A senegalese minister questions sonko’s vehicle acquisitions with political funds

Abdourahmane diouf raises concerns

The ongoing controversy surrounding the management of political funds at the Primature has taken a new turn. Abdourahmane Diouf, a prominent minister, recently voiced his concerns regarding statements made by former Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, who previously indicated that political funds from the Primature were utilized for purchasing vehicles. This intervention adds another layer to the intense scrutiny over government spending and African governance in Senegal.

Diouf recounted his own experience while serving as Minister of Higher Education. He vividly described how his official vehicle broke down en route to a Senegal national team match, just days before a significant cabinet reshuffle. “All the cars were shaky,” he emphasized during an appearance on Solo Média, highlighting the dilapidated state of the official fleet at the time.

Questioning sonko’s directives and luxury purchases

Diouf pointed out a stark contrast in directives. He stated that during Ousmane Sonko‘s tenure as Prime Minister, instructions were reportedly issued to halt all vehicle acquisitions. However, Diouf now questions how this aligns with Sonko‘s subsequent declarations regarding the procurement of new vehicles.

The minister asserted that in the very same year, Ousmane Sonko allegedly announced the mobilization of over 900 million FCFA specifically for car purchases. More critically, Abdourahmane Diouf clarified that these were not ordinary state vehicles. “These are Maybachs, luxury cars,” he declared, strongly suggesting that these high-end automobiles were acquired using political funds.

Scrutiny over vehicle nature and state regulations

Furthermore, Diouf raised concerns about administrative regulations, suggesting that state protocol typically prohibits the acquisition of second-hand assets. He posited that the vehicles in question might have been “recovered” items rather than new purchases, adding complexity to the acquisition process for Senegal political funds vehicles.

Ongoing debate and call for transparency

These revelations emerge amidst a robust institutional and political debate concerning the allocation and utilization of political funds and special credits within the government. At present, the claims regarding the 900 million FCFA expenditure, the specific make of the vehicles, and the methods of their acquisition remain assertions made by Abdourahmane Diouf. Independent verification against official administrative and financial documents will be crucial to ascertain the precise circumstances of these transactions, which are now a key topic in African current affairs.