Senegal ministers asset declaration: transparency test

The imperative of asset declaration is once again proving to be a critical test of credibility for the Senegalese executive. Reports from Dakar indicate that several government ministers are currently non-compliant with this legal obligation, despite transparency in personal wealth being a cornerstone commitment championed by the Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Ousmane Sonko administration since their ascent to power in April 2024. This issue transcends mere administrative procedure, touching upon the very consistency of official pronouncements.

The Senegalese framework, established by the 2014 law creating the National Office for the Fight Against Fraud and Corruption (OFNAC), mandates a specific range of high-ranking public officials to submit a detailed inventory of their assets upon assuming office and again upon the cessation of their duties. This includes the President of the Republic, the Prime Minister, cabinet ministers, heads of institutions, and credit administrators managing funds exceeding one billion CFA francs.

Strict legal requirements for asset disclosure

The legislation is unambiguous regarding the timeline. Those subject to the law have a three-month window following their appointment to submit their declaration to OFNAC. Beyond this period, their compliance becomes legally questionable. According to information disseminated by the Senegalese press, several members of the government, particularly those appointed in the autumn 2024 reshuffle, are now reportedly overdue.

This non-compliance is far from trivial. The law stipulates that in cases of failure to file, OFNAC must issue a formal notice to the delinquent official. If this warning is ignored, the institution can initiate legal proceedings, and the absence of a declaration can lead to sanctions, including the suspension of salary and, potentially, criminal prosecution. While the mechanism is designed to be a deterrent, its efficacy has frequently been a subject of debate.

A crucial political test for the ruling administration

The stakes are particularly high because the fight against illicit enrichment and the demand for accountability were central to Pastef’s victorious campaign. The current government has launched multiple investigations against former dignitaries of the Macky Sall regime, specifically leveraging the tools of OFNAC and the financial prosecutor’s office. To now find non-compliance within the current cabinet would significantly undermine the moral authority claimed by the authorities.

OFNAC, now led by a magistrate since its restructuring, theoretically possesses the necessary powers to activate these procedures. The question remains regarding the political will to see these processes through, especially given that the institution’s successive reports have consistently highlighted a low rate of compliance among those mandated to declare, even under previous administrations. The last public report noted hundreds of expected declarations, a significant portion of which were never submitted.

Asset transparency: a regional imperative

The Senegalese debate is part of a broader West African trend. Côte d’Ivoire, Bénin, and Burkina Faso have all adopted similar mechanisms in recent years, driven by ECOWAS and African Union protocols aimed at preventing corruption. However, the performance of member states remains inconsistent, with practical implementation often hindered by administrative resistance and a lack of genuine public access to declarations.

In Dakar, various civil society voices, including the Civil Forum (the Senegalese chapter of Transparency International), have long advocated for the full publication of these declarations, mirroring practices in some European democracies. This demand, however, conflicts with the confidentiality principle enshrined in Senegalese law, which restricts access to authorized bodies only and imposes criminal penalties for any unauthorized disclosure.

Nevertheless, the current situation presents the government with a straightforward challenge. Either the affected ministers promptly regularize their status, bringing the incident to a swift close, or OFNAC activates its procedures, initiating a politically costly period for an administration that has made exemplary conduct one of its defining characteristics. The credibility of the anti-corruption agenda hinges on how this signal is addressed. According to Seneweb, the implicated ministers now face formal notices from the institution.