In a sharply worded statement, Ibrahima Thiam, leader of the ACT party in Senegal, has publicly condemned Ousmane Sonko’s recent comments, labeling them a serious threat to national unity.
Thiam’s critique, published in an opinion piece titled “The dangers of divisive rhetoric: Sonko’s latest misstep”, argues that Sonko’s statements have been widely interpreted as targeting Touba and, by extension, the Mouride community. He insists these remarks are not part of a substantive debate but rather a calculated strategy to provoke division through sensationalism and polarization.
According to Thiam, accusing—or even insinuating—a entire city and religious community of involvement in criminal activity represents a dangerous political misstep. He emphasizes that in a functioning democracy, responsibility must be individual, not collective, and that such broad accusations only fuel harmful generalizations rather than uncovering the truth.
Beyond the political implications, Thiam highlights Touba’s significance as a spiritual, economic, and historical hub in Senegal. The Mouride community, he notes, is a cornerstone of national cohesion, and any public statement that could be seen as a blanket indictment of this group must be handled with the utmost care and responsibility.
In his closing remarks, Thiam calls for more measured political discourse, one that prioritizes facts over rhetoric and respects all communities. He warns that unchecked emotional reactions could undermine democratic debate and further polarize the nation.
