The National Assembly’s extraordinary session convened Monday, August 10, 2026, includes six parliamentary inquiry commissions on its agenda. Among them, one stands out for its potential political implications: an investigation into alleged irregularities in the procurement and execution of contracts under the « One Student, One Computer » program, managed by the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation since 2017. With a cumulative financial commitment estimated at 48 billion CFA francs, the probe has sparked speculation about whether it targets former minister Abdourahmane Diouf.

An investigation years in the making

The roots of this controversy stretch back to November 8, 2025, when then-Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko publicly raised concerns about financial mismanagement in higher education programs, specifically citing issues during Abdourahmane Diouf’s tenure as minister. Diouf responded by urging lawmakers to establish a parliamentary inquiry commission to clarify these matters, including the controversial construction of five university campuses, while acknowledging shared responsibility with the Prime Minister.

The inquiry’s scope covers the period from 2017 to 2026—a decade of program management that potentially implicates multiple ministers and technical directors at the Ministry of Higher Education. While no names are explicitly mentioned in the official text, the timing of the probe coincides with Abdourahmane Diouf’s departure from the presidential coalition and his subsequent alignment with the Kiiraay – Les Patriotes républicains party, led by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye.

Political tensions fuel speculation

This parliamentary inquiry unfolds against a backdrop of escalating political tensions between Sonko and Diouf. Diouf’s shift from the ruling coalition to a rival party has intensified perceptions among some observers that the investigation may serve as a political maneuver rather than a genuine accountability effort. The official decree convening the extraordinary session does not explicitly name Diouf, but the broader context has fueled conjecture about targeted motivations behind the probe.

As of now, no concrete evidence confirms that Ousmane Sonko is pursuing Abdourahmane Diouf through this parliamentary process. Only the findings of the inquiry commission, once established and completed, will reveal the true extent of accountability in the management of the 48 billion CFA francs program.