Over the past two years, Senegal’s Higher Education Ministry has seen three different leaders: Abdourahmane Diouf first, followed by Daouda Ngom, and Boubacar Camara since June 1, 2026.
Among the six parliamentary inquiry commissions scheduled for the extraordinary session opening this Monday, August 10, 2026, one stands out: the probe into irregularities in the procurement and execution of contracts under the ‘One Student, One Laptop’ program. Managed by the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation since 2017, this initiative has accumulated an estimated financial commitment of 48 billion CFA francs. Political and media circles are now asking: is this investigation essentially aimed at former minister Abdourahmane Diouf?
An investigation years in the making
This controversy is not new. As early as November 8, 2025, the then-Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko publicly flagged irregularities in higher education programs, specifically targeting management under Abdourahmane Diouf’s tenure. The former minister responded by urging lawmakers to establish a parliamentary inquiry commission to shed full light on these issues, including the construction of five university sites, while acknowledging shared responsibility with the Prime Minister.
The inquiry covers events dating back to 2017 — well before the current administration — theoretically encompassing the tenure of multiple ministers across different governments. Since then, the Higher Education portfolio has passed through three hands: Abdourahmane Diouf, then Daouda Ngom, and currently Boubacar Camara, who took office on June 1, 2026.
A backdrop of political friction
This commission arrives amid visible political tensions between the two men. Abdourahmane Diouf, once a leader of the Awalé party and a former ally of the ruling coalition, has since joined Kiiraay – Les Patriotes républicains, the president’s new party, marking a definitive break with Pastef and its leader Ousmane Sonko. This shift has fueled speculation among some observers that the inquiry could be a veiled attempt at political retaliation.
The official decree convening the extraordinary session does not explicitly name Abdourahmane Diouf. The commission’s scope spans 2017 to 2026 — nearly a decade of program management involving multiple ministers and technical directors, with no individual singled out in the text.
While the timing of this inquiry aligns with Diouf’s departure from the presidential camp and his alignment with Kiiraay, no factual evidence currently confirms that Ousmane Sonko is specifically targeting his former colleague. Only the findings of the inquiry commission, once established and published, will reveal the full extent of responsibilities in managing this 48 billion CFA franc program.
