The controversy surrounding the Senegalese Rural Electrification Agency (ASER) and the Spanish firm AEE Power has resurfaced at the heart of political discourse in Dakar. Thierno Alassane Sall, leader of La République des valeurs and a member of the National Assembly, is openly accusing the ruling Pastef party of exhibiting duplicity regarding this crucial rural electrification contract. This agreement has become a focal point for tensions between the Senegalese executive and segments of the political class. The former Minister of Energy has explicitly used the term “duplicity,” a word rarely heard in local parliamentary discussions.
A rural electrification contract becomes a national issue
The agreement between ASER and AEE Power involves an extensive initiative to electrify Senegalese villages, aiming to connect thousands of communities to the national grid. For several months, the precise execution of the project, the funds disbursed, and the actual deliveries have been subjects of public contention. The dispute escalated politically when Pastef officials, prior to their ascent to power, highlighted this very case as a prime example of poor governance attributed to the previous administration.
Now in positions of authority, these same individuals are tasked with managing the contractual legacy and upholding the Senegalese state’s commitments to its Spanish partner. It is this perceived shift in approach that Thierno Alassane Sall is keen to emphasize. In his view, the current majority’s stance contradicts the positions articulated during the electoral campaign and in the initial weeks following the transition of power.
Thierno Alassane Sall’s critique of Pastef
A figure renowned for his unwavering stance on energy matters, the former minister contends that the party led by Ousmane Sonko and championed by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye can no longer hide behind an opposition posture. He points to a fundamental inconsistency between their pledges for systematic audits of supposedly opaque contracts and the cautious approach now adopted concerning AEE Power. The deputy suggests that this inconsistent handling of inherited dossiers could undermine the credibility of the “rupture” narrative promoted since March 2024.
Thierno Alassane Sall also questions the official communication surrounding the dispute. He argues that the persistent ambiguities regarding a potential termination timeline, the penalties that might be incurred, and the status of payments already made only fuel suspicion. The opposition leader demands clarification before the National Assembly, asserting that parliament is the legitimate body to resolve a disagreement that involves public funds and the international reputation of the Senegalese state.
An issue of sovereignty and contractual reliability
Beyond the political sparring, the ASER/AEE Power affair raises fundamental questions for Senegal’s energy sector. Rural electrification remains a top priority, requiring tens of billions of CFA francs, and is essential for reducing territorial disparities in access to electricity. Any abrupt contract termination risks exposing the state to costly international arbitration procedures, mirroring other extractive industry cases heard before the Cirdi in recent years.
For technical and financial partners monitoring the nation’s trajectory, how the new authorities manage this dispute will serve as a crucial test. A transparent resolution would bolster Senegal’s sovereign credibility with donors and foreign enterprises. Conversely, a management approach perceived as politically driven could inflate the cost of future financing and complicate the attractiveness of public energy markets.
Thierno Alassane Sall’s intervention occurs as the executive pursues an accountability strategy targeting officials from the former majority. By highlighting Pastef’s alleged contradictions on the AEE Power issue, the former minister redirects the debate toward the current administration’s own practices. The path forward will depend on the documents that the relevant National Assembly committee agrees to make public and ASER’s official positions in the coming weeks. The deputy continues to press for full transparency on this sensitive matter.
