Senegal’s Ousmane Sonko exposes massive public fund mismanagement

In a decisive move during Thursday’s inter-ministerial council meeting in Dakar, Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko delivered a scathing assessment of public fund utilization under the previous administration. The session, which focused on accountability and governance, revealed staggering financial irregularities that have left infrastructure projects in disarray.

Presenting a comprehensive audit on public assets and infrastructure, Sonko highlighted that 245 major projects—ranging from roads to public buildings—remain either abandoned, incomplete, or severely underutilized. The estimated financial loss exceeds 5,000 billion CFA francs, an amount equivalent to Senegal’s annual national budget. «The sheer scale of this mismanagement defies logic,» Sonko remarked, emphasizing that some figures even rival the country’s total public debt. «This isn’t just waste—it’s outright theft of national resources.»

The audit further uncovered that 62 of the 94 ongoing construction projects across the nation have stalled, with a combined value of over 5,227 billion CFA francs. One glaring example is the Sandiara High School, initiated in 2014, which remains unfinished after twelve years. «Twelve years to build a school? That’s not incompetence—it’s sabotage,» Sonko declared, his frustration palpable.

Accountability challenges and judicial hurdles

Beyond financial losses, Sonko raised serious concerns about the judiciary’s role in shielding high-profile figures linked to the previous regime. «At times, I question whether this fight is even worth it,» he admitted. «In this country, you can loot public funds with impunity and face zero consequences. The system remains untouched, and justice is selective.»

He accused certain magistrates of obstructing investigations, labeling their actions as «judicial sabotage.» «These cases don’t belong to judges—they belong to the people of Senegal,» he asserted. Sonko warned that his government will escalate its approach in the coming weeks, signaling a potential crackdown on those responsible for years of financial mismanagement.