Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko convened an interministerial council on Thursday, May 21st. During the session, the head of government forcefully articulated his indignation regarding the management of specific national files, once again implicating the previous administration of Macky Sall in widespread prevarication.
Following the presentation of an audit detailing public assets and infrastructure, Sonko remarked, «The facts defy understanding.» The inventory, compiled by the Prime Minister’s office, reveals that 245 infrastructure projects and strategic assets are currently either stalled, incomplete, or underutilized. The total financial impact is estimated to exceed 5,000 billion FCFA, a sum equivalent to Senegal’s entire annual budget. «Some even believe this amount matches our public debt (…) it is pure and simple waste,» the head of government lamented.
Another striking revelation is that out of 94 construction sites active across the nation, 62 are virtually at a standstill. These projects alone have absorbed over 5,227 billion FCFA. The particular case of the Sandiara high school, initiated in 2014 and still unfinished, particularly «shocked» Sonko. He fumed, «Twelve years to construct a high school. This is an aberration.»
Sonko’s stance on accountability
The Prime Minister also seized the opportunity to renew his criticism of the justice system, which he accuses of safeguarding influential figures from the former regime and alleged perpetrators of public fund embezzlement.
Ousmane Sonko openly stated, «Sometimes, I have doubts. I wonder if it’s worth continuing. In this country, you can do anything and be well protected. The system is intact.» He even alluded to the existence of alleged «judicial sabotages» potentially involving certain magistrates. He emphasized, «These cases do not belong to the magistrates, but to the people,» before threatening to «raise the tone» in the coming weeks.
Following the presentation of an audit detailing public assets and infrastructure, Sonko remarked, «The facts defy understanding.» The inventory, compiled by the Prime Minister’s office, reveals that 245 infrastructure projects and strategic assets are currently either stalled, incomplete, or underutilized. The total financial impact is estimated to exceed 5,000 billion FCFA, a sum equivalent to Senegal’s entire annual budget. «Some even believe this amount matches our public debt (…) it is pure and simple waste,» the head of government lamented.
Another striking revelation is that out of 94 construction sites active across the nation, 62 are virtually at a standstill. These projects alone have absorbed over 5,227 billion FCFA. The particular case of the Sandiara high school, initiated in 2014 and still unfinished, particularly «shocked» Sonko. He fumed, «Twelve years to construct a high school. This is an aberration.»
Sonko’s stance on accountability
The Prime Minister also seized the opportunity to renew his criticism of the justice system, which he accuses of safeguarding influential figures from the former regime and alleged perpetrators of public fund embezzlement.
Ousmane Sonko openly stated, «Sometimes, I have doubts. I wonder if it’s worth continuing. In this country, you can do anything and be well protected. The system is intact.» He even alluded to the existence of alleged «judicial sabotages» potentially involving certain magistrates. He emphasized, «These cases do not belong to the magistrates, but to the people,» before threatening to «raise the tone» in the coming weeks.
