President says no religious affairs ministry

President Abdoulaye Wade has rejected calls for the establishment of a ministry for religious affairs, saying it would have no part in the politics of this secular country, PANA reported on Friday. Emphasising this, Wade said he deliberately celebrated the end of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan at his local mosque rather than at the Grand Mosque of Dakar that his predecessor, Abdou Diouf, had used as head of state. A segment of the Muslim community broke fast on Wednesday, after sighting the moon, a day ahead of other Muslims. The moon citing, which signifies the beginning and end of the fasting period, has always proved a point of disagreement among Senegal’s Muslims. This has led to calls for a Ministry of Religious Affairs, to end the confusion surrounding the official start and end of various Muslim feasts in Senegal. With Muslims making for at least 80 percent of the population, Senegal is a country in which the leaders of the leading Muslim brotherhoods have always influenced voters among their adherents. Wade, who is a disciple of the powerful Mouride Brotherhood, said he prayed at his mosque as a symbol of his intent to depoliticise religion.