Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko has reaffirmed his commitment to enhancing oversight and transparency regarding political funds, emphasizing that their regulation is a promise made to the Senegalese people during the electoral campaign. Speaking on this sensitive issue, the head of government also acknowledged a disagreement with President Bassirou Diomaye Faye over the management methods for these funds.

The debate surrounding political funds resurfaced following an interview the Head of State granted on May 2 at the Palais de la République. Bassirou Diomaye Faye defended the retention of these funds while acknowledging the transparency challenges they present. The President highlighted the imperatives tied to intelligence, national security, international solidarity, and the numerous requests made to the State.

Addressing lawmakers, Ousmane Sonko reiterated that the issue of political funds has been a long-standing reform championed by his political camp. « Since 2019, we have been pushing this debate on political funds. No one imposed this on us; we deemed that all funds must be transparent, » he declared.

The Prime Minister clarified that his stance is not about abolishing political funds but subjecting them to rigorous oversight mechanisms, drawing inspiration from models applied in several democracies. « We have not said we will eliminate political funds, but they must be controlled like in countries such as France, » he asserted.

He further stressed the importance of preserving public trust in the management of public resources. Referring to the funds allocated to the Prime Minister’s office, he revealed that « 1 billion 770 million in political funds » are at stake, emphasizing that « this debate is not personal. » According to him, Senegalese citizens expect these funds to never serve as « political spoils or instruments for personal enrichment. »

The head of government also reaffirmed his commitment to accountability in public finance management. « No taxpayer-funded resource should escape scrutiny, » he declared, advocating for governance that prioritizes transparency and accountability.

Finally, discussing the legislative process for this reform, Ousmane Sonko indicated that he prefers an initiative led by the Executive. He revealed having exchanged views with the President of the Republic after a lawmaker Guy Marius Sagna proposed a bill on the matter. The Prime Minister announced his intention to submit a draft text to the Council of Ministers if ongoing consultations do not yield quick results.