Sénégal: thierno alassane sall accuses pastef of double standards on asee power contract

The contentious matter pitting the Senegalese Rural Electrification Agency (ASER) against the Spanish firm AEE Power has re-emerged as a central topic in Dakar’s political discourse. Thierno Alassane Sall, president of La République des valeurs and a National Assembly deputy, openly accuses the ruling Pastef party of employing a dual narrative concerning this rural electrification agreement. The contract has become a significant symbol of the friction between the Senegalese executive and segments of the political class. The former Minister of Energy explicitly used the term “duplicity,” a word rarely heard in local parliamentary discussions.

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 grid. For several months, the precise execution of the project, the actual disbursements made, and the deliveries completed have been subjects of public dispute. The controversy escalated politically when key figures within Pastef, prior to their ascent to power, highlighted this very case as a prime example of poor governance under the previous administration.

Now in positions of authority, these same individuals are 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. In his view, the current stance adopted by the ruling majority directly contradicts the positions they articulated during the election campaign and in the initial weeks following the change in government.

Thierno alassane sall’s critique against pastef

Known for his firm stance on energy matters, the former minister believes the party led by Ousmane Sonko and championed by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye can no longer maintain an opposition posture. He points to a clear inconsistency between their pledges for systematic audits of contracts deemed opaque and the cautious approach now taken regarding AEE Power. The deputy suggests a selective handling of inherited dossiers, which he warns could undermine the credibility of the