, as all religions teach. We must not hurt others with our words. We must be fair. We must not touch public money, much less other people's money. We must work every day as if it were the last day we should spend on earth for the good of humanity."

An alarming observation on the state of politics

"Unfortunately, in Senegal, which is a country of virtues, where there have been men of virtue, we are forced to recognize that we are in an extremely harmful sequence for relations between politicians and even beyond, between politicians and perhaps religious leaders. And it is high time that we correct this," concluded Thierno Alassane Sall.