Senegal Interior Minister Mouhamadou Makhtar Cissé Prepares Grand Gamou Festival

Mouhamadou Makhtar Cissé, Senegal's minister of interior and public security, chaired a national meeting on 27 July 2026 to organise the Grand Gamou pilgrimage in Tivaouane. Religious leaders including Serigne Mansour Sy Djamil, Serigne Habib Sy Borom Daradji and other members of the Sy family, the governor of Thiès and state service representatives discussed final preparations for the expected thousands of pilgrims. Priorities covered health funding and a new hospital, sanitation trucks from ONAS, water supply, road rehabilitation by AGEROUTE, telecom upgrades by Sonatel, and heightened security deployments of police, gendarmerie and fire services.

Earlier, on 25 July 2026, Cissé visited families of religious leaders in the Louga region, meeting figures such as Serigne Bassirou Mountaha Daha Tall and delivering the president’s greetings from Bassirou Diomaye Faye. He thanked the clergy for promoting peace, dialogue and national cohesion, and asked for prayers for security and stability. Both initiatives form part of a coordinated state effort to ensure a safe and orderly Grand Gamou celebration.