Six parliamentary inquiry commissions are on the agenda for this extraordinary session convened by the National Assembly on Monday, August 10, 2026. Among them, one stands out: an investigation into irregularities in the awarding and execution of contracts for the ‘One Student, One Computer’ program, managed by the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation since 2017. The total financial commitment for this initiative is estimated at 48 billion CFA francs. A pressing question is emerging in political and media circles: Is this inquiry, by extension, targeting former minister Abdourahmane Diouf?
An issue with deep roots
This matter is not new. As early as November 8, 2025, the then-Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko publicly flagged irregularities in the management of certain higher education programs, directly implicating the administration led by Abdourahmane Diouf. The former minister responded by urging lawmakers to establish a parliamentary inquiry commission to shed full light on these cases, including the construction of five university lots, while acknowledging shared responsibility alongside the Prime Minister.
Tensions simmer between Sonko and Diouf
The inquiry commission arrives at a time of palpable political friction between the two figures. Abdourahmane Diouf, once a leader of the Awalé party and a former ally of the ruling coalition, has since joined Kiiraay – The Republican Patriots, the new party backed by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye. This political shift has severed ties with Pastef and its leader, Ousmane Sonko. Some observers suggest this could conceal a calculated move to settle scores under the guise of a parliamentary inquiry.
The official decree convening the extraordinary session does not explicitly name Abdourahmane Diouf. The inquiry spans 2017 to 2026, covering nearly a decade of program management and potentially implicating multiple ministers and technical departments within the Ministry of Higher Education. No individual is singled out in the formal text.
While the timing of the inquiry aligns with Diouf’s departure from the presidential camp and his affiliation with Kiiraay, no concrete evidence currently confirms that Ousmane Sonko is specifically targeting his former government colleague through this parliamentary process. Only the future commission’s proceedings and eventual findings will reveal the exact responsibilities in the management of this 48 billion CFA franc program.