Senegal gives $10m for Muslim feast
Senegal President Macky Sall delivers the opening speech at the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) head of states summit on September 12, 2015, in Dakar. President Sall has ordered the government to pay out 20 billion CFA ($10 million) to cushion families during the Eid al-Adha Muslim festivities. PHOTO | AFP
What you need to know:
- Eid-al Adha, or ‘Tabaski’ as it is widely known in Francophone west Africa, is a major feat in the Muslim calendar.
- Businesses have also been complaining about this year’s Eid al-Adha preparations, saying the fete was not bringing in the usual income they have been earning in the past.
- In Senegal, over one million rams are expected to be slaughtered since polygamous family heads with four wives will slaughter up to four rams for each of the households.
DAKAR
Senegal’s President Macky Sall has ordered the government to pay out 20 billion CFA ($10 million) to cushion families during the Eid al-Adha Muslim festivities.
The cash will be paid immediately as salaries and arrears owed pensioners and civil servants.
Eid-al Adha, or ‘Tabaski’ as it is widely known in Francophone west Africa, is a major feat in the Muslim calendar.
President Sall’s directive has been widely acclaimed across the predominantly Muslim country.
HIGH COST OF LIVING
Last month, the traditional cash advances were paid to civil servants to prepare for the fete, but the outcry was that the money was not enough over hardship had been very loud due to high cost of living.
Businesses have also been complaining about this year’s Eid al-Adha preparations, saying the fete was not bringing in the usual income they have been earning in the past.
Financial analysts have interpreted the Presidential action as meaning government coffers are healthy, a point affirmed by recent laudatory statements from the US government and the IMF.
Meanwhile, in Banjul, the Gambian government declared a four-day public holiday to mark this year’s feast.
A statement on Tuesday said the holidays become effective on Thursday.
FOUR-DAY PUBLIC HOLIDAY
Since nearly two years, the government had decreed that the country will only have four work days spanning from Monday to Thursday.
The decision was justified by the fact that the country was an agriculture-based and as such farmers would need enough time to till the soil.
Gambia is also a majority Muslim country and as such the four-day public holiday will allow the Muslim enough time to travel and celebrate the event with their families.
Each Muslim family head will slaughter a ram in keeping with the holy Koran to mark the fete.
In neighbouring Senegal, the festival will be held on Thursday and Friday in keeping with the two leading Muslim fraternities: the Ibadu and the Tidianniya.
In Senegal, over one million rams are expected to be slaughtered since polygamous family heads with four wives will slaughter up to four rams for each of the households.
