Primature scandal: Badara Gadiaga exposes alleged misuse of political funds by Sonko

Badara Gadiaga, a prominent political commentator, has leveled serious allegations against former Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, accusing him of draining the nation’s political funds during his tenure. In a scathing critique aired on a local platform, Gadiaga highlighted that after just 142 days in office, Sonko had nearly exhausted the 1.77 billion CFA francs allocated for political activities, leaving his successor, Al Aminou Lo, with a mere 70 million CFA francs.

The commentator’s remarks come amid growing scrutiny over the management of public resources in Senegal. By his calculations, Sonko’s administration spent an average of 12 million CFA francs daily—a figure he contrasted sharply with the dire financial struggles faced by students, such as the tragic case of Abdoulaye Ba, a university student who died while awaiting a 40,000 CFA franc scholarship payment. This stark disparity, Gadiaga argued, epitomizes what he termed the “vampirism” of public funds, where top officials allegedly prioritize personal or political expenditures over critical social needs.

Gadiaga further emphasized that Sonko’s alleged extravagance—reportedly spending over 300,000 CFA francs monthly from these funds—contradicts the government’s public commitments to economic recovery under the Plan de redressement économique et social (PRES). The commentator’s remarks underscore deep concerns about transparency and accountability in Senegal’s political governance.