The association of Serigne Touba’s descendants filed a legal complaint on Wednesday at the Dakar High Court against Ousmane Sonko. Registered under case number 12562, the lawsuit stems from statements made by the PASTEF party leader during the inauguration of his party’s headquarters last weekend. Sonko reportedly claimed that “dirty money” had entered Touba, Senegal’s most revered religious city.

The plaintiffs, led by Serigne Modou Maroun Niang and Serigne Mourtalla Bousso, argue that these remarks have severely damaged Touba’s standing by casting unfounded aspersions on its moral and spiritual integrity. They emphasize that the city, founded by Cheikh Ahmadou Bamba, is built on principles of faith, integrity, and justice. The group insists that Sonko’s comments unjustly undermine the dignity of Touba’s inhabitants and the values it upholds.

The collective is urging the prosecutor to open a formal investigation to determine the validity of Sonko’s statements and their potential legal implications. Among their demands is the summoning of Ousmane Sonko to clarify his remarks and provide any evidence supporting his claims. The plaintiffs seek to hold him accountable if his allegations prove baseless, potentially pursuing charges such as defamation or spreading false information under Senegalese law.

They have also requested that all necessary measures be taken to uncover the truth behind the accusations, with the expectation that legal action will follow if the evidence supports their concerns.