Due to the epidemic of coronavirus, the Great Mosque of Dakar, one of the largest in West Africa, will remain closed this Friday, a day of great weekly prayer, announced the brotherhood responsible for it.
For several days, Senegal, a nearly 95% Muslim country, has been divided on the question of whether or not to maintain Friday collective prayer, with the health risks it represents. On Thursday, authorities finally announced the closure of mosques in Dakar and its region on Friday and until further notice.
The brotherhoods are on the side of the State
This highly sensitive decision raised the question of the reaction of religious leaders, starting with the leaders of the powerful brotherhoods who play a primordial role in Senegalese society, and among them the general caliph of the mourides, Serigne Mountakha Mbacké. The brotherhood of mourides, reputed to be jealous of its independence, finally complied with the decision of the political power.
The Caliph General of the Mourides instructed "to comply with the directives of the State which is responsible for public safety and health" and to close from Friday and "until further notice" the great mosque Massalikoul Jinaan in Dakar, said his representative in the capital in a statement.
No coronavirus deaths in Senegal
A contrary instruction would have been a thunderclap and an act of defiance. It would probably have been very widely followed by the faithful who listen to the caliph before any other personality. This mosque, presented by its builders as the largest in West Africa, rivaling those of the Arab countries, will therefore be closed this Friday.
Inaugurated in September 2019, the giant place of worship can accommodate 30,000 faithful under its golden dome, in its prayer rooms and on its esplanade. It materializes the influence historically exerted in Senegal by the Mourides and other Muslim brotherhoods. The situation in mosques in other regions of Senegal was not clearly known on Friday morning. Senegal has reported 38 cases of coronavirus contamination and no deaths.
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