The Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam met with various leaders and sheikhs of Sufi orders in the Senegalese capital of Dakar. Participants included the Caliph of the Mouride order Serigne Mountakha Mbacké, alongside Sheikh Serine Mohammed Mukhtar, assistant to Sheikh Doudou Makhtar Laye, Caliph of the Layene order. In another meeting, the Secretary-General met with Sheikh Serigne Mansour Sy, Caliph of the Tijaniyyah order as well as Sheikh Ahmed Al Tijani and a number of other Tijaniyyah sheikhs. 

During the respective meetings, Judge Abdelsalam presented some of the Council’s initiatives particularly those related to youth empowerment and peacemaking. The Secretary-General also emphasized the Council’s message of spreading true and tolerant Islamic practices while combating extremism and Islamophobia. 

Judge Abdelsalam said that despite this being his first visit to Senegal, he had been familiar with its illustrious people since his time as a student at Al-Azhar University. He also pointed to Senegal’s geographic and economic significance - these factors making Senegal a priority destination for the Council to visit.

The Secretary-General reiterated that Senegal is a beacon of freedom, coexistence, and human fraternity - as well as a nation having great natural and human resources. 

He added that Egypt and the United Arab Emirates are making concerted to combat extremist groups that have harmed Islam's image globally. He went on to express the Council’s readiness to involve Senegalese youth of different backgrounds in the council’s many initiatives. 

For their part, the Sufi leaders thanked the Muslim Council of Elders for its efforts in promoting dialogue between religious institutions on local and international levels as well as the Council and Al-Azhar’s efforts in spreading moderate Islamic teachings under the leadership of His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb. They also welcomed potential cooperation with the Council as well as declaring their full support for its core message, which aligns with Sufi teachings.