Kankan, the city in upper Guinea, is once again shaken by a major controversy involving a prominent religious figure. El Hadj Souleymane Sidibé, the president of the highly influential Nourdine Islam Association, has been severely sanctioned by the highest religious authorities in the region.
In a shocking decision dated May 31, 2024, the prefectural secretary general of Religious Affairs of Kankan, the communal secretary general of Religious Affairs of Kankan, and the inspector of the Regional Islamic League pronounced the suspension of El Hadj Souleymane Sidibé and his association from all religious activities.
The reasons given for this unprecedented sanction are significant. The authorities accuse the scholar of a lack of respect for human dignity, contempt for the superior Islamic hierarchy, and behavior described as "anti-religious". These accusations, if proven true, would severely tarnish the image and credibility of this respected figure in the Guinean religious landscape.
Contacted to react to this explosive affair, El Hadj Souleymane Sidibé adopted a dignified and measured posture, refusing to fuel the controversy. In a statement collected on Tuesday, June 4, 2024, the president of Nourdine Islam claimed he had not received any official notification regarding his alleged suspension. With Olympic calm, he confided that he was relying on divine will, certain that the truth would eventually come to light.
"I am not informed of this sanction," declared the scholar. "I don't accuse anyone; it's God who watches over everyone. If someone accuses me, I wait for God who knows everything. When God entrusts you with something that everyone is trying to seek, He will create other people to fight you. But if you believe in God, everyone will see the truth."
This affair raises many questions about the true motivations of the religious authorities. Is it a settling of scores related to doctrinal differences or power struggles within the Guinean religious sphere? Or are the accusations against El Hadj Souleymane Sidibé truly based on serious breaches of Islamic ethics and morals?
In any case, this controversy once again highlights the tensions and divisions that sometimes shake the Guinean religious landscape. In a nation where faith occupies a prominent place, such scandals severely test the cohesion and tranquility of the Muslim community.
For now, El Hadj Souleymane Sidibé relies on his unwavering faith and divine judgment to dispel this cloud of suspicion. His followers and supporters, meanwhile, fervently await for the truth to come to light. One thing is certain, this affair is likely to fuel discussions and passions for many weeks, if not months, within Guinean society.
