Aly Ngouille Ndiaye raises questions over Ousmane Sonko’s special funds
Former Minister Aly Ngouille Ndiaye recently shed light on the 1.7 billion FCFA political fund allocated to Ousmane Sonko. Ndiaye indicated that these funds were reportedly exhausted prior to Sonko’s request for supplementary budgetary allocations, prompting concerns about the accountability of these expenditures.
Aly Ngouille Ndiaye, who previously served as Minister of the Interior, has reignited discussions surrounding the special funds designated for high-ranking government officials. He emphasized that before delving into the matter of presidential funds, Ousmane Sonko should first provide a clear accounting of how the resources made available to him during his tenure as head of government were utilized.
Ndiaye asserted that the current Prime Minister holds the distinction of being the inaugural Senegalese head of government to receive a dedicated political fund for his office. He highlighted that, with the exception of Boun Abdallah Dionne, most former Prime Ministers are still living, and none, including Dionne and Amadou Bâ, were ever granted such an independent financial allocation. Regarding Sidiki Kaba, Ndiaye noted that Kaba’s brief time in the Primature after Sonko meant the issue of such funds did not arise in his specific case.
The 1.7 billion FCFA enigma
The former minister further elaborated on the 1.7 billion FCFA figure, a sum frequently mentioned by Ousmane Sonko himself, yet whose periodicity remains undefined – whether it’s a quarterly or annual allocation. Ndiaye pointed out that if this allocation were indeed quarterly, the total annual amount would escalate to approximately 8 billion FCFA.
Ndiaye also reiterated previous statements made by Abdourahmane Diouf, suggesting that the entire 1.7 billion FCFA allocation was expended before Sonko sought any additional budget. He interpreted the subsequent lack of available funds for Sonko’s successor at the Primature as clear evidence that the first quarter’s funds had been completely utilized, presenting this as a factual observation rather than an accusation.
Ultimately, Aly Ngouille Ndiaye argued that for the sake of consistency and transparency, Ousmane Sonko should have incorporated his own administration of special funds into the scope of the investigative commissions he initiated. Ndiaye hinted at possessing further pertinent details on the subject, though he refrained from disclosing them publicly at this juncture.
