The Pastef deputy Guy Marius Sagna disclosed that Ousmane Sonko received 1.7 billion F CFA in political funds while serving as Prime Minister. The legislator emphasized that these funds were disbursed without any institutional framework, sparking a national debate on financial governance in Senegal. The revelation places Sonko, now President of the National Assembly, at the center of scrutiny regarding his own calls for stricter oversight of political financing.

While Sagna acknowledged that the disbursement mechanism itself complies with existing laws, he stressed that the lack of transparency surrounding these funds mirrors the situation of other high-ranking officials. Notably, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye is reported to control over 8 billion F CFA, allocated across political funds, secret reserves, special accounts, and sovereign wealth funds—all reportedly outside institutional controls.

The contrast between Sonko’s public advocacy for financial transparency and the undisclosed receipt of substantial political funds has drawn sharp criticism from Sagna. The deputy described the situation as a breach of trust, accusing Sonko of hypocrisy. “This is the kind of political sorcery we see all too often,” Sagna remarked on social media, questioning whether such contradictions reflect a deeper pattern among Senegalese leaders. His comments underscore growing public frustration over inconsistencies in financial governance rhetoric versus practice.