According to information from his office in Bansang, the tour is part of a visit that the Khalif conducts periodically in various parts of the region to interact with disciples and the general community.
Departing from Bansang, CRR, on the 25th of December 2024 and accompanied by a delegation of family and disciples, the Khalifa travelled through Basse URR into Welingara, and to Nyanao in the Casamance region in Senegal. He arrived in Guinea Bissau at Piraada and then proceeded to Ngaabou where he spent a night after a tremendous welcome by disciples and the town’s population. He then travelled to Madina Benteh, and to Madina Bansang where he was received by Sheikh Momodou Salieu Jallow, where he spent two nights, leading Friday prayers at the Central mosque. Thereafter he proceeded to Mansowa to a welcome; by a huge turnout of Muslims and community leaders. Leading the reception team was Sheikh Muhamadou Jawo Jnr, the Khalifin Mansowa and grandson of his namesake who was a strong disciple of Sheikh Alhaji Bubacar Zaidi Jallow (RA) of Bansang. The Khalifa’s visit took him through Madina Sanun, Taslima and Baafata where he was received by the Imam Ratib Sheikh Alhaji Kula Bin and community personalities. The Khalif officiated over the conversion of some persons into Islam at Baafata.
The Khalifa visited Bissau, the capital city where he met with and addressed Muslims and community leaders. He paid a courtesy call on the President of Guinea Bissau H.E. Ummarou Sissoko Mbalow.
The President expressed his delight at the Khalifa’s visit and stressed the strong ties of kinship and friendship between The Gambia and Guinea Bissau. The Khalifa prayed, and expressed commitment to continuing to pray for peace and progress in and for good relations between the states in the region.
The Khalif who is also the Chief Justice of The Gambia also paid a courtesy call on his colleague, the president of the Supreme Council of the Judiciary of Guinea Bissau, Hon. Lima Antonio Andre.
The Khalif arrived back in The Gambia on 31st of December 2024 after a week’s tour of Guinea Bissau which ended with visit to Ingore and San Domingo in Guinea Bissau and to Ziguinchor and Binjona in the Casamance.
The Khalif expressed great satisfaction with the reception accorded to him and his delegation in all the places they visited.
His mission focused on strengthening Islam and the tijanniya in the region. It was characterised by huge turnout of enthusiastic people, conversions to Islam, initiation of new members and the appointment of muqqadam of the tariq by the Khalif and the renewal of the vows of current members of the tariq Tijanniya.
According to the Khalifa, his messsage was for people to strive to be good Muslims by fulfilling not only the rituals of the five pillars of the religion but also being of good character and engaging in the good conduct which the Holy Prophet Muhammad SAW described as constituting half of one’s religion. Among such conduct and characteristics the Khalif pointed out are love for the truth and justice, promoting peace, helping the weak and disadvantaged, humility, and good neighbourliness. Such good neighbourliness, the Khalif emphasised, should be extended to all persons irrespective of religion, faith, race or other status.
The Khalifa urged all parents to pay particular attention to the education and upbringing of their young and to provide them with the necessary training to be good and productive citizens who have the fear of Allah SWT in them.
