The Khalife guarantees that Touba work continues

The massive intrastructure and public improvements underway in Touba continue, according to the Khalife of the Mourides, by way of a news report. He assures that the water system infrastructure and other projects were never stalled.

The Khalife, Serigne Mouhamadou Lamine Bara Mbacké, took efforts to emphasize the cooperation of the Holy City with the President of Senegal, Abdoulaye Wade:

"The water project has started. Again, we are in step with the president because he had given the sum of seven billion CFA francs. Then he comes back three and a half billion for drilling, pipes, fountains throughout the city."

Addressing reports that the work had been stopped for lack of funding, the Khalife was reported to state: "The work has never been suspended. Those who say they do not know anything."

Since President Wade showed up with the payments in his recent visit to Touba, relations with the Holy City appear to have warmed up considerably. This at a time when the president is facing political opposition.

Government money appears in Touba in advance of President Wade's visit

President Abdoulaye's visit tomorrow to the Mourides' holy city of Touba has been greased by finally funding Touba infrastructure projects. The President needs to spread the goodwill, according to today's article in L'Observateur. The sacking of Macky Sall, leader of the Senegalese parliament is apparently fomenting ill feeling toward the president and the Mourides are backing off from their support for the President... Those sore feelings may be assauged somewhat by the reported payment this month to Chinese contractors working in Touba of 3.6 billion CFA francs. According to L'Observateur sources, 2 billion CFA francs were received by Hénan China and 1.6 billion by another company. Work on Touba infrastructure has been restarted, although Chinese and local employment on the projects is still far below the scheduled need... L'Observateur sources with the Khalife say they'll push for more funding for the projects from the President's central government. As we noted here earlier, Touba sent billions of francs (much of it raised abroad) to the central government, where it disappeared for quite awhile. The Khalife took up the matter in a visit to Dakar earlier this year. Only 30 percent of the contract Touba infrastructure has been completed.