Ibrahima Thiam, leader of the Senegalese party ACT, has sharply criticized recent statements made by Ousmane Sonko, branding them a threat to national cohesion.
In a strongly worded opinion piece titled “The Amalgam Strategy: Sonko’s Latest Misstep”, Thiam argues that Sonko’s remarks were perceived as targeting Touba—and by extension, the Mouride community—a religious and cultural stronghold in Senegal.
According to Thiam, Sonko’s approach is not rooted in substantive debate but in a deliberate strategy of provocation, sensationalism, and polarization. He asserts that implicating—or even suggesting the involvement of—an entire city and religious community in illicit activities represents a serious political misstep with far-reaching consequences.
Thiam emphasizes that in a functioning democracy, accountability must be individual, not collective. He contends that a political leader who sows doubt about an entire group is not seeking truth but perpetuating harmful stereotypes.
The ACT president also accuses Sonko of adopting a populist rhetoric where inflammatory soundbites replace reasoned argument, and media spectacle takes precedence over responsible discourse. He suggests that this tactic is designed to energize PASTEF’s militant base by fostering an atmosphere of confrontation.
Highlighting Touba’s significance, Thiam describes it not just as a city but as a spiritual, economic, and historical cornerstone of Senegal. He underscores the Mouride community’s role in national unity and warns that any public statement that could be interpreted as a broad indictment of this group must be handled with the utmost care.
Thiam concludes by urging political leaders to adopt a more measured tone, grounded in facts and mutual respect, to safeguard national unity and prevent emotions from overshadowing democratic discourse.
