Tivaouane: Bassirou Diomaye Faye reaffirms the State’s commitment alongside the religious city
The President of the Republic, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, arrived in Tivaouane shortly after 10 a.m. this Friday, a few days before Gamou, which will be celebrated on Tuesday August 25, 2026.
This religious event brings together thousands of faithful each year in the city of Maodo and across the different localities of Senegal.
On this occasion, the Head of State was accompanied by a large delegation made up of members of his cabinet, his Special Envoy, Aminata Touré, the Minister of the Interior, Mouhamadou Makhtar Cissé, the Minister of Health and Social Action, Ibrahima Sy, as well as the Minister of Solidarity and Family, Marie Angélique Mame Selbé Diouf. Several directors general and administrative and local authorities also took part in the ceremony.
A republican tradition on the eve of Gamou
This presidential visit is part of a now well-established republican tradition: that which leads the head of state to visit the country’s religious centers in the run-up to major events on the brotherhood calendar.
In Tivaouane, Bassirou Diomaye Faye presented his greetings to the Caliph General of Tidianes and requested his prayers and blessings for Senegal, particularly for its stability, peace and prosperity.
Beyond the protocol dimension, the audience was an opportunity to reaffirm the close ties between the State and the religious family of Tivaouane, as well as the importance given to dialogue and consultation with religious centers.
This meeting takes on a special dimension this year, while Mawlid 2026 is placed under the theme: “Together, think and act through the word of Unity (Tawhid)”.
The Head of State underlined the relevance of the theme chosen this year by the Mawlid Scientific Commission. According to him, this theme offers an opportunity to better deepen the lessons linked to Mawlid, particularly through the various panels and symposia organized on the sidelines of Gamou.
Before the Caliph of Tidianes and the members of his delegation, the President of the Republic also spoke of the efforts made by the State in the areas of security, hydraulics and sanitation in Tivaouane.
He notably recalled the results recorded in the context of social water connections. Their number stood at 4,000 in 2024, then again at 4,000 in 2025, before settling at 2,000 for the current year, the erection of boreholes and sanitation works.
For the Head of State, these figures concretely reflect the State’s support in favor of the religious city.
Bassirou Diomaye Faye reaffirmed that the public authorities, through their various components, will continue to support Tivaouane in order to support its development, improve the living environment of the populations and respond to the needs of the city, beyond the Gamou period alone.
The Caliph welcomes a visit of “great importance”
Speaking in turn, the Caliph General of Tidianes, Serigne Babacar Mansour Sy Mansour, welcomed the presence of the Head of State in Tivaouane, describing this visit of “great importance” for the religious city.
He expressed his thanks to the President of the Republic as well as to the entire delegation which accompanied him, seeing in this approach a gesture which contributes to consolidating, on the eve of Gamou, relations between the State authorities and the religious family of Tivaouane.
The Caliph also invited the Head of State to forgive and show leniency, recalling the weight of his responsibilities and the need for the leader to remain attentive to the concerns of citizens.
Prayers for the success of the head of state
The official ceremony ended around 12:10 p.m. with prayers. The Caliph of Tidianes particularly prayed for the success of Bassirou Diomaye Faye in his mission at the head of Senegal.
This sequence of prayers closed an audience placed under the sign of dialogue, spirituality and the continuity of relations between the institutions of the Republic and the religious family of Tivaouane.
At the end of the official ceremony, the President of the Republic spoke face to face with the Caliph General of Tidianes, Serigne Mbaye Sy Mansour. Bassirou Diomaye Faye will then make visits to the Zawiya before performing Friday prayers at the Serigne Babacar Sy mosque.
Cheikh Gora DIOP, special envoy to Tivaouane
