Political funds in Senegal: a practice not limited to sonko
Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko recently disclosed a political fund allocation of 1.77 billion CFA francs at the National Assembly, sparking renewed scrutiny of a long-standing but opaque financial practice in Senegalese governance.
While the revelation has ignited political tensions, it’s important to note that the use of discretionary political funds by prime ministers in Senegal predates Sonko’s tenure. This system, historically managed with minimal oversight, has long been a source of controversy, with annual allocations reaching up to 1.7 billion CFA francs for the prime minister, compared to approximately 11 billion for the president.
Historical practices under scrutiny
The political fund controversy gained momentum when Sonko, during a parliamentary session, confirmed the existence of this 1.77 billion CFA franc allocation at the Prime Minister’s Office. This admission marked a shift from his earlier denial of such resources. Rather than advocating for the abolition of the system, Sonko argued for stricter controls, citing examples from Western nations where similar funds are managed by heads of government under dedicated commissions.
Sonko’s call for transparency wasn’t spontaneous. His party, Pastef, had been advocating for reforms to these opaque funds since 2014, with a formal commitment to address the issue included in their 2019 electoral platform.
Political fallout and institutional consequences
The public disagreement between Sonko and President Bassirou Diomaye Faye over the management of these funds reached a breaking point. By raising the issue in parliament, Sonko challenged the president’s authority, forcing a critical decision: either grant the Prime Minister’s Office greater autonomy or reassert presidential control. The president ultimately chose the latter, terminating Sonko’s mandate and reshaping the political alliance that emerged from the 2024 transition.
Further developments in late July 2026 intensified the controversy when the Minister of Petroleum and Energy, Abdourahmane Diouf, disclosed that Sonko had reportedly requested additional budgetary allocations after depleting his annual fund. This revelation reignited debates about the lack of transparency surrounding these funds. Civil society voices, including those from the NGO 3D led by Moundiaye Cissé, are now demanding public disclosure of fund utilization reports for both the Prime Minister’s Office and the National Assembly over the past two years.
