The Grand Mosque of Ziguinchor was packed for the Korité prayer this Saturday. After 30 days of fasting, many worshippers chose this Muslim place of worship to give thanks, commune, and pray to the Almighty in the fervor of the end of the blessed month of Ramadan. For Chérif Boun Chamsidine Aïdara, the Imam's spokesperson for the day, this month is above all "a blessing and an opportunity."

“Today, we end on a high note with this Korité celebration, to magnify this victory we have won in devotion to Allah, in taqwa (piety), but also in solidarity. A victory of forgiveness, tolerance and sharing between Muslims, but also between communities, because we shared this time of prayer with our friends from the Christian community in the midst of Lent,” he emphasized.

A call for responsibility and education

In summarizing the sermon of Imam Ratib Chérif Ismaël Aïdara, the spokesperson reiterated several important behavioral themes. The Imam particularly emphasized the fight against verbal abuse and the importance of youth education.

The need for unity in celebration was also mentioned, so that the Muslim community would be united, both for the start of Ramadan and for Korité (Eid al-Fitr). The Imam also took the opportunity to remind leaders of their responsibility: they must fulfill their role in terms of providing guidance and ensuring the quality of their sermons. An appeal was also made to imams to deliver unifying messages that promote unity and social cohesion.

The reaction of state authorities

Mor Talla Tine, Governor of Ziguinchor, who led the official delegation, praised the message as "timely and relevant to everyone." The head of the regional executive took the opportunity to reaffirm the commitment of the highest authorities to improving the living conditions of the population.

He notably announced the resumption of major infrastructure projects: the Ziguinchor-Cap Skirring road, the 54-meter boulevard, and the Ziguinchor airport works. "This momentum will intensify in the coming days, if not months," he confided.

Peace: a daily endeavor

Finally, the Governor offered a profound reflection on the region's stability: “Peace is a work in progress, built every day. If we think we are at peace simply because there is no war, we are mistaken. Peace is not the absence of conflict; it is a situation in which people can live decently.” While acknowledging the persistent challenges, Mor Talla Tine concluded by stating that the security situation has “significantly improved” in the region.