Gambiaj.com – (DAKAR, Senegal) – A leading Senegalese cleric has condemned recent remarks by Energy Minister Birame Soulèye Diop, arguing that Salafists should not be stigmatized and emphasizing that some of them are among the most devoted supporters of Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko.
In an open letter titled Respect Salafists!, Imam Alioune Badara Mbengue, a professor of letters and imam at the UCAD mosque, criticized the minister’s comments, which questioned how a figure like Sonko could be linked to Salafism.
Mbengue warned that such rhetoric mirrors the past regime’s divisive tactics, where certain religious communities—particularly the Salafists—were repeatedly targeted for political gain.
“We suffered through this under the previous government, where official ceremonies were used to praise allies and attack others,” Mbengue wrote. He accused the former administration of unfairly portraying Salafists as a political threat and expressed concern that similar strategies are reemerging under the current government.
Crucially, Mbengue acknowledged that within the ranks of Sonko’s movement, Pastef, there are indeed Salafists—loyal militants and unwavering supporters. “The minister may not know that Salafists supported his candidate and voted for him. Not because he is a Salafist or seeks to impose Salafism on Senegal, but because they identified with the values of Pastef: patriotism, integrity, resistance to lobbies, and justice,” he stated.
Mbengue’s letter challenges the misconception that Salafism is inherently dangerous, arguing that many Senegalese intellectuals base their views on misleading portrayals spread by Western media. He urged public officials to educate themselves before making divisive statements and recommended his book, Salafism and Convictions, as a resource to correct misconceptions.
His response underscores the complex religious dynamics in Senegal, where political and religious affiliations often intertwine. The debate sparked by Diop’s remarks is likely to continue, as questions about religious tolerance and political identity remain central to the country’s discourse.
