Senegal's government will seek to appease Sufi orders

Significance

The Magal’s scale highlights the religious, economic and political clout of Touba, the Mouridiyya and Sufi orders more generally in Senegal. However, unlike their predecessors, both President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko came to power without strong ties to any Sufi order.

Impacts

• The Sufi orders may help to contain the jihadist threat to Senegal through their key role in arbitrating social conflicts.
• Faye’s presidency may coincide with a succession at the top of the Mouride order, given that the current head is in his nineties.
• The new government may look to enforce collection of tax arrears across a variety of economic sectors, straining relations with businesses.