The Senegalese government has responded to concerns over the care of the children of Warrant Officer Didier Badji, who disappeared in November 2022.
MP Guy Marius Sagna revealed the official response to his written parliamentary question, highlighting ongoing delays in granting the family access to social and financial support.
The Ministry of the Armed Forces acknowledged that a judicial declaration of death has yet to be issued, a necessary step for activating death benefits and pension rights. In the meantime, the gendarmerie has reportedly provided moral and financial support to the orphaned children.
An administrative process still pending, MP Sagna stressed that the handling of Didier Badji’s case exposes the sluggishness of the bureaucracy.
“The soldier’s salary continued to be paid into his bank account until May 2025, more than two years after his disappearance,” he said.
He added that the lack of a declaratory judgment of death continues to prevent the children from accessing their rightful benefits.
The Ministry has indicated that steps to regularize the situation are underway and instructed the gendarmerie to oversee this process.
The children, who lost their mother, Daba Diouf, after Badji’s disappearance, have received intermittent support, but Sagna criticized the delay. “The family was not contacted until July 2025, 16 months after President Bassirou Diomaye Faye was sworn in,” he said.
Sagna attributes this to lingering practices from the previous administration and a lack of urgency in handling sensitive human rights cases.
The disappearance of Warrant Officer Badji, alongside Sergeant Fulbert Sambou, remains unresolved, fueling rumors and public mistrust. Analysts view the case as emblematic of broader challenges in the protection of military personnel and the State’s communication with affected families.
Sagna calls for a fundamental change in how sensitive cases are managed, urging stricter oversight of parliamentary questions and greater responsiveness from institutions. “Parliamentary oversight instruments must fully play their role as democratic watchdogs and help bring citizens closer to their institutions,” he emphasized.
As Senegal grapples with this unresolved case, it underscores the importance of transparency and accountability in ensuring trust between the government and its citizens.
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