During the recent Grand Magal of Touba celebrations marking the exile of Cheikh Ahmadou Bamba, prominent religious figures addressed pressing national issues. Among them, Serigne Modou Kara Mbacké, speaking from his residence in Mermoz, emphasised the urgent need for President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko to set aside their differences in the greater interest of the nation.

The marabout delivered a powerful message of reconciliation, urging the two leaders to overcome their tensions. « Their reconciliation should not be dismissed, as they represent a minority compared to the broader population. They must come together for the sake of the country, » he declared. In his view, the time for personal conflicts has passed; the focus must now be on national unity amid the country’s pressing economic and social hardships.

With unwavering conviction, Serigne Modou Kara Mbacké stressed the importance of reconciliation, framing it as a moral and cultural obligation. « They need to reunite and start afresh for the country’s sake. They are like cousins in a joking relationship, » he noted, blending political and cultural references to underscore his call for calm.

The religious leader didn’t shy away from making his position clear, insisting that the two leaders must move beyond their rift. He highlighted that their relationship, rooted in shared historical struggles before their political rise, should serve as a foundation for unity rather than division. « It wasn’t politics that united them but their work, which eventually led to kinship through shared surnames, » he explained, advocating for a collective effort to overcome divisions in favour of what truly matters.