Serigne Mouhamadou Mountakha Bassirou Mbacké: The Eighth Khalife, Wisdom in the Service of Humanity (since 2018)
A grandson of Serigne Touba
Serigne Mouhamadou Mountakha Bassirou Mbacké is the current Khalife général of the Mourides, the eighth successor of Cheikh Ahmadou Bamba. He is the son of Serigne Mouhamadoul Bachir (Bassirou) Mbacké, the scholar and biographer of Serigne Touba, and the oldest living grandson of the founder of the Mouride path.
He was born around 1933 at Darou Kayel, near Mboul. Some sources give 1930.
Education: knowledge, discipline and humility
He grew up in the home of his father, one of the greatest scholars of the Mouride community. There, he memorized the Holy Quran and studied the Islamic sciences. He was raised in the values of knowledge, discipline, work and obedience, which his father held dear. Those close to him say he was trained in the Quran, the religious sciences and “the school of humility.”
An educator and a farmer
Long before becoming Khalife, Serigne Mountakha lived the Mouride ideal of prayer and work:
- an educator: he opened a daara for the young namesakes of Sokhna Mame Diarra Bousso, the mother of Serigne Touba;
- a farmer: he cultivated fields at Darou Salam Typ, where he also set up a daara.
Known as a great scholar and a man of culture, he is admired as a friendly, courteous and warm guide, easily recognized by his welcoming face and his white beard.
Khalife of the family of Serigne Bassirou
In August 2007, after the passing of his elder brother, Serigne Modou Moustapha Bassirou Mbacké, he became the Khalife of the family of Serigne Bassirou Mbacké. Even then, he was known as a man of reconciliation, bringing people and families together.
Eighth Khalife général of the Mourides
On January 10, 2018, following the passing of Serigne Cheikh Sidy Moukhtar Mbacké, Serigne Mountakha became the eighth Khalife général of the Mourides.
His leadership rests on wisdom, mediation, humility and service. He prefers quiet action to speeches, and his authority comes from the trust he inspires more than from words.
Great works completed
The Massalikoul Djinane Mosque, Dakar (2019)
In September 2019, he inaugurated the Great Mosque Massalikoul Djinane in Dakar, named after one of the most famous works of Cheikh Ahmadou Bamba. Costing more than 20 billion CFA francs, it is one of the largest mosques in West Africa and a masterpiece of architecture and spirituality.
The Cheikh Ahmadoul Khadim University, Touba (2023)
He laid the foundation stone of the Cheikh Ahmadoul Khadim Complex, the University of Touba, on December 5, 2018. This university, one of his dearest wishes, cost more than 30 billion CFA francs and opened its doors on February 6, 2023. In April 2026, it celebrated its first 166 graduates.
Touba, a city that keeps growing
Under his leadership, the religious and social infrastructure of Touba has continued to grow, strengthening the holy city’s role as a center of faith, learning and daily life.
Ongoing: the renovation of the Great Mosque of Touba
On March 19, 2026, Serigne Mountakha launched one of the largest projects in the history of the Great Mosque of Touba: its renovation, extension and beautification. The works are planned to last about fourteen months and include:
- raising the roof of the mosque;
- rebuilding the two front minarets, from 23 meters to 40 meters high;
- a 60-meter extension between the rear minarets;
- a new building with a basement and a ground floor for prayer, including spaces to receive distinguished guests.
True to the principle set by Cheikh Ahmadou Bamba, the works are financed by the disciples and benefactors, whom the Khalife has called on to take part. The Hizbut Tarqiyyah movement alone mobilized one billion CFA francs. In a beautiful sign of brotherhood, the Khalife général of the Tidianes, Serigne Babacar Sy Mansour, also contributed.
A heart open to all
Serigne Mountakha is also known for his care for people in need. He has supported:
- families affected by irregular migration, who lost loved ones at sea;
- victims of floods and merchants who lost their goods;
- the sick and the most vulnerable;
- the national effort during the COVID-19 pandemic, calling for both faith and respect for health measures.
His generosity reaches beyond Senegal. He sent help to Morocco and Turkey after major disasters, and he supports mosque and school projects in many places.
A peacemaker for the nation
His role reaches well beyond the Mouride community. Respected by leaders, religious guides and international figures alike, he has helped restore dialogue between people long opposed to each other, in the community and at the national level.
A living legacy
Now in his nineties, Serigne Mountakha Mbacké continues to guide millions of disciples around the world with wisdom and humility. From Massalikoul Djinane to the University of Touba, and today the renovation of the Great Mosque, his khalifate carries forward the promise of Cheikh Ahmadou Bamba: to build, to educate and to serve, with faith and with the community’s own hands.
May God grant him a long life and good health.