During a visit to Diourbel in central Senegal, Minister Moussa Balla Fofana reignited a long-standing debate that continues to challenge public policy: the issue of child begging among talibés. The government official described the matter as one of the most pressing societal concerns in Senegal, signaling a renewed commitment to addressing a problem that intersects social, religious, and state responsibilities.
Diourbel: a symbolic ground zero for talibé discussions
The selection of Diourbel as the focal point for this initiative is deliberate. The region, adjacent to Touba and a stronghold of the Mouride brotherhood, is home to numerous daaras—traditional Quranic schools that host thousands of children from across Senegal and neighboring countries. Within this religious and educational network lies the practice of sending children into the streets to beg for daily alms, cloaked under the guise of religious instruction.
By acknowledging the sensitivity of this issue, Moussa Balla Fofana highlights the delicate balance required. Public discourse on talibés must navigate respect for religious brotherhoods, the social standing of Quranic teachers, and the state’s duty to protect minors from street hazards, accidents, and exploitation. Past administrations have repeatedly pledged to remove children from public spaces, yet these efforts have fallen short of producing lasting change.
An issue at the crossroads of social and state priorities
The minister emphasized the structural nature of the problem. Beneath the surface of child begging lie deep-rooted challenges: rural poverty, internal migration, the management of Quranic schools, and child protection. Efforts to modernize daaras, a promise dating back to the early 2000s, remain incomplete. While legislation such as the Child Protection Code and penal provisions against forced begging exist, their enforcement often hinges on local power dynamics.
For the current administration, formed after the 2024 political transition, this issue represents a critical test. President Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s government has made social recovery a cornerstone of its agenda, pledging to reinvest in youth, education, and family dignity. Tackling talibé begging head-on means challenging an entrenched equilibrium few administrations have dared to disrupt. Child rights advocates have long warned about conditions in urban daaras, where overcrowding, violence, and inadequate healthcare have been documented in multiple NGO reports in recent years.
What immediate public response can be expected
The minister’s address to local stakeholders suggests that policy decisions are in the pipeline. Three key strategies typically feature in government plans: modernizing and regulating daaras, strengthening state oversight of child migration patterns, and providing socio-economic support to vulnerable households—the primary source of talibé recruitment. The success of any public policy in this area will depend on the government’s ability to engage with religious leaders, particularly those in Touba, Tivaouane, and Médina Baye, without disrupting ongoing dialogue.
The financial aspect remains a critical hurdle. Sheltering street children, ensuring their schooling, and providing potential support for reformed daaras require sustainable funding and a robust inter-ministerial framework involving Education, Family, Interior, and Justice. Without centralized coordination, past efforts to remove children from the streets in Dakar have repeatedly led to quick relapses within weeks.
Moussa Balla Fofana’s visit to Diourbel underscores a shift toward grounding the debate in affected communities rather than confining it to ministerial discussions in the capital. The true test, however, will be translating these discussions into a concrete action plan, eagerly anticipated by child protection organizations and families alike. The minister has indicated that consultations with local actors will continue.
