Tijaniyya Supreme Leader Meets Tinubu, Seeks Stronger Nigeria-Algeria Ties

The General Caliph of the Tijaniyya Order and leader of the Tijaniyya Supreme Council, Sheikh Sidi Ali Belarabi Tidjani, has met President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Abuja as part of his official visit to Nigeria.

Sheikh Tidjani arrived in the country on Thursday, 6 August 2026, leading a high-level delegation from the General Caliphate in Aïn Madhi, Algeria, following an invitation from senior leaders of the Tijaniyya Order in Nigeria.

The Tijaniyya leader and his delegation were received by President Tinubu at the State House in Abuja on Friday, 7 August.

During the meeting, Sheikh Tidjani highlighted the longstanding ties between Algeria and Nigeria, stressing the potential for further strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries.

He also prayed for stronger spiritual bonds between the peoples of Algeria and Nigeria and sought peace, unity, love and stability in Nigeria.

The General Caliph offered prayers for the physical and spiritual wellbeing of President Tinubu and for the continued progress and prosperity of Nigeria.

The visit, which is expected to last several days, will take Sheikh Tidjani and his delegation to Abuja, Kano, Bauchi and other parts of the country.

As part of the programme, he is expected to visit Tijaniyya Zawiyas and engage Islamic scholars and followers involved in the teaching of Islamic sciences, jurisprudence and the principles of the Tijaniyya Order.

He will also participate in events marking the birth anniversary of Sheikh Sidi Ahmed Tidjani, the founder of the Tijaniyya Order, in Kano.

The delegation is further expected to hold engagements with government officials, Islamic scholars, community leaders and other stakeholders as part of the religious, cultural and spiritual activities lined up for the visit.

The Tijaniyya Order is one of the major Sufi brotherhoods in West Africa, with a significant following in Nigeria, Niger, Senegal and Mali, as well as parts of North Africa and the Middle East.

Founded by Sheikh Sidi Ahmed Tidjani (1737–1815) in the late 18th century, the order has its historical and spiritual headquarters in Aïn Madhi, in Algeria’s Laghouat Province.

Aïn Madhi is home to the Mother Zawiya and the institutional headquarters of the General Caliphate, and remains an important spiritual centre for Tijaniyya followers worldwide.

As General Caliph, Sheikh Sidi Ali Belarabi Tidjani serves as the supreme spiritual and temporal authority of the order, with responsibility for promoting unity and strengthening relations among its branches and followers across the world.