By Haddy Touray
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat in Senegal held its 13th annual national convention, known as Jalsa Salana, from December 26 to 28, 2025, in Diamniadio, approximately 40 kilometers from Dakar, the capital of Senegal.
Maulana Basharat Naveed Amir, the Missionary In-Charge, said he was appointed to his current position in May 2025 by Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the fifth Caliph of the worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat. He previously served in Pakistan, Burkina Faso, Mauritius, and Union Island, where he held leadership roles, including the opening of the first Ahmadiyya radio station in Burkina Faso in 2002.
Speaking on the purpose of the convention, Maulana Naveed said the Jalsa Salana, initiated by the founder of the Jamaat, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, in 1891, fosters unity among members, especially new converts, and promotes knowledge and spiritual growth. He added that the event also serves as a time to remember members who passed away during the year.
This year’s Jalsa Salana drew over 3,000 participants, including men, women, and children, from more than 300 villages across Senegal’s 14 regions. Delegates from neighboring Gambia, led by Missionary In-Charge Mahmood Ahmad Tahir, also attended.
The convention concluded on Sunday with closing remarks from Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, who addressed the three Jalsas taking place simultaneously in India, Senegal, and Guinea-Bissau.
Background
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat was founded in 1889 by Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, who claimed to be the Promised Messiah and Imam Mahdi. Born in 1835 in Qadian, India, he passed away in 1908. He was succeeded by a series of Caliphs, the current being Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the fifth successor. The movement emphasizes the global spread of its message, fulfilling prophecies revealed to its founder.
