Babacar Bâ highlights Ousmane Sonko’s political fund paradox in Sénégal

The president of the Forum du justiciable, Babacar Bâ, has publicly challenged former Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, highlighting what he perceives as a striking inconsistency in Sonko’s advocacy for financial transparency. Bâ, a prominent human rights defender, underscored that Sonko, now a vocal proponent of integrity and robust governance, oversaw a substantial political fund of over 1.7 billion CFA francs during his time as Prime Minister, a figure Sonko himself previously confirmed.

Babacar Bâ finds the situation deeply ironic, noting that the current Pastef party leader had, in the past, vehemently denounced what he referred to as the state’s «secret slush funds». Yet, upon assuming office, Sonko himself became the custodian of such financial mechanisms he once criticized. The Forum du justiciable’s coordinator has consistently championed the cause of political fund accountability in recent months, persistently urging the Presidency, the Prime Minister’s Office, and the National Assembly to reveal their financial allocations and consent to scrutiny by the Court of Accounts.

Describing Sénégal’s current governance as nothing short of an «institutional farce,» the FJ president has issued a fervent appeal to the Senegalese populace. He urged citizens to awaken, unite, and collectively steer their nation’s future, adopting a more impassioned tone distinct from his usual technical critiques concerning public financial administration.