Babacar Ba: Urges UN Action on Madiambal Diagne Arrest Warrant Delay

• Babacar Ba of the Forum du justiciable has appealed to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights regarding a year-long delay in annulling an arrest warrant for Madiambal Diagne.
• Ba asserts that this delay constitutes a denial of justice and violates principles of swiftness outlined in the African Charter and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
• He has urged international human rights institutions and the Minister of Justice to intervene in the stalled process.
• Ba questioned the Indictment Chamber's role, suggesting fear of applying its jurisprudence might explain its inaction.
• Separately, Mouhamed Diagne filed a complaint against his father, Madiambal Diagne, and aunt, Mabintou Diaby, with the DIC on January 21, 2026.

Ba characterized the ongoing wait as a clear instance of a denial of justice, underscoring the urgency of the situation.

Babacar Ba, who presides over the Forum du justiciable, recently brought a significant legal delay to the attention of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. His appeal centers on the protracted process surrounding a request for the annulment of an arrest warrant issued against Madiambal Diagne. Ba highlighted that this particular annulment request has remained unresolved for an entire year, prompting his direct engagement with the Haut-Commissariat des Nations unies aux droits de l’homme Sénégal.

According to Ba, this year-long delay in processing the Madiambal Diagne arrest warrant annulment contravenes fundamental principles of judicial swiftness. He specifically cited provisions within the African Charter and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (Pact international relatif aux droits civils et politiques), both of which emphasize the importance of timely legal proceedings. Ba characterized the ongoing wait as a clear instance of a denial of justice, underscoring the urgency of the situation.

The president of the Forum du justiciable has not only flagged the issue to the UN but also urged international bodies dedicated to fundamental rights to thoroughly review the circumstances. In addition, Babacar Ba has called upon the Minister of Justice to intervene directly and resolve what he describes as a systemic blockage within the legal framework. His concerns extend to the role and efficacy of the Indictment Chamber, questioning its operational capacity in such high-profile cases.

Ba speculated that the Indictment Chamber's perceived inertia might stem from a reluctance to apply its established jurisprudence, suggesting a potential apprehension about setting precedents. This critique points to deeper issues within the Senegalese legal system regarding judicial efficiency and the consistent application of legal principles. The ongoing delay in the Madiambal Diagne mandat d'arrêt annulation process, therefore, serves as a focal point for broader questions about judicial accountability.

Further compounding the concerns raised by Babacar Ba, he noted that individuals associated with Ellipse Projects, who were explicitly named in the prosecutor's indictment, continue to move freely. This observation draws a stark contrast with the stalled legal proceedings concerning Madiambal Diagne, suggesting potential inconsistencies in how different cases or individuals are handled within the justice system.

In a separate but related development, Mouhamed Diagne filed a formal complaint with the DIC on January 21, 2026. This distinct legal action adds another layer of complexity to the overall situation surrounding the Diagne family and highlights ongoing legal entanglements that are unfolding concurrently with the efforts to address the Babacar Ba UN Madiambal Diagne arrest warrant issue.

This development highlights potential delays and alleged 'denial of justice' within the Senegalese legal system concerning high-profile cases, specifically regarding the annulment of arrest warrants. Lawyers and compliance officers should note the invocation of international human rights instruments (African Charter, ICCPR) and the call for intervention from international bodies and the Minister of Justice, which could influence legal strategies and advocacy in similar situations involving due process and judicial efficiency in Senegal.

Source: Original reporting via Senegal7