Abdourahmane Diouf scrutinizes Ousmane Sonko’s political fund management in Senegal
The minister extensively addressed the contentious issue surrounding the administration of political funds and allocations granted to the Prime Minister’s office during Ousmane Sonko’s tenure. This statement emerges amidst a dynamic political landscape, notably marked by Sonko’s recent integration into the new Kiiraay party. Launched by the President of the Republic on July 25 in Dakar, Kiiraay represents a merger of 437 parties and movements from the former Diomaye Président coalition, with Sonko officially dissolving his Awalé party to join.
Delving into the financial resources made available to Ousmane Sonko, Abdourahmane Diouf recounted the figures he cited upon assuming the Prime Ministership. “He declared a quarterly sum of 1.770 billion CFA francs at his disposal,” Diouf emphasized. Continuing his analysis of how these funds were utilized, he added, “What I know is that after expending these 1.770 billion CFA francs, he even requested an additional allocation… This clearly indicates it wasn’t sufficient.”
In light of these budgetary decisions, particularly given that the former Prime Minister had disclosed this exact amount to deputies on May 22, mere hours before his dismissal, the former leader of the Awalé party expressed his strong support for a public and exemplary accounting process. “My desire was for a parliamentary inquiry commission to be established, with all television and radio stations present to film, so he could explain precisely where these funds were channeled,” he asserted.
When questioned about the distinctions in governance and approach between Ousmane Sonko and the Head of State, Abdourahmane Diouf was keen to commend the transformative shift introduced by the latter. “Every Senegalese citizen is aware that the President of the Republic has access to political funds. Every Senegalese knows the exact amount of these political funds; it is no secret,” he promptly stated. In his view, the true progress lies in the eradication of the dogma of opacity that previously shrouded the use of these allocations.
“President Diomaye deserves credit for publicly declaring before all Senegalese: ‘The political funds are here, and I will utilize them in such and such a manner,’” he observed, affirming the full legitimacy of this approach. Abdourahmane Diouf concluded by suggesting that this stance signifies a pivotal institutional turning point: “We are thus operating with complete transparency in the execution of a budget approved by the National Assembly. No one can claim that these funds were misused.”
Delving into the financial resources made available to Ousmane Sonko, Abdourahmane Diouf recounted the figures he cited upon assuming the Prime Ministership. “He declared a quarterly sum of 1.770 billion CFA francs at his disposal,” Diouf emphasized. Continuing his analysis of how these funds were utilized, he added, “What I know is that after expending these 1.770 billion CFA francs, he even requested an additional allocation… This clearly indicates it wasn’t sufficient.”
In light of these budgetary decisions, particularly given that the former Prime Minister had disclosed this exact amount to deputies on May 22, mere hours before his dismissal, the former leader of the Awalé party expressed his strong support for a public and exemplary accounting process. “My desire was for a parliamentary inquiry commission to be established, with all television and radio stations present to film, so he could explain precisely where these funds were channeled,” he asserted.
When questioned about the distinctions in governance and approach between Ousmane Sonko and the Head of State, Abdourahmane Diouf was keen to commend the transformative shift introduced by the latter. “Every Senegalese citizen is aware that the President of the Republic has access to political funds. Every Senegalese knows the exact amount of these political funds; it is no secret,” he promptly stated. In his view, the true progress lies in the eradication of the dogma of opacity that previously shrouded the use of these allocations.
“President Diomaye deserves credit for publicly declaring before all Senegalese: ‘The political funds are here, and I will utilize them in such and such a manner,’” he observed, affirming the full legitimacy of this approach. Abdourahmane Diouf concluded by suggesting that this stance signifies a pivotal institutional turning point: “We are thus operating with complete transparency in the execution of a budget approved by the National Assembly. No one can claim that these funds were misused.”