Maryam Aminu
The General Caliph of the Tijaniyya Order, Sheikh Sidi Ali Belarabi Tidjani, has begun a high-profile visit to Nigeria, where he met President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and reaffirmed the long-standing spiritual and diplomatic ties between Algeria and Nigeria.
The revered Islamic leader, who arrived in Nigeria on Thursday, August 6, 2026, is leading a high-level delegation from the General Caliphate in Aïn Madhi, Algeria, on a visit aimed at strengthening the relationship between the Mother Zawiya in Algeria and Tijaniyya Zawiyas across Nigeria and the wider West African region.
As part of the visit, Sheikh Sidi Ali Belarabi Tidjani, accompanied by members of the Tijaniyya Supreme Council, met President Tinubu at the State House in Abuja on Friday, August 7, 2026.
During the meeting, the General Caliph highlighted the longstanding friendship and cooperation between Algeria and Nigeria, noting that both countries possess significant potential to deepen bilateral relations. He also offered prayers for lasting peace, unity and love in Nigeria, as well as for the physical and spiritual well-being of President Tinubu.
The visit includes an extensive tour of Tijaniyya Zawiyas in Abuja, Kano, Bauchi and other parts of the country, where the delegation will inspect centres dedicated to the teaching of Islamic sciences, jurisprudence and the foundational principles of the Tijaniyya Order.
Sheikh Sidi Ali Belarabi Tidjani is also scheduled to participate in this year’s celebration marking the birth of Sheikh Sidi Ahmed Tidjani, which is being hosted in Kano. The programme will further feature religious, cultural and spiritual engagements, as well as meetings with government officials and prominent community leaders.
The Tijaniyya Order is regarded as one of the world’s most influential Sufi brotherhoods, with an estimated 400 to 500 million followers spread across West Africa, the Maghreb, the Middle East and other parts of the world. Nigeria is home to one of its largest communities of adherents.
Founded in the late 18th century by Sheikh Sidi Ahmed Tidjani (1737–1815), the brotherhood 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 across the globe seeking to reconnect with the spiritual roots of the order.
The General Caliph remains the highest spiritual and temporal authority of the Tijaniyya Order, overseeing the unity and activities of its branches worldwide. The position is currently held by Sheikh Sidi Ali Belarabi Tidjani.
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