Six parliamentary inquiry commissions are on the agenda as Senegal’s National Assembly convenes an extraordinary session on August 10, 2026. Among them, one investigation stands out for its potential political repercussions: an inquiry into alleged irregularities in the procurement and execution of the “One Student, One Laptop” program, managed by the Ministry of Higher Education since 2017. With an estimated financial commitment of 48 billion West African CFA francs, speculation has emerged about whether this investigation targets former minister Abdourahmane Diouf.

Long-standing concerns resurface

This isn’t a new controversy. As early as November 8, 2025, then-Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko publicly raised concerns about financial irregularities in higher education programs, specifically mentioning issues during Abdourahmane Diouf’s tenure at the helm of the ministry. Diouf responded by calling for a parliamentary inquiry to examine these matters, particularly regarding the construction of five university sites, while acknowledging shared responsibility with the Prime Minister at the time.

It’s worth noting that the Ministry of Higher Education has seen three different ministers in the past two years alone: Abdourahmane Diouf, followed by Daouda Ngom, with Boubacar Camara taking office on June 1, 2026. The inquiry spans from 2017 to 2026, encompassing the tenures of multiple ministers and technical directors, even though the official decree doesn’t name any specific individuals.

Political tensions fuel speculation

The timing of this inquiry coincides with rising political tensions between Sonko and Diouf. After leaving the Awalé party and initially aligning with the ruling coalition, Diouf joined Kiiraay – Les Patriotes républicains, the party supporting President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, marking a definitive break with Sonko’s Pastef movement. This political realignment has fueled rumors among observers that the inquiry might serve as political retribution rather than an objective investigation.

The official decree convening the extraordinary session doesn’t explicitly target Abdourahmane Diouf. The inquiry covers the entire 2017-2026 period, potentially implicating multiple ministers and technical directors of the Ministry of Higher Education without naming any individuals in the formal document.

Ultimately, while the timing of the inquiry coincides with Diouf’s departure from the presidential camp and his alignment with Kiiraay, no factual evidence currently suggests that Sonko is specifically targeting his former colleague through this parliamentary procedure. Only the future inquiry commission’s work and eventual public findings will determine the exact responsibilities in managing this 48 billion West African CFA franc program.