The problem with Islam: When a Religious Teacher Becomes More Important Than the Religion

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There is a difficult question that Islam has had to confront throughout its history: where does respect for a religious teacher end and devotion to the human being begin? The debate surrounding Sheikh Ibrahim Niass and the devotion of some members of the Tijaniyya tradition brings that question back into focus. Ibrahim Niass (1900–1975) was a major Senegalese Islamic scholar and leader of the Tijani Sufi order. His influence spread far beyond Senegal, particularly across West Africa. His followers affectionately called him Baye , meaning “father,” and his movement eventually attracted millions of followers. That history is important because it shows that this is not simply a story about one obscure preacher. It is about the enormous authority that a charismatic religious figure can acquire. And once that authority becomes enormous, an uncomfortable question follows: Are people still following the religion—or have they begun following the person? The Passpo...
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Even Critics Are Reporting Progress: What the Mo Ibrahim Foundation's Latest Findings Could Mean for the Sahel

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The latest governance findings from the Mo Ibrahim Foundation indicate that the Alliance of Sahel States (AES)—Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger—has recorded improvements in anti-corruption indicators following the political transitions that brought their current military-led governments to power.



For supporters of the AES, the findings are significant not only because of what they say, but because of who is saying them.

The Mo Ibrahim Foundation has often been associated with governance frameworks that emphasize liberal democratic institutions, constitutional rule and civilian government. Many supporters of the Sahel's military-led governments have criticized those frameworks, arguing that they do not always account for the region's security realities or its rejection of longstanding foreign influence.

Against that backdrop, the Foundation's recognition of improvements in anti-corruption indicators is likely to be cited by advocates of the AES as evidence that the political transformations underway in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger are producing measurable governance gains in at least some areas.

That does not settle the wider debate over the region's future. Governance encompasses far more than corruption alone, including security, civil liberties, economic performance, institutional strength and public accountability. Different observers will weigh those dimensions differently.

Nevertheless, the report complicates a narrative that portrays the AES solely through the lens of instability or democratic backsliding. It suggests that, even amid intense political change, measurable progress can occur in specific areas of governance.

Whether these improvements prove durable will depend on the ability of the three governments to translate anti-corruption gains into stronger institutions, improved public services and sustained economic development.

For now, the report adds another layer to an increasingly consequential debate over governance in the Sahel. It also illustrates that the political influence of the Alliance of Sahel States is becoming harder to ignore—not only within West Africa but across broader African policy discussions.

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