Sénégal: the shadowy funds of the prime minister’s office fuel political debate

The controversy surrounding political funds has taken center stage in Senegal’s political arena in recent weeks. Television studios, Facebook, and social media platforms are alive with heated exchanges between politicians, former ministers, and parliamentarians. At the heart of the debate: who, before Ousmane Sonko, truly had access to these discretionary envelopes allocated to the Prime Minister’s office, and how were they used?

The timing couldn’t be more sensitive. Since August 10, the National Assembly has been in an extraordinary session under Sonko’s leadership, reviewing a draft law to regulate special credits and secret funds, alongside proposals on asset declarations, labor laws, and the creation of six parliamentary investigative commissions.

How did the debate ignite?

The spark came from a bold statement by former Interior Minister Aly Ngouille Ndiaye during a television appearance. Known for his outspoken nature, he claimed that Ousmane Sonko was the first Prime Minister in Senegal’s history to receive dedicated political funds: « Sonko is the first to have this right. I was never Prime Minister, but some former PMs are listening—only Boun Abdallah Dionne is no longer with us, and I know he didn’t have such funds. It started with Sonko. Amadou Ba didn’t have them either; he was replaced by Sidiki Kaba, who didn’t last long enough in the role to benefit. »

Ndiaye also questioned the 1.7 billion CFA francs figure cited by Sonko, highlighting inconsistencies in its frequency: « Some say quarterly, others annually. If annual, Sonko would have received around 8 billion. But I know the initial 1.7 billion was exhausted. If it were annual and gone in a quarter, that’s unusually fast. »

He echoed claims by the Minister of Petroleum and Energy, Abdourahmane Diouf, that the first allocation was fully spent before Sonko requested a budget extension—leaving his successor with no funds left. Ndiaye called for transparency, suggesting Sonko should include his own case in parliamentary investigations.

Former prime ministers push back

The former minister’s remarks triggered a wave of rebuttals online. Viral archival footage featured Souleymane Ndéné Ndiaye, Wade’s last Prime Minister, who declared in April 2025: « Even as Director of the President’s Cabinet, I received political funds every month. » This predates his time as Prime Minister, challenging Ndiaye’s claim that Sonko initiated the system.

Other figures, including former Prime Ministers Macky Sall and Idrissa Seck under Wade’s presidency, have also referenced such funds. Social media users recalled an instance where Wade allegedly used his own presidential political funds to support his Prime Minister’s expenses.

The government’s response: « baseless accusations »

Elimane Pouye, CEO of SOGEPA SN, dismissed the claims as « baseless. » He argued that comparing Prime Minister’s office budgets from 2023 to 2025 shows minimal changes, attributing variations to institutional shifts rather than new practices. For Pouye, the debate should focus on how predecessors used these funds, not their existence or amounts.

Pastef party members countered that they had long criticized the lack of oversight over these funds, with reform proposals dating back to 2019—long before Sonko’s 2024 appointment.

A closer look at the historical reality

To move beyond the current controversy, parliamentary records reveal a pattern of discretionary funds growing under successive regimes: approximately 650 million CFA francs under Abdou Diouf, escalating to nearly 8 billion under Abdoulaye Wade. A 2008–2012 state inspectorate report uncovered 108 billion CFA francs spent during Wade’s tenure, with 48 billion lacking proper accounting—a figure long buried in Senegal’s public accounts.

One notable case was the National Local Development Program (PNDL), a 100 billion CFA francs fund managed by the Prime Minister’s office. After Idrissa Seck’s departure in 2004, investigators probed its use, including two real estate assets in Saly and Atlanta linked to alleged illicit enrichment. This episode underscores how long the issue of unchecked Prime Ministerial funds has persisted.

The call for legal oversight

Institutional voices are pushing for transparency. Deputy Guy Marius Sagna revealed submitting a bill in September 2025 to create a « Verification Commission for Political Fund Credits, » initially to Pastef’s parliamentary group and Sonko himself. Sonko reportedly asked him to wait, preferring a government-led reform. Sagna later introduced four draft laws, including one to establish a commission to audit political fund expenditures.

Deputy Thierno Alassane Sall, a former Energy Minister, called these funds « theft, » criticizing their lack of parliamentary authorization. He distinguished them from presidential intelligence credits but emphasized the need for legal oversight.

El Hadj Momar Samb of the RTA-S condemned what he called « opportunism » from the majority, noting that some now in power held high offices without advocating for transparency earlier. He supported broader parliamentary oversight but called for checks on ONAS, oil revenues, Matam region funds, and political crisis victim compensations.

Encasing, not erasing: the official stance

President Bassirou Diomaye Faye defended maintaining these funds in May, citing their roles in intelligence and social solidarity. Sonko, while excluding their abolition, advocated for strict regulation, referencing the 1.77 billion CFA francs allocated to the Prime Minister’s office in a May 2026 address.

This context frames the August 10, 2026 extraordinary session, where urgent debates will address a draft law to regulate special credits and secret funds, alongside constitutional amendments on presidential asset declarations. The tension persists between an entrenched institutional practice and the new government’s transparency demands since 2024.