With more than five million pilgrims attending the last edition, the Magal of Touba stands among the largest religious gatherings in West Africa.
Each year, this massive influx turns the holy city into a bustling temporary capital, bringing complex logistical challenges.
From water supply and transportation to sanitation and security, every detail must be carefully managed to ensure the safe arrival of worshippers from across Senegal and the diaspora.
Against this backdrop, the commitments of the state carry particular weight, as any shortcomings could have health, social, and symbolic consequences.
Strong state mobilisation
Meeting with religious leaders, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye reaffirmed his government’s determination to fully support the event, describing it as a call from “the heart of the Mourides.”
He recalled issuing firm instructions since the last Council of Ministers, directing every minister and director general to contribute to the Magal’s success within their respective sectors.
“The government will spare no effort for the success of this event,” President Faye declared, underscoring a drive for continuity and efficiency in collaboration between the state and religious centres.
The president also praised the General Delegation for Religious Affairs for its “remarkable” work in the country’s spiritual cities, signalling a broader approach to supporting religious institutions beyond the calendar of major events.
Anticipation and tangible progress
President Faye stressed the importance of anticipating the extraordinary demands placed on Touba’s infrastructure during the Magal. He highlighted directives given to the Minister of Hydraulics and Sanitation to improve water systems and waste management.
“Even if it is not yet finished, the results are already visible,” he said, pointing to ongoing projects that aim to deliver practical improvements rather than mere promises.
By prioritising essential services—particularly access to drinking water and wastewater treatment—the government hopes to prevent the disruptions seen in past years. The president’s proactive intervention, just weeks before the gathering, is being interpreted as a strong signal to the Mouride community and to all Senegal’s religious brotherhoods that state pledges will be backed by concrete action.
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