Aly Ngouille Ndiaye has brought to light that the 1.7 billion FCFA designated as Ousmane Sonko’s personal political funds were reportedly fully expended prior to Sonko’s request for additional budgetary support, thereby prompting concerns regarding the accountability of these disbursements.
Former Interior Minister Aly Ngouille Ndiaye has reignited public discussion surrounding the special allocations provided to high-ranking government officials. He suggests that before addressing the broader issue of presidential funds, Ousmane Sonko should first provide a detailed account of how he managed the financial resources granted to him during his tenure as head of government.
Delving into the background of this financial provision, Aly Ngouille Ndiaye states that the current Prime Minister holds the distinction of being the inaugural Senegalese head of government to receive dedicated political funds for his office. He points out that most former Prime Ministers, with the exception of the late Boun Abdallah Dionne, are still living, confirming that neither Dionne nor Amadou Bâ ever had access to such a specific allocation. Furthermore, he observes that Sidiki Kaba’s brief period in the Prime Minister’s office, succeeding Sonko, was insufficient for this particular issue to arise.
Questions surrounding the 1.7 billion FCFA
The former minister then addressed the 1.7 billion FCFA figure, a sum frequently mentioned by Ousmane Sonko himself, yet its precise disbursement schedule remains ambiguous. While some speculate it as a quarterly allocation, others suggest an annual sum. Ngouille Ndiaye emphasized that if this provision were indeed quarterly, the yearly total would approach 8 billion FCFA. He supports previous claims by Abdourahmane Diouf, asserting that the entire 1.7 billion FCFA was fully utilized before Sonko requested additional funding. According to Ndiaye, the fact that Sonko’s successor in the Prime Minister’s office found no funds available serves as evidence that the initial quarter’s allocation had been entirely depleted – a point he presents as a factual observation rather than an accusation.
Aly Ngouille Ndiaye ultimately contends that, for the sake of consistency and governmental transparency, Ousmane Sonko should have included his own administration of special funds within the scope of the investigative commissions he himself established. He also implied that he possesses further details on this matter, though he chose not to disclose them publicly at this juncture.
