Abdourahmane Diouf scrutinizes state vehicle acquisitions
The ongoing debate surrounding the management of political funds within the Primature has taken a significant new turn. This Tuesday, Abdourahmane Diouf publicly addressed previous statements made by Ousmane Sonko, who had indicated using political funds from the Prime Minister’s office for the procurement of vehicles.
The Minister recounted his own experience from his time overseeing the Higher Education portfolio. He recalled his official vehicle breaking down while en route to a Senegal national team match, just days before an anticipated cabinet reshuffle. He described the state of the official fleet at the time, stating, “All the cars were rickety,” during an appearance on Solo Média.
Allegations of 900 million FCFA for luxury cars
According to Abdourahmane Diouf, Ousmane Sonko, then serving as Prime Minister, had previously issued directives prohibiting any new vehicle purchases during that period. Diouf now questions the stark contrast between this earlier stance and Sonko’s subsequent declarations regarding the acquisition of new vehicles.
Diouf asserts that in the same year, Ousmane Sonko reportedly stated that over 900 million FCFA had been allocated to purchase automobiles. More critically, Abdourahmane Diouf emphasizes that these were not ordinary vehicles. “These are Maybachs, luxury cars,” he declared, maintaining that their acquisition was financed through political funds.
Questions arise over vehicle type and state procurement rules
Furthermore, the Minister suggested that administrative regulations typically do not permit the State to acquire used assets. He also put forward the possibility that the vehicles in question might have been recovered by the State through other means.
These revelations come amidst an intense institutional and political discussion concerning the utilization of political funds and the allocation of special credits. At this juncture, the claims regarding the sum exceeding 900 million FCFA, the precise nature of the vehicles, and their acquisition methods are based on Abdourahmane Diouf’s reported statements. These assertions will require verification against available administrative and financial documentation to accurately ascertain the conditions under which these purchases were made.
