For Senegal’s executive branch, asset declarations are once again proving to be a critical measure of trustworthiness. Reports from Dakar indicate that several government ministers have failed to comply with this legal requirement, despite patrimonial transparency being a cornerstone promise made by Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Ousmane Sonko since they assumed power in April 2024. This issue extends beyond mere administrative procedure, impacting the very consistency of the official narrative.
The Senegalese framework, established by the 2014 law that created the National Office for the Fight Against Fraud and Corruption (OFNAC), mandates a specific group of high-ranking public officials to submit a comprehensive statement of their assets upon commencing and concluding their duties. This obligation applies to the President of the Republic, the Prime Minister, government ministers, heads of institutions, and credit administrators managing funds exceeding one billion CFA francs.
Strict legal requirements for asset disclosure
The legislation clearly defines the timeline. Individuals subject to this rule are granted a three-month period following their appointment to submit their declaration to OFNAC. Beyond this deadline, their legal standing becomes questionable. According to information reported by the Senegalese press, several members of the government, which underwent a reshuffle in autumn 2024, are currently reported to be non-compliant.
This failure to comply is far from trivial. The law stipulates that in cases of non-submission, OFNAC must issue a formal notice to the defaulting official. Should the non-response continue, the institution is empowered to refer the matter to the judiciary, and the lack of a declaration can lead to penalties, including salary suspension and, potentially, criminal prosecution. While designed as a deterrent, the actual effectiveness of this mechanism has frequently been debated.
A political challenge for the current administration
The stakes are particularly high because the fight against illicit enrichment and the demand for accountability were central to Pastef’s successful electoral campaign. The new government has initiated various proceedings against former officials from the Macky Sall administration, specifically utilizing the resources of OFNAC and the financial prosecutor’s office. Discovering non-compliance within the current government would inevitably undermine the moral authority asserted by these officials.
OFNAC, now led by a magistrate following its restructuring, theoretically possesses the necessary powers to activate these procedures. However, the crucial question remains the political will to see these processes through, especially given that previous reports from the institution consistently highlighted low compliance rates among those obligated to declare, even under prior administrations. A previous public report indicated hundreds of expected declarations, a substantial portion of which were never filed.
Asset transparency: a regional initiative
The discussion unfolding in Senegal is part of a broader West African trend. Côte d’Ivoire, Bénin, and Burkina Faso have all implemented similar measures in recent years, driven by ECOWAS and African Union protocols aimed at preventing corruption. Nevertheless, the performance among member states varies, with practical implementation often hampered by administrative inertia and a lack of genuine public disclosure of declarations.
In Dakar, various civil society organizations, including the Civil Forum, which is the Senegalese chapter of Transparency International, have long advocated for the full public release of these declarations, mirroring practices in some European democracies. This demand, however, conflicts with the confidentiality principle enshrined in Senegalese law, which restricts access solely to authorized bodies and imposes criminal penalties for any unauthorized disclosure.
Ultimately, the current situation presents the government with a straightforward choice. Either the implicated ministers promptly rectify their status, allowing the issue to subside, or OFNAC will initiate its procedures, triggering a politically damaging period for an administration that has championed integrity as a core value. The overall credibility of the anti-corruption agenda hinges on how this particular signal is handled. The implicated ministers now face the prospect of a formal notice from the institution.
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