Six new parliamentary inquiry commissions are on the agenda of the extraordinary session convened on Monday, August 10, 2026, by the National Assembly. Among them, one stands out for its potential political implications: the investigation into alleged irregularities surrounding the procurement and execution of contracts under the « One Student, One Laptop » program, managed by the Ministry of Higher Education since 2017. With an estimated budget of 48 billion CFA francs, this inquiry has sparked speculation about its true objectives. Could it be targeting former minister Abdourahmane Diouf?

Long-standing concerns over mismanagement

The roots of this controversy stretch back to November 8, 2025, when the then Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko publicly flagged financial irregularities in higher education programs, specifically implicating the management of the ministry under Abdourahmane Diouf. The latter responded by calling for a parliamentary inquiry to shed light on the issues, including the construction of five university campuses, while acknowledging shared responsibility alongside the Prime Minister.

Since 2017, the program’s management has spanned multiple administrations, with the ministry seeing three ministers during this period: Abdourahmane Diouf, followed by Daouda Ngom, and currently Boubacar Camara. The inquiry’s scope, however, covers activities dating back to 2017—well before the current administration took office—and includes the tenures of several ministers, raising questions about the fairness of the investigation.

Political tensions fuel speculation

The timing of the inquiry has intensified political friction between Sonko and Diouf. Once a stalwart of the ruling coalition and leader of the Awalé party, Diouf recently defected to Kiiraay – Les Patriotes républicains, a party aligned with President Bassirou Diomaye Faye. This shift has led some analysts to suggest the inquiry may be a veiled attempt to settle political scores rather than a genuine effort to uncover mismanagement.

The official text establishing the inquiry does not explicitly name Abdourahmane Diouf, instead referencing the broader 2017–2026 period. This means the probe could implicate multiple ministers and technical directors within the Ministry of Higher Education without singling out any individual. While the timeline aligns with Diouf’s departure from the ruling coalition and his subsequent realignment, there is no definitive evidence—at this stage—to confirm that Sonko is targeting him specifically through this parliamentary process. Clarity will only emerge once the inquiry concludes and its findings are made public.