Paper short abstract:

This paper inquires into the existence of "a religious imperative" of political participation in Senegal. It seeks to trace the paths of engagement and participation of young Sufi Muslim who invest in the public and political arenas on account of the religious allegiance they made to their religious leader.

Paper long abstract:

This paper seeks to contribute to the renewal of analysis on practices of participation in African societies, in a context of more intricate decentralization and democratic governance injunctions developed by international development policies. To that extent, this proposal focus on the social contours of participation in a long-term existing participatory arena that is religious field in Senegal. Inquiring into the existence of what can be defined as "a religious imperative" of political participation, I will trace the paths of engagement and participation of young Sufi Muslim who invest in the public and political arenas on account of the religious allegiance they made to their religious leader (Sheikh).

This proposal intends to enhance the understanding of charismatic leadership in Senegal straddling religious and political spheres. This study will focus on the case of Cheikh Bethio Thioune and his followers who manage to gain visibility on the public scene developing a new type of legitimacy based on both capacity of social mobilization and charismatic recognition by the youth. They have been very active on the public scene especially during the 2007 and 2012 presidential elections due to the negotiations for their political support to former President Wade. This will allow us to reconsider the "Senegalese social contract" (O'Brien) describing how religion and politics are closely intertwined in Senegal since the colonial period defining the terms and effects of political participation shaped by social and religious dynamics.