Political clash: minister abdourahmane diouf renews criticism of ousmane sonko
Political clash: minister abdourahmane diouf renews criticism of ousmane sonko
Dr. Abdourahmane Diouf asserts that Ousmane Sonko’s recent visits to religious communities directly contradict the actual content of the legislative proposal currently before Parliament. “What he advocates in the National Assembly bears no resemblance to what he conveyed to our religious leaders,” Diouf declared, pointing to a “deep moral issue.”
The debate surrounding the reform of special credits has escalated with a fresh confrontation. Dr. El Hadji Abdourahmane Diouf, who serves as the Minister of Petroleum and Deputy General Supervisor for the KIIRAAY / Les Patriotes Républicains coalition, has vehemently criticized the National Assembly’s proposed bill concerning these funds. He accuses the parliamentary majority and its president, Ousmane Sonko, of employing “double language” when addressing religious communities.
For Dr. Diouf, Sonko’s recent outreach to religious centers stands in stark opposition to the true nature of the text presented to Parliament. He firmly stated, “The proposals he brings before the National Assembly are entirely disconnected from the narrative he shared with our spiritual guides,” highlighting what he perceives as a significant “moral problem.” The Minister’s critique is rooted in Article 2 of the parliamentary proposal, which strictly earmarks special credits “exclusively” for defense, security, and intelligence purposes. Furthermore, Article 5 explicitly excludes expenditures of a social nature. Diouf labels this wording as “anti-social and anti-religious credits,” arguing that it effectively shuts off avenues for supporting vulnerable populations.
In contrast, Dr. Diouf commended the Executive’s proposed amendments, which seek to reintroduce provisions for “the preservation of social order” and uphold “humanitarian values, mutual assistance, and solidarity.” His conclusion was unequivocal: “Where the Assembly excludes, the Executive includes.” Finally, Dr. Abdourahmane Diouf challenged Ousmane Sonko by reminding him of his own unrestricted use of political funds during his tenure as Prime Minister. Diouf urged Sonko to acknowledge the full implications of his proposed legislation: “Own up to your discrimination against our religious communities in the allocation of political funds! The Republic! Nothing but the Republic!”
Abdourahmane Diouf