Ex-Premier Sonko’s unprecedented access to special funds
In a candid television appearance, former government minister Aly Ngouille Ndiaye made a startling revelation about the allocation of Senegal’s special funds to the Prime Minister’s office. He asserted that Ousmane Sonko became the first head of government to receive these resources during his tenure at the primature.
“He was the first to benefit from this system,” Ngouille Ndiaye declared. “I never held the position of Prime Minister, but among those who have served and are still alive, only Boun Abdallah Dionne—may he rest in peace—did not have access to these funds. Amadou Ba never received them, as he was replaced by Sidiki Kaba, who did not serve long enough to benefit. The truth is, no previous Prime Minister had this privilege.”
Unprecedented spending patterns under Sonko
Ngouille Ndiaye went further, questioning the rapid depletion of the initial 1.7 billion FCFA allocated under Sonko’s leadership. “Some claim the funds were distributed quarterly, others annually. If annual, Sonko would have received around 8 billion FCFA. Yet, the first tranche was exhausted in record time—within a single quarter. This suggests the funds were not allocated annually but rather in a lump sum, confirming a pattern of accelerated spending.”
The former minister speculated that if the funds vanished during Sonko’s term, it implied he had fully utilized them. “When his successor took over, there was nothing left. This raises serious questions about accountability and transparency in the management of these public resources.”
Calls for parliamentary scrutiny intensify
Ngouille Ndiaye did not shy away from criticizing the lack of parliamentary oversight. “While Sonko may raise concerns about institutional interference, the real issue lies in his own failure to justify how these billions were spent. If a parliamentary commission were to investigate, the first question should be: How was the 1.7 billion FCFA utilized?”
He accused political leaders of hypocrisy, noting a gap between public rhetoric and actual governance. “They claim they won’t misuse institutions, yet here we see a clear case of mismanagement. The evidence is undeniable.”
Ngouille Ndiaye’s statements have reignited debates over the transparency of special funds in Senegal, with many now demanding a full audit of their allocation and usage.
