Tinubu Hosts Global Tijaniyya Leader as Nigeria, Algeria Deepen Spiritual Ties
Maryam Aminu
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has received the General Caliph of the Tijaniyya Order, Sheikh Sidi Ali Belarabi Tidjani, who is on an official visit to Nigeria aimed at strengthening spiritual bonds between the global headquarters of the Islamic brotherhood in Algeria and its followers across Nigeria and West Africa.
The visit, which commenced on Thursday, August 6, 2026, saw the revered Islamic leader and a high-level delegation from the General Caliphate in Aïn Madhi, Algeria, meet with President Tinubu at the State House in Abuja on Friday, August 7, where discussions centred on religious cooperation, peace and the longstanding relationship between Nigeria and Algeria.
During the meeting, Sheikh Sidi Ali Belarabi Tidjani underscored the enduring friendship and cooperation between the two countries, saying both nations possess enormous potential to deepen bilateral relations. He also prayed for lasting peace, unity and stability in Nigeria, as well as for the physical and spiritual well-being of President Tinubu.
The visit is being undertaken at the invitation of the Sheikhs of the Tijaniyya Order in Nigeria as part of efforts to strengthen ties between the Mother Zawiya in Algeria and Tijaniyya Zawiyas across Nigeria and the wider West African region.
As part of the programme, the General Caliph will tour Tijaniyya Zawiyas in Abuja, Kano, Bauchi and other parts of the country, where he will inspect centres dedicated to the teaching of Islamic sciences, jurisprudence and the core principles of the Tijaniyya Order.
He is also expected to participate in this year’s celebration commemorating the birth of the founder of the brotherhood, Sheikh Sidi Ahmed Tidjani, which will be hosted in Kano. The itinerary also includes religious, cultural and spiritual engagements, as well as meetings with government officials and community leaders.
The Tijaniyya Order is regarded as one of the world’s largest and most influential Sufi brotherhoods, with an estimated 400 to 500 million followers across West Africa, the Maghreb, the Middle East and other regions. Nigeria is home to one of the order’s largest communities of adherents.
Founded in the late 18th century by Sheikh Sidi Ahmed Tidjani (1737–1815), the Tijaniyya Order traces its origins to Aïn Madhi in Algeria, where its Mother Zawiya and the institutional headquarters of the Caliphate remain located. The site continues to attract thousands of disciples from around the world.
As the General Caliph, Sheikh Sidi Ali Belarabi Tidjani serves as the highest spiritual and temporal authority of the Tijaniyya Order, overseeing the unity and activities of its branches across the globe.
