Gambiaj.com – (DAKAR, Senegal) – Three Senegalese soldiers will stand trial before the Military Tribunal of Dakar. Adjutant I. Sagna, Sergeant-Chief P. Badji, and Private First Class S. Coly are accused of serious offenses, including endangering state security, compromising national defense, and colluding with the enemy, identified as the Movement of Democratic Forces of Casamance (MFDC). The public hearing is scheduled for Friday, July 28, 2024.
This high-profile trial is set to be a pivotal moment, as the Tribunal, operating publicly and contradictorily in correctional matters, will examine charges against these soldiers from the 22nd Reconnaissance and Support Battalion and the Train Battalion.
The accusations involve conspiracy against the state, endangering lives, and collusion with the enemy by providing sensitive and strategic information to MFDC combat leaders.
The alleged offenses occurred in 2022 during a military operation in southern Senegal. Utilizing advanced communication tools, company commanders intercepted communications that revealed the positions of military units.
Notably, Sergeant-Chief P. Badji is accused of attempting to divert his section of about thirty soldiers onto a different route that led away from Djibidione village. The prosecution claims that MFDC fighters were strategically positioned along this “wrong path,” suggesting an attempted ambush orchestrated by Badji.
During questioning by senior judge Oumar Maham Diallo, Sergeant Badji denied the allegations, asserting unfamiliarity with the Sindia-Djibidione axis despite claiming to know the correct route. Similar accusations have been leveled against Adjutant I. Sagna and Private First Class S. Coly, who are also alleged to have communicated military positions to MFDC fighters.
This case, stemming from a comprehensive investigation, has identified the three soldiers as key figures in transmitting crucial operational information to the enemy, thereby jeopardizing the lives and missions of their comrades. The trial’s outcome will be closely watched, as it holds significant implications for military integrity and national security in Senegal.
The ongoing conflict between the government of Senegal and the Movement of Democratic Forces of Casamance (MFDC) has persisted for several decades.
The MFDC, a separatist group, has been engaged in a low-intensity conflict with the Senegalese state, seeking independence for the Casamance region. This conflict has involved various instances of armed confrontation, ceasefires, and peace negotiations.
The Senegalese military has conducted numerous operations to secure the region and counter the MFDC’s activities. However, this conflict has also seen instances of alleged internal betrayal and collusion, complicating the security landscape.
