During the launch event of the Pastef party membership drive in Khombole, former minister Maimouna Dièye sparked immediate attention by addressing Ousmane Sonko with a religious invocation typically reserved for the Prophet. The leader of the opposition party took the opportunity to set the record straight, emphasizing the importance of maintaining proper boundaries in public discourse.
Sonko’s prompt response to perceived overreach
As Maimouna Dièye addressed the gathered militants, she concluded her speech with the phrase: “I express myself in the presence of Seydina Ousmane Sonko Salalahou Aleyhi Wa Salam.” This traditional invocation, which translates to “may God’s peace and blessings be upon him,” is exclusively used in reference to the Prophet Mohammed in Islamic tradition.
Reacting swiftly, Ousmane Sonko stepped in to clarify the matter, stating that such reverence should not be directed toward any individual other than the Prophet. Speaking firmly to the crowd, he said, “This affection from the people is something I deeply appreciate, but it must not lead to exaggeration. My sister, Maimouna Dièye, mentioned my name earlier and added that phrase—my téyé sama Guémign.”
Emphasizing respect for religious norms
The Pastef leader went on to stress that the invocation Salalahou Aleyhi Wa Salam is a sacred honorific that belongs solely to the Prophet Mohammed. In a statement that drew applause from the audience, he added, “Let us reserve this for the Prophet. I have never reached—and will never reach—such a status.”
This incident occurred during a critical phase of the party’s nationwide membership drive, a campaign Sonko has been personally leading across multiple regions in Senegal. Following the event in Khombole, the political mobilisation continued in Bargny, Bambey, and Sébikhotane, reinforcing the party’s grassroots engagement strategy.
