Morocco's Tijaniyya calls for unity after AFCON final

The Tijaniyya zawiya of Morocco has issued a call to preserve the sacred nature of the spiritual and historical ties that unite the Moroccan and Senegalese peoples. In a statement signed by its leader, Sheikh Mohamed El Kebir Ben Sidi Ahmed Tijani, the religious order warned against «any attempt to exploit sports competitions for purposes of division, extremism, or discord».

The brotherhood said it is closely monitoring the tensions that have surfaced on social media following the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final, while stressing that «these temporary episodes cannot undermine the deep fraternal relations between the two nations».

The statement further emphasizes that «the bond between Morocco and Senegal transcends geographical boundaries and fleeting political calculations. It is a spiritual and historical connection, founded on a unity of faith, values, and kinship, forged by centuries of religious communion. Two peoples, in two states, driven by the same consciousness nourished by the love of God—something no sporting event can shake».

Calling for wisdom and restraint, the religious order urges the faithful and the peoples of both countries to prioritize reason, tolerance, and compassion over impulsiveness and fanaticism, reminding them that the bonds of faith require transcendence and forgiveness.

In the same spirit, King Mohammed VI stated yesterday that «nothing can alter the closeness cultivated over the centuries between our African peoples (Moroccan and Senegalese, editor’s note), nor the fruitful cooperation built with the various countries of the continent and strengthened by ever more ambitious partnerships».

For his part, Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko called on Wednesday, in a statement issued following a phone conversation with his Moroccan counterpart Aziz Akhannouch, «for caution in the face of the flow of communications—particularly on social media and in certain media outlets—which mostly consist of misinformation».