20100702
africanews

Senegalese are mourning the death of the head of the influential Muslim brotherhood, the Murides, Caliph-General Serigne Bara Mbacke.

Serigne Bara Mbacke, 85, had been hospitalized in Dakar for food poisoning, according to local media reports. He had just returned to the Holly City of Touba a few weeks back when his death was announced, Wednesday night. He was buried in the Great Mosque of Touba.

Serigne Cheikh Maty Leye Mbake, 86, and eldest grandson of Sheikh Ahmadou Bamba Mbacke, the founder of Mouridism, has been inducted as the new Caliph General, following the announcement.

The nation is united in its lose of a strong voice of unity – from religious leaders to politicians, musicians and ordinary Senegalese, everyone remembers him in a unique way.

President Abdoulaye Wade, himself a Mouride, Thursday afternoon arrived in Touba aboard a military helicopter to pay respect. He was accompanied by a high powered government delegation.

A spokesperson to Cardinal Adrien Sarr, the head of the Church in Senegal, was quoted as saying the "Christian community of Senegal expressed its sympathy and solidarity with the Mourides at this time of mourning and hope."

Father Patrice Coly prayed for God’s mercy for this "great man of faith, openness and dialogue between Muslims and Christians, the reward of a good and faithful servant."

Appeal for peace

The separatist movement in Southern Senegal, the Movement of Democratic Forces of Casamance (MFDC), issued a statement, expressing condolence to the family of the deceased, the Mouride brotherhood and the entire nation.

The Secretary General of the political wing of the pro-independence group, Jean Marie Francois Biagui, paid glowing tribute to “the Man of God.”

In his last Magal address, the late head of the Mourids appealed for the restoration of peace in the restive region of Casamance. This is an appeal the MFDC will ever remain grateful for.

In its statement, it said: “We remember, particularly, the appeal of the Man of God, in his last Magal, the 115th in history, which arose in Touba as a prayer to ward off the specter of another war in Casamance...”

"We take this opportunity to call on all stakeholders to come together around a table to achieve a peaceful and definitive solution to this painful problem."