During a session at the National Assembly on Friday, May 22, 2026, Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko publicly challenged the President’s handling of political funds, sparking a rare display of dissent between the country’s top leaders.
Addressing lawmakers during a session on urgent topical issues, Sonko declared his disagreement with the Head of State, stating that he believed the President had “made a mistake” in managing these sensitive financial resources. “I do not agree with him on this matter,” the Prime Minister emphasized, while expressing hope that the presidency might reconsider its stance.
a long-standing debate over political funding oversight
Sonko framed the dispute within a broader, decade-long discussion about transparency in political finance. “Since 2014, our movement has been calling for stricter controls on political funds. This was part of our 2019 manifesto, and even by 2024, the situation had not evolved,” he pointed out.
The Prime Minister clarified that his party has never advocated for the abolition of these special funds but rather for their regulation through a transparent oversight mechanism—one modeled after systems used in France. “We have never said these funds should be eliminated. What we demand is proper supervision,” he argued.
no transfer to the Prime Minister’s office
Sonko also dismissed rumors suggesting that the funds might be redirected to the Prime Minister’s office. He highlighted that his administration already manages a dedicated fund exceeding one billion West African CFA francs. For him, the core issue lies in governance and restoring public trust. “Senegalese citizens have long suspected that these funds are used to buy political support,” he noted, reaffirming that “every franc must be subject to scrutiny.”
