The imperative of asset declaration is once again proving to be a critical measure of credibility for the Senegalese executive. Reports circulating in Dakar suggest that several cabinet ministers have reportedly failed to comply with this legal requirement, even though patrimonial transparency stands as a cornerstone commitment of the Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Ousmane Sonko leadership since their ascent to power in April 2024. This issue transcends mere administrative protocol, directly impacting the consistency of the official discourse.

The Senegalese framework, codified by the 2014 law establishing the National Office for the Fight Against Fraud and Corruption (OFNAC), mandates a specific range of high public officials to submit a detailed inventory of their assets upon assuming office and again when their tenure concludes. This obligation applies to the President of the Republic, the Prime Minister, cabinet ministers, heads of institutions, and credit administrators overseeing funds exceeding one billion CFA francs.

Strict legal framework for asset disclosure

The legislative text is unequivocal regarding the timeline. Those subject to this rule are granted a three-month window following their appointment to submit their declaration to OFNAC. Beyond this period, the legality of their position becomes open to challenge. According to information disseminated by the Senegalese press, several members of the government, following a reshuffle in autumn 2024, are now reportedly outside these compliance parameters.

This failure to comply is far from trivial. The law stipulates that in instances of non-submission, OFNAC must issue a formal warning to the defaulting party. Should this silence persist, the institution is empowered to initiate legal proceedings, exposing the individual to penalties, including the suspension of their salary and, where applicable, criminal prosecution. While designed to be a deterrent, the actual effectiveness of this mechanism has frequently been questioned.

A crucial political test for the ruling administration

The stakes are particularly high given that the fight against illicit enrichment and the promotion of accountability were central tenets of Pastef’s victorious election campaign. The current administration has launched various investigations against former dignitaries of the Macky Sall regime, specifically leveraging the tools provided by OFNAC and the financial prosecutor’s office. Discovering non-compliance within the present government would therefore undermine the moral authority claimed by the new leadership.

OFNAC, now headed by a magistrate following its restructuring, theoretically possesses the necessary powers to activate these procedures. The lingering question, however, is the political resolve to see this through, especially in a context where successive institutional reports have consistently highlighted low compliance rates among obligated officials, even under prior administrations. A previous public report indicated hundreds of expected declarations, a significant portion of which were never filed.

Asset transparency: a regional imperative

The current debate in Senegal is part of a broader West African trend. Côte d’Ivoire, Bénin, and Burkina Faso have all, in recent years, adopted comparable mechanisms, spurred by ECOWAS and African Union protocols on corruption prevention. Nevertheless, the performance among member states remains inconsistent, with practical implementation often hindered by administrative resistance and a lack of genuine public access to these declarations.

In Dakar, several civil society voices, including the Forum civil, the Senegalese chapter of Transparency International, have long called for the full public disclosure of these declarations, mirroring practices in some European democracies. This demand, however, clashes with the principle of confidentiality enshrined in Senegalese law, which limits access solely to authorized bodies and imposes criminal sanctions for any unauthorized disclosure.

Ultimately, the current situation presents the government with a straightforward dilemma. Either the implicated ministers promptly rectify their status, allowing the incident to subside, or OFNAC activates its procedures, initiating a politically costly period for an administration that has championed integrity as a core value. The credibility of the anti-corruption agenda hinges on how this signal is managed. The ministers identified now face the prospect of a formal warning from the institution.

For further reading

Senegal: two detention warrants in the 45 billion arms deal · Madagascar: a bill on access to information reaches parliament · Dakar City Hall: Abass Fall denounces a special delegation project