The contentious matter involving the Senegalese agency for rural electrification (ASER) and the Spanish firm AEE Power has reignited political discourse in Dakar. Thierno Alassane Sall, leader of La République des valeurs and a member of the National Assembly, has openly accused the ruling party, Pastef, of hypocrisy regarding this pivotal rural electrification contract. The former Minister of Energy did not shy away from using the term “duplicity,” a word seldom heard in local parliamentary discussions, to describe what he perceives as a contradictory stance by the executive.

A rural electrification contract becomes a state affair

The agreement between ASER and AEE Power encompasses an extensive initiative to electrify numerous Senegalese villages, aiming to connect thousands of communities to the national power grid. For several months, the precise execution of the project, the financial disbursements made, and the actual deliveries have been subjects of public contention. This dispute escalated into a significant political issue when Pastef officials, prior to their ascent to power, had highlighted this very contract as a prime example of poor governance under the previous administration.

Now in positions of authority, these same political figures find themselves tasked with managing the inherited contractual obligations and upholding the Senegalese state’s commitments to its Spanish partner. This shift is precisely what Thierno Alassane Sall seeks to underscore. He argues that the current government’s position directly contradicts the rhetoric employed during the electoral campaign and in the initial weeks following the change in power.

Thierno Alassane Sall’s strong critique of Pastef

A prominent figure known for his firm stance on energy matters, the former minister believes that the party led by Ousmane Sonko and championed by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye can no longer maintain an opposition-like posture. He points to a clear inconsistency between their pledges for systematic audits of contracts deemed opaque and the cautious approach now adopted concerning AEE Power. The deputy suggests this inconsistent handling of inherited dossiers risks undermining the credibility of the